An Alzheimer’s Caregiver Blog http://www.knowitalz.com Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:06:36 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.knowitalz.com/community/alzheimer-s/super-sunday.html Dad and I went to the grocery store today to stock up on snacks for our last-minute Super Bowl party for eight. My friend, Beth has four kids and no television set, so they are coming over en masse to watch the Saints and Colt battle it out in the last Pro-football game of the year. We were in the car driving home when my Dad proclaimed, There sure is a lot of traffic for a Sunday. Now how in the heck did he know it was Sunday? There was no chalkboard with the day and date on it and he did not have a newspaper (his two usual ways of knowing what day it is). Is it possible that all of the hype and advertising of Super Bowl Sunday can actually get inside the brain of a person with Alzheimer's disease? Now that's some pretty darned good advertising! Sun, 07 Feb 2010 14:38:45 +0100 http://www.knowitalz.com/community/alzheimer-s/unofficial-alzheimers-caregiver-day.html I often compare my life with my Dad to the movie, Groundhog Day . I sometimes feel as if I have been re-living the same day over and over for the past five years like in the film. Five years. That's a long time to live with and be a full-time caregiver for someone with Alzheimer's disease. Anyway, what was I talking about? Oh yeah, Groundhog Day. If I act a certain way or do certain things, Dad may get upset. So the next day I get a do-over. Just like Bill Murray in the movie. And so, my fellow Caregivers let me wish you a happy Groundhog Day and may tomorrow be better than today. After all, tomorrow really is another day! Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:48:03 +0100 http://www.knowitalz.com/community/alzheimer-s/no-news-coverage.html We live in North Carolina. I love the weather here and always tell people that it occasionally snows here, but just enough to be pretty, not enough to own a shovel. Yesterday it snowed 7 . Storm Watch 2010 started on Thursday. They talked about cancelling school and evening events for Friday (even though not a flake had fallen until after dark last night). Everyone was warned to get the necessary supplies including milk, bread and eggs. My sister joked we could all make French toast with those emergency supplies. The front page of the paper read, City Braces for Snow Storm . There has been constant coverage on television, and they keep breaking in to the regular shows every 15 minutes to update us on the blizzard . Dad woke up this morning to a beautiful blanket of peaceful snow. I don't remember hearing or reading anything about snow. He proclaimed. It was a surprise to all of us. I assured him. Those weathermen should lose their jobs! he replied. Boy. He's tough! Sat, 30 Jan 2010 16:02:20 +0100 http://www.knowitalz.com/community/dementia/its-contagious.html I recently started going to night school to get certified as an Activities Director for people with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia. David and my friend Peggy have been taking turns hanging out with Dad while I am in class at night and on Saturdays. This morning, I asked David if he had any funny stories for the blog since I had hardly spent any time with Dad since last week. He did do something funny and I meant to tell you last night, but now I have forgotten. If you think of it let me know. I replied. About thirty minutes later, I asked again if he had remembered the story. Oh, I forgot that you had asked me for a story He said. Oh, boy. Looks like I'll have two residents in my little assisted living before long! Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:13:21 +0100 http://www.knowitalz.com/community/caregiver/aim-low.html Dad and I were watching the news last night, and they were talking about New Year's Resolutions. Apparently this is the most popular week of the year for people to give up those resolutions. They start eating, smoking, drinking or whatever else they promised to quit at the beginning of the year. Dad commented that he was still doing well with his resolution. Oh yeah? I asked. What was your resolution? To live until next New Year's Day. Keep up the good work, Dad! Fri, 22 Jan 2010 05:33:25 +0100