Well today was a good day for everyone. Dale, my husband, took mom to adult day care today. She has been very resistant every single week. I left the house before he brought up going. I left the house a few minutes early so she wouldn’t have someone to bunce off whether she needed to go or not, like she did last week. Dale called and said, “That couldn’t have gone better! I came down and said, “I hope I didn’t keep you waiting, are you ready to go?” Mom, “What? Where are we going?” Dale, “Today you go to class at 10:00 and we need to go or we will be late.” Mom, “Ok, let me get my stuff.” Off they went!!! He said they got to Next Door and mom got out of the car, a “friend” was waiting for her and mom went and hooked her arm and started walking off! Dale asked, “Mom do you want me to keep your purse? Mom, “No, we may go shopping later.”
Awesome! So glad she was ready to go and looking forward to it. She came home with a painting of two koi fish, she painted freehanded. It was great! We hung it in the bathroom and it looks awesome! She came in happy and talked about her friends for quite a while. It was so good to see her excited. Now, Karen, my sister called and mom didn’t remember the picture. So while Karen was on the phone I walked with her into the bathroom and showed her. she. “Whooped and laughed and was so excited to see the picture.” This happened 6 more times before bed. She has no short term memory at all today. As I helped her get ready for bed, she said, “My day sure was boring and quite.” I didn’t want her to think her day was boring, so I said, “Oh mom, you had a great day. You wen to class and painted a picture of two koi fish.” Mom, “That was today? I thought that was another day.” Me, “No that was today.” Mom, “Well I am beat. I had a good day. ” Me, “I love you so much mom. Sleep well.” Mom, “I’m counting on that, I will honey. I love you too.”
Dale has agreed, when he is here, he will block off the time needed to take her each week. What a help! It is a struggle for me and her on Wednesday. I believe it is because I am her caregiver. I also think that Dale being male and not the primary caregiver, she is more susceptible with her. I know I am a trial! I do need to practice being a daughter more often, But, that is really hard. #dementia, #caregiving, #navigating family”
