Dementia-Friends-Champion Natalie talks through the ‘bookcase analogy’. Understand the way dementia affects a person and why visits are so important to them.
This is so true. The nurses at my husbands health care center tell me that my visits every day is stimulation for him, even though he doesn't know me & is what is keeping him alive. He has been in Advanced stages now for almost 3 years.
My husband has been in the Advanced stages of Alzheimers for almost 3 years. He doesn't know me & is completely immobile. But the nurses at his Nursing Home say that me going every day is stimulation for him & that is what is keeping him alive. He doesn't know me but I KNOW HIM.
I visited with Dad today, he was resting on his bed, and he said "Who are you?" I told him who I was and he said do you work here? I said No, I'm your daughter! He looked at me and said "Oh ya, that's right, your the dentist! I am a retired Dental Hygienist! So he finally did remember me. I got him up and put his slippers on, and the nurse came and got him in his wheel chair, and I wheeled him to the dining room for lunch. I was going to go and he said Don't rush off, stay and visit! So I did! Turned into a good day!
It's very odd/amazing how the brain can compartmentalize things. My father can't remember what he just ate an hour ago, but is absolutely positive he has taken showers everyday or even up to 2 times a day he claims, when it's such a issue for him I only can manage to actually get him to take 2 a week.
Thank you for explaining that to us. I am getting to that point of why do I visit when he doesn't remember me being there? Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThis is so true. The nurses at my husbands health care center tell me that my visits every day is stimulation for him, even though he doesn't know me & is what is keeping him alive. He has been in Advanced stages now for almost 3 years.
ReplyDeleteMy husband has been in the Advanced stages of Alzheimers for almost 3 years. He doesn't know me & is completely immobile. But the nurses at his Nursing Home say that me going every day is stimulation for him & that is what is keeping him alive. He doesn't know me but I KNOW HIM.
Sorry this didn't publish the first time, so is why it is repeated.
DeleteI visited with Dad today, he was resting on his bed, and he said "Who are you?" I told him who I was and he said do you work here? I said No, I'm your daughter! He looked at me and said "Oh ya, that's right, your the dentist! I am a retired Dental Hygienist! So he finally did remember me. I got him up and put his slippers on, and the nurse came and got him in his wheel chair, and I wheeled him to the dining room for lunch. I was going to go and he said Don't rush off, stay and visit! So I did! Turned into a good day!
Deletevisits are good, all visits, as often as you can, you will receive the benefit too, some make you cry, some make smiles, you will want to go back asap
ReplyDeleteIt's very odd/amazing how the brain can compartmentalize things. My father can't remember what he just ate an hour ago, but is absolutely positive he has taken showers everyday or even up to 2 times a day he claims, when it's such a issue for him I only can manage to actually get him to take 2 a week.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this wonderful explanation!
ReplyDelete