God is so good!! I really felt that I should take a year of from teaching full time this year and substitute teach. Several things have happened since then to confirm that decision. In September my grandchildren Conal and Victoria moved in with me to attend school in Macgregor. The family is in the process of moving down here permanently. Angela was not able to be here until later in November. Therefore I was primary caregiver for a couple of months; this would not have worked out if I had been teaching fulltime. Then in November my mom got very sick and ended up in the hospital. When I was home this summer I had realized how bad my moms memory loss, mood swings and anxiety had progressed. I knew she would eventually need personal care. Around the middle of November she went into the hospital with a bowel obstruction. After three days of being in the hospital she had a mild heart attack. This attack greatly accelerated the progression of short term memory loss and her anxiety levels were extreme. My dad was not handling it well as she was a totally different person. I knew I would have to go home to take care of dad and help him adjust. This was bittersweet for me as I knew I would have to stay until after christmas or longer. My family was very understanding and supported me in this decision. When I arrived home mom was still in the hospital, however she seemed to be much calmer knowing I was home. I was astounded at the extent of her short term memory loss. I met with her doctor and he told me she was on Aricept, a medication that delays the progression of Alzhiemers. We also agreed to put her on meds for her anxiety. Mom got out of the hospital a day or two after I arrived. Within a week of being on the new meds she was much calmer and her mood swings had lessened. However her short term memory loss is permanent. We are hoping that the Aricept will slow the progression of the Alzhiemers for a couple more years. She has also developed some obsessive compulsive disorders as a result of the Alzhiemers. For example she will go through her jewellery several times a day and acuse someone of stealing it if she can't find something. This is after she has hidden it and forgot where she put it. She does this with other things throughout the day. She rearranges her dresser drawers 10-15 times a day, she also sometimes changes ten times a day. The OCD seems to lessen when she has other things to do such as playing games and such at the home. We are so thankful that mom and dad are in the Springdale Retirement Center. It is such a blessing! All their needs are taken care of. This is a semi independant retirement home where all the meals, meds, transportation, cleaning, and social needs are taken care of. It is a beautiful facility with a wonderful caring staff. When mom is no longer able to shower and dress herself (
we are praying this won't happen for a while yet) she will be considered a level three and will have to be separated from dad to go to the personal care home. (Valley Vista) Right now quality of life for both mom and dad is good, we are hoping this will continue for a couple more years. I left for home on Boxing Day with much tears but knowing that they were OK for a while yet and in good hands. Thank-you Lord for your tender loving care and your faithfulness to your children! It was good to get back home and spend the rest of the holidays with family and friends!
There are some things that will help when talking to mom on the phone. She may seem normal (she is very good at covering up) but remember she is at least 10-15 years in the past. She is not able to relay messages as she forgets as soon as she is of the phone. If you need to pass something on to dad do it directly (I learned this the hard way). She cannot write anything down its too confusing for her. She may accuse you of not calling her, she forgets so you might have to call often. Short calls are better because she doesn't process well. Be careful what you say, change the subject to something pleasant if she gets upset;
she forgets quickly what she was upset about. If you send pictures make sure the name, date and year is
written on them. I want to say a big THANK-YOU to Aunt Rose, Aunt Linda, Aunt Audrey, Aunt Marge, and all extended family who called and offered their support through this time. I would also like to say a special thank you to Aunt Louise and Joe Cleary, they went above and beyond to help me get back to Manitoba. Aunt Louise cooked us an amazing Christmas dinner and then took me to Gander on Boxing Day to catch my flight. They made Christmas special for us. Every step of the way I knew I had made the right decision to go home and spend Christmas with my parents. Indeed God is good and His mercies are everlasting!
God bless!!
Lorraine
