Dad’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s stayed
hidden from everyone until I took over the medical administration of my parents
in 2015. Once I found out, there was a deafening silence from most of the
people I know even though virtually all of them would add, “My _____ had
Alzheimer’s…” But there was little help, little beyond people sadly shaking heads.
Or horror stories. Lots of those. Even the ones who knew about the disease seemed
to have received a gag order from some Central Alzheimer’s Command and did
little more than mumble about the experience. Not one to shut up for any known
reason, I started this part of my blog…
On Tuesday, I’m
going to a presentation at the senior residence that has the memory care unit
my dad lives in…
See, I blocked my
dad from calling me for the past week after he got mad at me, shouted at me,
then hung up on me last Monday. I “know” it’s a horrible thing to do, but I can’t
deal with his paranoia and refusals and just general “meanness”. And I TELL myself,
“This isn’t Dad! It’s the Alzheimer’s talking…”
But I don’t
believe myself.
The presentation
is being done by the Alzheimer’s Association, titled “Understanding
and Responding to Dementia Related Behavior”. Man, do I need to hear this.
I hope it will help. But I’ll report on Wednesday once I process it.
For now, have a
good week!
Resource: https://www.alz.org/
Image: http://az616578.vo.msecnd.net/files/2016/06/25/6360242025150255191939281878_Alzheimer-disease-patients.jpg
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