Drivin' 55

This is the third post regarding our situation, Living with Alzheimer’s.  My MIL was diagnosed 6 years ago and during that time, she has lived with us for 4 years.  Let me tell you, it is no easy task.  My common sense tells me that she cannot be responsible for her actions, but I ask myself, “Why didn’t we get one that was nice?”  I am embarrassed that I even wrote that.  My recent findings on the Internet lead me to an article about the disease that, like anything, there are certain stages in the progression of such disease.  A statement that affected me the most was this “Alzheimer’s can be described as the death of the mind before the body…”.  This statement in it self is devastating to read, yet imagine living 24/7 watching a loved one.  Though Alzheimer’s is considered a fatal disease, the usual cause of death is normally another illness, which develops as a complication in a body already weakened by Alzheimer’s. Check out the link...

It was New Year’s Day 2004. Off to my mother in laws to have dinner with her at her home. My husband was excited to know that his mother was making one of his favorite childhood meals, sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, pork chops and sausage. Upon entering her home, I noticed it was very tidy. Christmas decorations as she had always displayed them. Her table set with her good dishes placed upon the clean, pressed table cloth. Meandering to the kitchen I noticed nothing on the stove. Peering inside the oven I saw several casseroles dishes inside. I remember thinking, “Mom never used to cook her sauerkraut in the oven.” I immediately dismissed it and asked if I could do anything to help. Pour the milk, she said. Opening the refrigerator I was startled to see the iron sitting next to the milk. “Why is the iron in the fridge?” She turned around and saw in her eyes an empty blank stare. As I escorted her to the table, she took her seat. I acted quickly to get the meal on the ta...

This is the first in a series of posts I plan to do in which I want to share what it’s like living with an Alzheimer’s family member.  Perhaps I am doing this because I’m looking for a therapeutic outlet.  Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s is a 24/7 a day job.  You don’t get a vacation.  The weekends are not your own.  You cannot spontaneously go to a movie.  Even planning a trip to the grocery store requires that someone is always caring for your loved on.    You are on the clock with no relief in sight. In this post, I want to focus on the communication aspect of talking to your loved one.  For a toddler, teenager and adult, if you have a stomach ache you know how to convey that message.  For an Alzheimer’s patient who is easily confused, a simple question becomes a foreign language. There are times that nothing makes any sense.  You instantly revert back to caring for an infant and try to guess what’s wrong. I’v...

Spirits. Some believe in their existence. Others balk at the thought of such a thing. My position on this subject takes on more of a first hand approach as I have had a few experiences of my own. But today, I am writing this post to share with you what truly occurred and which left me feeling rather anxious and a bit fear full. I was sitting in my den/office/craft room reading, blogging, and tweeting. My mother in law was sitting in the living room, adjacent to where I was. MIL: Why are those people here? I didn’t know you had company? Me: We don’t have company. What are you talking about? I walked into the living room to investigate what was going on. MIL: Who are those two men on the couch? Me: What? MIL: Those two men with the pillows in front of their faces. Me: (beginning to feel my heart come up to my throat) Mom, there is no one there. MIL: Are you blind? Me: (playing along) What do these men look like? MIL: (shrugging shoulders) I don’t know. Me: How are t...