It was a long weekend with mom. Saturday she had use of a car for the first time in 2 weeks. She went to the hairdresser and a couple of stores but came home and was very leary of going out again by herself. Was very clingy and even though there were others here at home she went with me where ever I went. I don't mind but yet those little 10/20 minute trips away are like a small little refuge/break for me that recharges my patience and batteries. Doesn't sound like much but it means a great deal to me. Mom's memory was horrible today. Lots of repeating questions. Decided she wanted to take off to Dairy Queen by herself but called just outside the house because she didn't remember where it was (been in the same spot for 30+ years) . I had a hard time giving her directions because she didn't remember road names or directions at all. Made me very nervous but she was already on the road and said she was going to be fine. One of the things she loves to do is laundry especially when Nick comes home from college to do his for him. I asked her early in the day if she had it done yet so if not I could get it done for him since he was going back to college Sat night. She swore it was all done, folded and in her room. Later on when he was getting ready to leave she had only one load washed and dried and the other load was still in the washer. She absolutely thought he put more out there as well as swore he never goes back to college till Sunday. He always goes back on Sat.
Didn't remember putting leftovers together for him to go back either. Kept wanting to do it again. Had trouble with finding something in the cabinet and swore I had moved things around. There was a lot of repeating of questions, stories, news events (some not even current) both days. Sunday was better compared to Sat but still lots of repeating. Needed eye drops and alcohol and oldest son took her. Before they left she got ready and said what do I need again... Kurtis said she asked him the same question several times before they got there as well. Trouble remembering which bedroom each kid is in. Went to bed early so hopefully come Monday the day will be better. Its weekends like this that leave me exhausted and can feel the stress in my neck.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Reason for Starting this Blog
I am starting this for several reasons. First and foremost that it may help others understand and see what is going on in the life of my mom and my life with her. My mom is 74 years old and although she totally refuses to go to the Dr. at this point she shows every sign of having dementia/Alhzeimer's. I started a notebook with daily detail of her days and issues on July 1 of this year although this has been going on slowly for several years but the intensity of her memory loss has increased over the past year and really increased over the past 6 months.
Things in the past year ~
*Often not sure of the day and will ask sometimes several times a day (day of week, date, month)
*Will go to the store even with a list and come home very agitated. Will claim they didn't have the item,moved the item, or come home with something different than went after such as going for laundry soap and coming home with dishwasher soap.
*Not able to recall zip code (lived here for over 50 years)
*Trouble understanding paperwork/mail.
*Friend's concerned saying hard to carry on conversation with her as there is a lot of repeating, questions generally answered with "I don't know".
*Trouble at work. Get's agitated and confused if too many people need her attention or if waiting room become busy or loud. Has really hard time with any change. Change in handwriting (noticed at home as well). Not as "together" or "organized" as she always was.
*Took a trip to the graveyard with her. She could not locate my dad's grave which she always knew exactly where it was but could located her parents graves quickly which she could never find unless she started at my dad's grave (parents passed away in 1967 and 1987)
*Often confuses the time frame of happenings. Something she heard on the news days/weeks/months ago she will believe she just heard it.
*Puts items in odd/wrong places or cannot remember where items are located. will look through cupboards to find a glass although glasses have been in the same cupboard for over 40 years.
*Often forgets how to work some items (cell phone, regular phone, stove, microwave)
*Trouble remembering people she worked with. Will talk to them then say "who was that" when they walk away. Often saying that she didn't know them.
Things in the past year ~
*Often not sure of the day and will ask sometimes several times a day (day of week, date, month)
*Will go to the store even with a list and come home very agitated. Will claim they didn't have the item,moved the item, or come home with something different than went after such as going for laundry soap and coming home with dishwasher soap.
*Not able to recall zip code (lived here for over 50 years)
*Trouble understanding paperwork/mail.
*Friend's concerned saying hard to carry on conversation with her as there is a lot of repeating, questions generally answered with "I don't know".
*Trouble at work. Get's agitated and confused if too many people need her attention or if waiting room become busy or loud. Has really hard time with any change. Change in handwriting (noticed at home as well). Not as "together" or "organized" as she always was.
*Took a trip to the graveyard with her. She could not locate my dad's grave which she always knew exactly where it was but could located her parents graves quickly which she could never find unless she started at my dad's grave (parents passed away in 1967 and 1987)
*Often confuses the time frame of happenings. Something she heard on the news days/weeks/months ago she will believe she just heard it.
*Puts items in odd/wrong places or cannot remember where items are located. will look through cupboards to find a glass although glasses have been in the same cupboard for over 40 years.
*Often forgets how to work some items (cell phone, regular phone, stove, microwave)
*Trouble remembering people she worked with. Will talk to them then say "who was that" when they walk away. Often saying that she didn't know them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)