It is truly hard to imagine the impact that Dementia/Alzheimer's Disease has on the mind until you have an opportunity to experience it first hand. In January of this year, I purchased Muddear a new calendar. Normally, I purchase a wall calendar full of pictures - from flowers, to landscapes, they are always quite beautiful. This year, I purchased Muddear's 2010 calendar a little later than usual, which meant the selection was less diverse than normal. Nevertheless, I found an adorable calendar full of pictures of puppy dogs. Cute right? Wrong! The calendar lasted no more than two months. About once a week, Muddear would come into the hallway and start calling us in a panic. "Come quick, there is a man peeping in my window!" Of course, I tried to reason with her by explaining...
"Muddear, your room is on the second floor, it isn't possible for someone to peep in your window." That didn't work. Therefore, I went into her room to explain further. It was then that I realized every time that Muddear thought the calendar was a window and the puppy picture was a man. Initially, I thought she would get used to the calendar and these panic attacks would stop. They never did. So today, after about eight (8) weeks - the calendar was removed and I'll have to purchase a new one tomorrow.
When someone has Dementia/ Alzheimer's Disease there are times when the simplest things can be very challenging. This situation was definitely a learning experience for me. It is important to keep things as simple as possible for Muddear. There are things that she remembers fairly well - like her daily routine. That is because we keep Muddear on a regular schedule - bath's on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with wash-ups on Tuesday and Thursday; towel folding on Thursdays; breakfast at 9:00 and lunch at 12:30; calendars with flowers and landscapes. No Changes. A calendar with puppy dogs was apparently too much change - I should have figured that out immediately instead of causing weekly panic attacks. Muddear, I am very sorry!
*Image courtesy of Wikipedia
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Sign in nowWhat type of college assignment are you working on?
blank face/ hides things /sunken eyes/
Being a caregiver can be extremely difficult, especially for someone with Alzheimer's/Dementia. Another way to describe the illness is sufferers seem to revert back to childhood. Either way it is difficult to watch.
Do you have a good support system in place to help you?