I have been trying to find different ways to express this for more than a couple of years at this point. What a person with dementia can communicate with you is not representative of what they know. What they can recall on command has no relation to how much knowledge is actually there. Perhaps for… Continue reading September 7, 2016: A common misconception about dementia
Tag: cognition
February 27, 2016: Watching political documentaries with Donna
Television with Mom is likely the thing we do together the most, as it is an easy default. But deciding what to watch is a struggle. Do we watch programs that she holds values about, but would likely not be able to follow in depth? What programming makes sense for her? Can I enjoy programs… Continue reading February 27, 2016: Watching political documentaries with Donna
September 27, 2015: Mom couldn’t walk last night
The ability to decompress after something traumatic takes place is a learned skill, at least for myself. Something that is less common now than it was then is well exemplified here– the panic, hyper, over-the-top stimulated and wired I would get from dealing with tough situations would take me days to shake out. Managing emotions… Continue reading September 27, 2015: Mom couldn’t walk last night
March 14, 2015: Oranges and Caregiving
I could continue on with this for examples up until today… but if I were to do so, it would finish (so I think) with me handing her the orange and not paying attention to what she did after that. I also note that as Mom settled into her ‘new’ brain these kinds of ‘complications’… Continue reading March 14, 2015: Oranges and Caregiving
November 14, 2014: Mom has been home for two weeks
In this time and place, Mom was going through extreme difficulties in making the transition from living mostly independently in the Retirement Residence called the Mullberry. Owing to escalating cognitive problems– as well as a manager that had been hired and proceeded over a few months to evict several elders, harass a few others into… Continue reading November 14, 2014: Mom has been home for two weeks