No. of Recommendations: 2
Well, it happened. 1poormom didn't recognize my voice over the phone until I told her who I was.
I am so sorry. No matter how aware we are that this is coming, it's still a shock to have it happen. Do they know the type of dementia and the cause?
I would like to be all sunshine and hope for you, but the reality is with this disease though decline is not a straight downward line and comes with moments of lucidity, it typically is not currently permanently reversible. Perhaps so if the issue is nutrition based, but not for Alzheimer's.
You say that your Mom remembered you when prompted, and indeed she likely still remembers the young you, but is confused by the adult you. However, from my experience with family Alzheimer's, there is a cunningness that the dementia patient uses to try to hide their condition, and you always have to be analyzing the interactions with your mom for authenticity. It has to be terrorizing for them to be constantly surrounded by strangers and items they don't understand, and they do their best to hide in plain sight by taking wild guesses as to what to do with what they are faced with. My aunt actually walked out of the bathroom Dad had sent her into to change, wearing her underwear on her head. It's absolute exhaustion to be constantly doing this, which is why the patient tends to avoid socialization, IMO.
At least she still reads her newspaper.
This is a good sign, if only to show that she knows what to do with the paper, even if she is no longer actually following what is going on. If you notice she picks up the paper less, or doesn't remember how to handle it, that will be sign of progression. If you can handle it, perhaps try calling her daily to ask if there were any good news stories you missed? Or suggest one of the nurses/aides do the same? That may be a good routine for her, assuming that she remembers the story long enough to tell it. You don't want to add to her frustration, but give her a reason to continue reading, as well as use the activity for a progression check and one on one socialization.
Alzheimer's runs strong in Dad's side of the family. His mom, two sisters and we believe he had it as well, leaving me with a good chance of getting it myself. We recently had to let our 17 year old fur baby go, and it was frankly a beautiful and unselfish thing to take away his pain, rather than make him live through it. I intend to be similarly unselfish should I start to experience dementia. I don't want to put my DH or kids through that.
IP
