There are 5.4 million people who have Alzheimer's. It cost 183 billion dollars in annual costs. Alz's is the 6th leading cause of death.
To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.' When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better. Concentrate on this sentence... 'The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.
WE LOVE HIM BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US
1 John 4: 9-10

Mom and Dad Happy Times.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

The Eight Legged Monster

More like the eight armed monster. Or an Octopus. Mom would sit in her chair all day without moving if I let her. So nice and sweet. But when it is time to change her or move her LOOK OUT!
There are hands everywhere. In my face, chest , arms, stomach. Pinching ,scratching and tugging at my cloths. The chest is the worst . We need to invent a chest guard . Oh my poor boobs.
That is when I know mom is still alive.If she finds some fat to hold on to you are in trouble. Then you have to figure out how to get her death grip to let go. She has the strength of ten man. I can hardly defend myself. When she could or would still walk she would push me away and almost knock me down sometimes. She took down the hall of the hospital once and it took 3 nurses and the doctor to get her back to bed. Than they gave her enough pills to kill a horse "So said the Doctor" and she still needed a straight jacket to hold her down.
I don't miss the days when she would try to knock me down or run away but I do miss her walking. If only there could a happy medium to this disease.

8 comments:

  1. My heart breaks for you. I can only imagine the pain of taking care of my mother.
    I have found it helpful to give Alzheimer's patients something very to hold before getting them up or moving them. At times they forget to let go of the item, this way you don't get grabbed or pinched. Wash clothes work great.

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  2. Beverly, what a great idea. Karen, it is so tough isn't it? And the strength they have! I've only gotten a kick and jab to the ribs so far. No pinching or grabbing...yet :-)

    http://lgurney.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Karen,

    I haven't had to deal with this with Sue yet. But I do remember the time Sue and I spent as her Grandmothers care givers. It was Grandma's cane you had to watch out for.

    God Bless America, God Save The Republic.

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  4. Dear karen, My heart goes out to you and your family. It is very difficult, exhausting, and sad to take care of someone with alzheimers. My thoughts and prayers are with you. I have no one in my family with this devistating disease but as a retired nurse I have some what of an idea of what you are going through. Your mother is blessed to have you.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sadly, there is no happy medium with A.D.

    My mom never exhibited the strength that your Mom is showing. Mama is a small woman who became very frail from osteroporosis and arthritis in advanced years -- but boy can she YELL when you try and shift her. It sounds like elder abuse, when all it is is transferring her from wheelchair to bed.

    Have you gotten some training about how to shift and move your mother? I was really grateful when some of the aides at the assisted living, and a nurse friend of mine, showed me techniques for lifting, moving, shifting people. It really did help. Mom will still yell, because she never wants to be disturbed, but I feel more confident and am not straining my back at the same time.

    One other thing we have in common: I have that exact quilt rack that's in the picture from your last post, only mine is now living in my daughter's apartment at Rutgers Univ.

    Be careful, Karen! Don't get hurt yourself. (Maybe you should get a set of those metal brassieres that the Viking women wore!)

    Cass

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  6. This is the sweetest blog I think I have come across. What a brave and caring person you are, your mother is lucky to have raised such a wonderful and caring woman.

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  7. I must agree, your mother is blessed to have you around. Her tests are over, yours are full speed ahead. To find a peaceful focus during those moments is so courageous of you. I just met you, but I sense you have the faith to do that. My mom is still docile and I am making the most of it,as the daughter who lives so far away.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks guys for all the great comments. I hope and pray that your love ones stay sweet and docile. The yelling is normal . Mom has a nice pair of lungs too. I do hope no one has to look out for a cane like David did with his grandma. That would hurt.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for visiting my blog and I love reading your comments. Please come back soon. Karen

The Early, Mild to Moderate and Advanced stages of Alzheimer's in the brain.

The Early, Mild to Moderate and Advanced stages of Alzheimer's in the brain.

Seven Stages of Alzheimer's

1. No sign of congnitive impairment. 2. Very mild congnitive decline. 3. Mild congnitive decline. 4. Moderate congnitive decline. 5. Moderately severe congnitive decline. 6. Severe congnitive decline. 7. Very severe congnitive decline. (Congnitive pertains to the mental process of perception, memory, judgement, and reasoning, as contrasted with emotional and volitional processes.)

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