The Roller Coaster Ride of Alzheimer’s/Dementia
by
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Over the next two years, this was the part of the roller coaster that took the small dips up and down and around curves. She would forget where her room was even though her name was on the door, and she had no concept of time. She needed assistance with every part of her daily living. I still took care of her bills, took her to the doctor, eye doctor, out to eat, and so on. My sister took care of her medication ordering and seeing her when she was able, and my brother came and took her out to eat and brought her candy when he could. She enjoyed playing bingo but always needed help because of her failing eyesight and hearing. So I tried to go three times a week to help her play her favorite game and eat lunch with her. Alzheimer’s and dementia rob individuals not only of their brains but of their eyesight, hearing, and so much more.
As a caregiver, and on the roller coaster ride of dementia, you must have that humor button you can push at all times. Pretty funny things sometimes come out in conversations. My mother, who never smoked in her life, for some reason started asking me for a cigarette when we went out to the patio or took a walk. I asked her why, after all these years of yelling at everyone else about smoking, she would start now. She replied, “Because I can!” I figured at ninety years old, what was it going to hurt now? And the funny thing about this was, her mother, my grandma, had dementia (back then we called it “senility”) and did the exact same thing. Grandma also hated smoking, but she smoked a little longer than my mother. My mother smoked about two months. My grandma smoked over a year because everyone else was doing it, so she wanted to smoke too.
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About the Book
Box of Chocolates
Mother’s Day was very unusual this year. When I arrived, I greeted my mother with, “Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!” and she said, “Thank you.” I gave her some gifts and a card, and she was very happy and appreciative.
After a few minutes, she looked at me and asked, “Who are you?” When I told her I was her daughter, she said, “I didn’t know I had any children.” I told her she had two girls and one boy. She asked where the other two were, and I told her they were always around her somewhere. She then asked, “What is your name?”
I said, “My name is Pavah.”
She then looked at me very strangely and asked, “Who in the world would give a child a name like that?” Just like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get!
About the Author
Pavah Kucharek enjoys living with her husband in their Central Florida home. She has three children and six grandchildren. She loves to travel and go on cruises with family and friends. She is also an avid reader. Pavah also volunteers at an Alzheimer’s support group and is certified to lead group meetings. Her goal is to inform and help other families going through the emotional and mental struggle of this horrible disease.