Category: Uncategorized
Sponge Bath
Where we last left off in Grandpa’s bathing saga I was picking him up and putting him in the shower on the shower chair and lifting him off, cleaning and dressing him entirely myself. Deanna commented on that post that, “I am 13 years younger than my husband but not physically strong enough to do [...]
Learning How to Forget
The Struggle Everybody knows Alzheimer’s is about forgetting. But only some people realize that Alzheimer’s is also about learning. It seems contradictory: Isn’t forgetting the opposite of learning? But it is true. There are two ways you can look at it. On the one hand, for the care giver Alzheimer’s is about learning–learning how to [...]
I Can’t Remember My Name
It is difficult, and perhaps pointless, to attempt to answer the question, “What is the worst thing about Alzheimer’s?” But I think the saddest part–and one which many people don’t even consider–is how aware a person can be of their failing abilities. This awareness does vary greatly from one person with Alzheimer’s to another, but [...]
Straight Talk
Here is another good article about caregiving. In a sense, it distills down a lot of what I have experienced through the course of this blog. Looking back on my own experience, I find it interesting to see how I intuitively picked up on some of the points the author raises. As a straight-forward, no-nonsense [...]
Bathing Links
On the previous post Pam commented: My mom and I are at the water-temperature-controlling stage. You’ve done a great job describing what’s to come, and a loving, respectful and pragmatic way to approach those stages to follow. And Deanna also observed, I have just finished reading your March 24th entry on bathing. I intend to [...]
Bathing Trouble
Grandpa’s trouble with bathing has followed the same trajectory as the rest of his life since Alzheimer’s began affecting him: First he needed a little help, then he needed more, and finally he needed a lot. At this point we’ve nearly reached the end of the road with his bathing situation. That is, the next [...]
Lunch Today
I decided to tell the story of lunch today, to give a snapshot of life . . . “Would you like some lunch?” I asked Grandpa after I came back from my bike ride. “Are you hungry?” “Are you hungry?” Grandpa repeated back to me. “Would you like something to eat?” I asked, rephrasing the [...]
Better Days, Better Nights
There is an unfortunate tendency to dwell on disasters. It makes compelling reading, and often the disasters are the only thing which bestir us enough to write. As a result of this fact, my posts here have tended to be a long litany of one bad thing after another, with most good things simply becoming [...]
If Anyone Is Counting
About two months ago I wrote about a “poop disaster” which involved the living room carpet, and Grandpa walking through his own feces and generally making a mess of things. A charming, pleasant, story, if you recall. Today I have a little addendum of sorts. A few weeks ago I was getting Grandpa ready for [...]
Grandpa’s Guitar
G . . . F . . . E . . . D . . . C . . . E . . . A . . . G. The notes slide down the scale, clear and sharp, except where I flub it. I’m learning the guitar. If you had asked me four, or maybe [...]
