I just spent two and a half hours in the Alzheimer's ward, 100 Hall, where I have my mother. Not as much fun as in the past.
"Fun"? How could a visit to an Alzheimer's ward be fun?
There are times when you can joke with the patients. One lady is always trying to come on to ANY man in the place. An orderly came in one morning, smiling, saying "HI" to all the folks there. He was making their day. He came to this one woman, turned and she patted his butt. You would have thought he was a Chip-n-Dales dancer the way she smiled!
Yeah, you can have fun. Yeah, she has hit on me too. "Not enough of me to go around, sweetheart!", popped out of my mouth. Don't know where it came from, but it got a laugh from the patients and the staff. The lady has not left me alone since.
Somethings they do remember.
Today was different. I do not know yet what it was. That my mother remembers me is a surprise. She has pretty much forgotten my sisters. For that, I am sorry.
I sometimes wonder if we really know as much as we think about this disease. To be glad someone has it is cruel, (George Clooney), to wish it on someone, unthinkable, to me.
I hope my next visit can brighten someone's day a bit more.
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Comments: 9
Kristie
It is true that Alzheimer's is a very up-and-down disease. I have worked with many people with Alzheimer's (my husband and I have run a charitable HELPS organization for over 30 years). I have watched people one minute know nothing and the next minute spout poetry like an old pro and ask for the nurse by name.
As a result of much of that work, I have done quite a bit of research on the subject. I can't remember the date of the issue of Time Magazine quite a few years ago that published a study somebody did on a group of nuns. Their findings were quite enlightening.
If you want to find the info. from the article, it is cited in my "fun" Patrick and Grace Mystery, Old Habits Die Hard. In that book, they fear that the Missing Mother Superior has Alzheimer's, but when Grace finds a copy of that article from the Times Magazine she is convinced that Mother Superior's mind is as sharp as a tack. Why? Because, as Grace explains to Patrick, "If you think you might have Alzheimer's, you probably don't. People who do don't know they have it and don't care."
Janet
At the Alzheimer's community that he was at, they did various activities, trying to keep their residents engaged in life as much as was possible. One day during their arts & crafts time, they gave each resident a picture of a Christmas tree to color and magazines to cut up and paste, to decorate the tree.
You can't imagine my surprise when the staff showed me my father's artwork. He had cut out pictures of various models and glued them to the tree as 'ornaments'. He had photos of Christie Brinkley, Cindy Crawford, and Tyra Banks, adorning his tree. This was from a man who had always been truly devoted to my mother while she was alive !!
Although Alzheimer's is a cruel disease, it is so variable in nature. My father was happy much of the time, truly living and engaged in the moment. I think he saw himself as a 35 year old man, probably wondering who all the 'old' people were at the facility.
I don't wish Alzheimer's on anyone. But, we actually were lucky that it didn't destroy my father's playfulness or his sense of humor, as it sometimes does to other people. We have been left with many amusing memories that have sustained us since my father has gone.
A man can be TOTALLY devoted to his wife, but still window shop. Beauty is to behold. It is only a problem if one desires it for their own.
He probably was the 35 year old man when he cut out the models.
God bless him!
I've also worked in the field, and have been a caregiver for 14 years, and have volunteered my time with AD victims. I've changed the word "victims" to "chosen few" I like that one better.
The 'chosen few' I've known and now know, know they have Alzheimer's and are fully aware of it. I think years ago it was a word that was kept in the closet, but now it's out and thank God people are talking more of it and learning more of it. Including the 'chosen few'. I play tennis with a gal who beats me all the time, she has Alzheimer's. Doesn't she know it, Yes. Does she talk of it, Yes.
If some one reading this wants to have a marvelous experience take a walk into to an Alzheimer's unit at any nursing home or ALF. You will find you might have the time of your life and learn something too.
God bless the "Chosen Few" they will teach us in the long run.