Nothing is Definitive
I am the primary caregiver to my mother with dementia. I am the perpetual caretaker of all of the details. Her likes, her dislikes, her allergies, her dreams, her regrets. How’s that for a [...]
The Day the Wheels Fell Off
“The day the wheels fell off” refers to the day that my family was left with only one option – to involuntarily commit our otherwise healthy 80-year-old mother to a locked psychiatric ward where [...]
Moments
As a caregiver to someone with dementia, you live for moments, Clarity. Lucidity. Recognition. Slices of time that give hope. Lighting the path to understanding and acceptance.
Fly me to the moon
As a caregiver to someone with dementia, you must learn to connect in new ways. My phone on her pillow; Near her ear, Pandora softly playing Frank Sinatra. No matter how deep her sleep, [...]
Long and Slow Descent
As a caregiver to someone with dementia, It’s difficult to remember what they were, Before the tangles and the plaques She dressed impeccably, Everything matched, even things you couldn’t [...]
Nighttimme Breeds Apprehension
As a caregiver to someone with dementia, nighttime breeds apprehension. My mother progresses, From whimsical, furry animal delusions to angry and terrifying hallucinations Women walk [...]
Quicksand
As a caregiver to someone with dementia, you can think you’re on solid ground. You step, but sand begins to shift under your feet. Scientifically speaking, the friction between the sand particles [...]