My mother was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2010. This is a blog about coming to terms with her absent mind.

Thursday 28 July 2011

Didn't we have a lovely time the day we went to...

Warrington.

We went to meet my cousin's new granddaughter, the utterly delicious Piper Grace, and spent a fabulous afternoon with her big sister, Orla (17 months). We had bubbles and water play and books to read. Orla is just captivating so of course Ma was very happy. She did get a bit confused at one point between the new baby and one of Orla's baby dolls but thoroughly enjoyed her day out.

I watched in amazement as Ma ate bbq'd spare ribs, chicken and sausages, salad and delicious home made wedges. Then strawberries and cream. If I'd tried to feed her that she would've had a hissy fit. Then there was the schoolboy error of wiping her face on the tablecloth mistaking it for her napkin, but we've all done that one. Er. Just me then?

Talking to Dave and Glen is really helpful because Dave's mum (Ma's sister Anne) has Alzheimer's and they have already been where I am now. So they totally understand the frustrations and difficulties of the day to day. This is very comforting. Not only do they understand and validate what I am doing but can give me some idea of how it will be in the future.

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I mentioned to someone on Twitter this evening that it is the little annoyances which send you into meltdown.

My current annoyance is Ma's need to hold a tissue at all times. She doesn't blow her nose properly, simply dabs at it and sniffs. The tissue ends up like a handful of string, which she proceeds to bundle up and then... dab sniff dab sniff dab. Drives me to the brink of insanity.

Discussing this with Glen, she thought that maybe they (Ma, Aunt, other sufferers) simply forget how to blow their nose. A good point and another position on the learning curve. Must try harder!

3 comments:

  1. My Aunt is the same - will not eat at home but happily tucks in at - was going to say family gatherings. Which is true, but these days read funerals. At home, different story much to my cousins' frustration. Sad thing is she is now a child, even sadder is the inability to learn or relearn basic skills.

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  2. Basic skills - Ma is losing (or already lost) the ability to operate a zip, toaster, oven, remote control, telephone, hair dryer, shower, door key etc.

    I've said this on here somewhere before, but it is very much like living with a four-year-old child again.

    Funny how they will eat 'away' though!

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  3. It's funny that you mentioned Tissues,I see that all the time with the people that I work with.. One woman specifically needed 7 tissues before she would do anything(Go to sleep, get dressed, you name it). Someone else needed 3 boxes at her bedside at all times.

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