It's kind of a damned if I do and damned if I don't. that is, saying i'm going to a meeting and Debbie will be coming to visit while I'm gone...should i say that a couple of hours before i leave to give him time to digest, or will he simmer all the time we're walking....or should i just wait till Debbie comes and let him know last minute...last time i did it at the last minute, big mistake, he was hostile and it was not a very good day for either Debbie or Mac...Decided to tell him when we were out on our morning walk, by the way the weather was super, (is this november?) kind of a big mistake for me, as our walk was ruined. We saw all kinds of lovely scenes, childen playing, a beautiful big dog wanting us to pet him, Fantastic fall coloured leaves, trees with their leaves completely gone but berries covering the branches still - what kind of a tree i was wondering to Mac, well no way would he look or comment....over and over he would just say, i'm leaing when she comes...
Finally he would not walk beside me, furious that i would not go along with his comment plus he said he could stay by himself, he was not a baby...It didn't matter that i pointed out that no it has no way anything to do with him not being a man, but that at this time he has to have help, his memory is gone - and if he left he would get lost...so sad to see him marching off by himself and then stopping at the end of the path in the little glade we were in, not knowing whether to go left or right...this happened over and over..as he marched head up and stiff, i would casually go and give him a little steer and he'd quickly march on ahead...again..till we were home..
Well of course, i still went to the meeting, which was all about MEMORY...although i could probably give the talk, it was good to reaffirm what I've learned, for instance, Dementia is not the same thing as Alzheimeers, Dementia is the umberella term, Alheimer's is one of the 6 different forms of Dementia, although the speaker from the Memory Clinic at The Douglas hospital gave the names, and i thought i would remember ...sad to say, i don't except that in some cases such as memory loss from stroke, and one other - the memory can possibly be regained, but in the case of A...no, the plaque that grows on the brain is what causes the memory loss, and the brain shrinks...
Some Memory loss is normal when one ages, and the different ways of helping the mind to remember, are of course - crossword puzzles, learning a new language, exercise particularly exercise where one breaks a sweat..-though all sorts of physical movment is good especially - walking - which was the reason the doc thinks Mac is still going strong, as many at his level of memory loss have many physical problems - he does have a problem with speech, and movement but usually it would be worse if it wasn't for the walking....
To keep memory it is important to use and think about foods such as those that are recommended , - coconut, vegetable greens, less root veges such as potatoes as the starch in the potato turns to sugar...apparently there is a type of dementia, sometimes called diabetes of the brain, or a vascular dementia..caused by high sugar intake, it is .also important to control weight...take Vitamin B12
Risks of having the big A. if it is in the family, is 5%...
The ways of helping those who live with A. -to lessen the stress suggetions were to meditate, take time
for yourself, share the burden with family members, go to support groups or a group, ...
well all this was very helpful, and of course the socializing was also on top of the list, and that is what i did with the people at the meeting which took place at the Teapot (seniors club)..it was great to discuss and meet and greet others - we all were pleased to know that it was common at our age to forget words,appointments, even what day it is or date, and of course names...i didn't mention that my mom said that forgetting at a late age was not my problem apparently i was forgetful at 10 years old, so hey maybe I've improved...
To make this long story short - mac was apparently upset when i left and continued off and on, not because i was gone,but he couldn't fnd his wallet, and said he thought the workers here had stolen it...immediately when I got in the building Debbie and he rushed to tell me, the solution was fast, up we went to the apartment and i showed him where he always leaves his wallet...hurrah, that made him so happy, so problem solved, and a happy camper was there for the rest of the day..even over the sundown syndrome time. so speaking of time, it's time for bed..g'nite.
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