My grandmother is 80 years old has been suffering from dementia for the past 2-3 years now. Before any signs of dementia appeared, she was an active and independent elder who knows everyone around Chinatown (she lives in California). Now her short-term memory only lasts a few minutes and she repeats herself often. Occasionally she will remember some current events only if it makes her happy like going to the casinos or pisses her off like a child being rude. She has fallen a few times and cuts and bruises show up, but she cannot remember how and when it came about. My two aunts, who live nearby, worry about my grandma all the time. They fear that she will forget her way back home, forget to turn off the stove, or lose her money (which has happened).
I visited my grandmother over Christmas and I can tell she has lost her spunk and independence. Nowadays she sits in her small apartment watching TV. Sometimes she would go to the market forgetting there is plenty of food in the fridge. To keep her safe, my aunts take turns watching over her, making sure she eats, and getting adequate exercise.
I did not anticipate all of these issues with dementia. In my naïve mind, I thought dementia only affected short-term memory slightly. As each day goes by, so does my grandmother’s memory.
I am sorry to hear about your grandmother. I know it is hard to watch her decline in such a way. My grandfather actually went through the same thing. He was very active and mentally astute until the age of 74. He even remarried at 66. But, as he got older, he would forget things. Then, he would wander out the house. Eventually, my sweet tempered grandfathered became a very agitated person. In the end, we had to admit him to a nursing home for his safety. I broke my heart to see him that way.
ReplyDeleteI wish the best for your grandmother and your family. Dementia is a hard road for a family to travel.
Your grandmother is adorable! I remember my great-grandmother enduring the very same thing. One day I went to her house with my mom and grandma and we couldn't find her. The door was locked, so we didn't think she had ventured out, but she was missing. We called the police, scoured the neighborhood, and went through considerable worry, panic, and chaos. As we were combing the house again, my mom and I went through one of the bedrooms and noticed a laundry basket full of clothes seemed to be giggling! She had been hiding in that basket for hours thinking she was playing a funny game with us! While dimentia/alzheimers is sad, I always think of that story because it reminds me that in their own way, they still find happiness. Try to remember the happy/funny times with your grandmother, and know that you are a source of that for her! Recently I saw a great series on HBO dedicated to Alzheimer’s. It was one of the best things I've seen on TV in awhile, and it will give you more insight on how to deal with the process. Here's a link to one of the episodes: http://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play?p=hbo+alzheimers&ei=UTF-8&fr=fptb-hptb7-150&tnr=21&vid=0001545371464
ReplyDeleteIt is so tough to watch your grandparents age, especially if a chronic disease accompanies the aging process. When I was training to become a nurse aid, I spent a week in a nursing home working with alzheimers patients. These individuals live daily lives that we can not even begin to imagine. I am so sorry to hear that your grandmother is suffering from dementia. I want to share some advice that my mother-in-law shared with me once, she said... "Take a little bit of time every day just letting the people in your life whom you care for, know that you love them." In cases such as these, where we feel that there is not much left for us to do, it is empowering to know that we can at least touch them in that small but vital way. Best wishes to you and yours...
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