My Mom is progressing further into Alzheimer’s disease. I have another post on the digital collages that I am creating to document and emotionally process this journey.
She had to move a couple of months ago to a nursing home from the assisted living where she was. She was just not strong enough to help people get her up and down and they were not equipped to handle her without the possibility of someone getting hurt…especially her. We have some very caring sitters who stay with her in the daytime. They are amazing people who treat my Mom as if she were their own family.
She seems very happy where she is. One day my sister and I mentioned nursing home and Mom asked, “Is that what they call this place?” Then she said, “I guess I’ll just sit here and eat my blueberries.” She is very happy if you bring her some fresh fruit or some other treat and loves to see pictures of her great grandbabies. She has developed friendships with several of the patients there and especially her roommate, whom she has known for years, who is going to turn 100 years old this fall. This lady is still pretty sharp and is always doing word puzzles when I see her in the room.
There are still a few small battles to fight to make sure that the staff is attentive and prompt to take care of her needs, but they are apologetic and seem to try their best to accommodate our requests. Having a sitter there to advocate for her makes a difference. I don’t know what people do who don’t have family or friends checking on them when they are in a facility like that or a hospital.
A couple of times she has asked me if I have children or who I am married to, or where I live. Other times she remembers. She will call me at random times and say, “Your number just popped into my head.” Even if it is at 5:30 in the morning, I am thankful that she still remembers who I am and where to find me.
Here is a video of the digital collage process.