//It Takes A Village
I sit here alone. My wife and daughter at the doctor’s office. My brother at work. My folks both taking a nap. Temps dropping into the tolerable range outside. Windows open. Breeze blowing in. Mine is a life and house at peace.
My mind wanders. I look up from my laptop and stare out the window at my neighbors tree. The wind and neighborhood voices rustle it’s leaves and I hear my Dad gently snoring in the next room. My world feels very Zen today. Wait…
Mom is up. She is wandering aimlessly. Freezer door opens. Closes. Opens. Closes. Chairs are shuffled about. There’s the frig door now. Open. Close. I better go check. Hang on… She’s setting in the living room. Now Dad is up.
“Where am I at?“ You’re at home. “Where’s my family?‘ We’re your family. “No I mean my family.“ We are your family. “Who are you?“ I’m your husband Donald. “Where are my parents?“ They’ve been dead for years. “Am I alone?” etc.
Caring for an Alzheimer’s patient is like caring for a toddler. If you’ve done either you know what I’m talking about. You’re always on high alert and the best you can ever hope for are moments, just brief moments, of peace in your life.
But when they happen they are precious and wonderful and energizing and cherished. I love my Mom but she is very high maintenance. Hillary Clinton said it takes a village to raise a child. It takes one to care for those with Alzheimer’s too.
(via Who I Was Then)
//4 years ago