Smack Dab in the Middle of the Land of Dementia

Jim went for imaging of his brain.  My explanation that it was a screening for those over 65 was accepted by him. I was ready with my companion card, and very glad that I brought it with me.

At check-in, there were several forms to fill out and sign. I filled out the forms, but when it came time to sign, Jim struggled. He managed to write his first name (hardly recognizable) and then turned to me and said "Will you do this for me?". I showed the POA to the receptionist, and then signed the forms for Jim. This was heartbreaking for me. At times like this, I wonder how it makes him feel. Does he realize that this is not normal? Or is he so focused on the difficulty of the task that he is just grateful that I am there to help him.

The imaging confirmed the diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease. I was not surprised, but still, it is shocking in some ways.  After all this time, you wouldn't think so. But I still sometimes wonder how all of this became our reality.

Jim's anxiety is much better. The citalopram has worked well for him. There have been several instances that typically would result in high anxiety and anger. Now, his reaction is much more subdued. What a relief!

The one caveat is that while it helps with anxious situations at home, situations outside the home are still capable of producing anxiety. So I continue to be careful with where we go, keeping the time away from home short, and avoiding noisy, busy environments.

He is on the highest safe dose of the citalopram; maximum benefit will be evident within the next 2 -3 weeks. I'm very grateful for the improvement I've seen so far. When I think back to how things were just prior to starting the medication, the difference is astounding.

Jim still does not tolerate me being away from him. He has been less tolerant of lunch with Mike, or even a visit from Mike. My thinking is that as Jim's deficits increase, he feels less secure away from me. My good friend Jan has given me lots of encouragement and some good advice on options to explore, as I try to figure out ways to make time for myself away from the home.

I've written before that Jim sleeps a lot. The amount of time he sleeps seems to be increasing. During the day when he naps, I take full advantage of the time. In the evening he goes to bed about 7:30. Although he usually will come out of the bedroom every 10 minutes or so, just to check on me. He is the most confused in the evening. Lately he has been incorporating what he sees on TV into his reality. Last night we were watching the news about the latest Trump scandal, and Jim said "Trump said that to me yesterday."

Language skills continue to decline. But I am getting better at interpreting what he needs. Sometimes he pantomimes, gestures or points while speaking, which helps a lot. Sometimes he makes a declarative sentence that makes no sense at all. When he does that, a neutral response by me helps prevent frustration for both of us.

I've written before that I never correct Jim if he says something that is wrong or inaccurate. The exceptions are if it is something of danger, or if it is of great importance. Something I have been thinking about are the times when Jim does not remember who I am. Should I correct him on this? Is it really important? I think it is, especially if he is worried or upset.

One evening last week, he didn't know where he was, how he got here, and "Where is Carole?". He was so distraught, it made sense at the time to gently orient him. At some point I suggested we just go to sleep and talk about everything in the morning. Of course in the morning he had no recollection of our conversation from the night before.


The land of dementia. No one wants to be here. But here we are. Smack dab in the middle of it. Making the best of it, finding our way, and learning as we go.

Thanks for stopping by. My heart feels lighter. I appreciate each one of you!