In less than a month, thousands of people will gather in San Francisco for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, so I’m in a frame of mind that is slightly off topic.
Sherrie, Alzheimer’s Advocate, Caregiver, and Walk to End Alzheimer’s participant
Therefore, this entry is not about something I just read regarding the latest drug that has promise or the one that failed. It’s not about hounding you to write another letter or make one more phone call to insist that lawmakers fund more research or vote for legislation that makes living with Alzheimer’s more bearable. Instead, this is about my mother.
It could be that because the Walk to End Alzheimer’s is just around the corner, my dreams of my mom – who died in 2000 and for whom I had cared for many long years – are more present.
The good news is that these dreams don’t often leave me feeling distressed. In fact, in last night’s dream, my mother was better – she still had Alzheimer’s, but she was functioning. Together, we looked at a picture of her in younger years with her flowing curly dark hair and I convinced her to continue to color the gray! She agreed. As all dreams go, this one had many fluid moments, many of which made no sense at all, but my mother was not in total despair, and as her caregiver, neither was I. Believe me, that is progress!
Over the years, my mother has taken center stage in lots of my nocturnal journeys. Perhaps, because of the time of year, my most recent dream expresses my ultimate hope (and belief) that scientists absolutely will find a cure or at least better ways to treat Alzheimer’s. When? I don’t know. But, I believe that is in our future.
One way I can make a difference – and you can too – is to walk with us this month. Once there, you can be sure that I will convince you to become a registered advocate for the cause!
Plus, I’ll remember my mom, as I do every day. I know many of you will be remembering those you have loved, too.
Visit www.alz.org/walk to find one of many walks throughout the country.
There are 2 things that help my wife who has Dimentia ;one is playing cards and the other is playing slots at the Casino . She gets up in the middle of the night and plays Solitare and also plays it during the day .I play 5 crowns with her .She has a heaaring impairment , Poor eyesight and high blood pressure so I have my hands full . When her anger gets out of control I let it go in one ear and out the other one .I have built up what I consider is a strong resistance and cope with the situation day by day . Irwin .
Irwin, you are awesome
I hope that if I am ever in the sad state of Alzheimer’s, that I have someone who cares enough to handle all of the ups and downs as you do.
You are a blessing, an angel to your wife.
Caring Carer, A comment I made eshrwleee recently was about the whole attitude to dementia care and its provision/funding. In the days when many people ended up on long stay psycho-geriatric wards with severe dementia, it was full funded. The switch to community care, preferable in many ways to the hospital environment, has also resulted in dementia effectively being downgraded’ from the illness it is, to one which often results in admission to residential care or psychiatric nursing homes, depending on level. People are then either expected to fully pay for or contribute to the cost.In terms of food/heating and items that they would be paying for at home, this is probably reasonable but many people end up footing the bill for the whole cost of their care. That doesn’t apply if full nursing is needed, ie help with eating and every aspect of their own personal care, but does to all others who, due to level of dementia, are unable to live outside residential care/remain in their homes, any more. Dementia is an illness, but it’s a profit making businesses for many residential care homes. The staff might be very good, variable in some cases and there are huge issues with general standards. But effectively people who are ill with dementia are not being given the cradle to the grave’ care supposedly provided because much of this, if residential, is being provided by profit-making businesses which are also not being properly regulated. In terms of making communities more dementia-friendly, the whole national attitude and provision of care for dementia needs to be addressed. I know that is a view shared by very many people.