Granny's gone and done it again

[lovesfarms]

@microchick the comment you made the other day about not worrying if you lose keys as long as you still understand what they are when you find them. I'm going to throw a wrench into that theory for a moment. If you are someone that loses your keys at least 5 x a week
The newer vehicles are made so you leave the key fob in your pocket, purse or in the car. As long as the key is close enough, you push a button and the car starts. You can't find your keys...
1- if it's in the car, someone can drive off with your car
2- if you can't find it, try starting up the car. If it starts up- the keys are either in the car or somewhere in close range
3- both our vehicles are parked beside each other. If he lays the keys in my car while getting out a jacket, it's close enough that the truck will still start up and he can drive off WITHOUT the keys and end up pulling his hair because he can't find the keys. Those are just a few scenarios
Advice- don't ever get a car like that for someone with memory problems!

 

[lovesfarms]

Three nights. So stressful but she is a dog person.

I agree with you. Even my towels don't match. I'm totally fine with it but when I get visitors I think about all those little things.

 

[microchick]

@microchick the comment you made the other day about not worrying if you lose keys as long as you still understand what they are when you find them. I'm going to throw a wrench into that theory for a moment. If you are someone that loses your keys at least 5 x a week
The newer vehicles are made so you leave the key fob in your pocket, purse or in the car. As long as the key is close enough, you push a button and the car starts. You can't find your keys...
1- if it's in the car, someone can drive off with your car
2- if you can't find it, try starting up the car. If it starts up- the keys are either in the car or somewhere in close range
3- both our vehicles are parked beside each other. If he lays the keys in my car while getting out a jacket, it's close enough that the truck will still start up and he can drive off WITHOUT the keys and end up pulling his hair because he can't find the keys. Those are just a few scenarios
Advice- don't ever get a car like that for someone with memory problems!

The scenario I used and really happened, occurred around 2003, long before electric or modern vehicles were around. But the concept is sound. You might lose a spatula but as long as you know what the spatula is for once you find it is all that matters. Same for your coffee mug, purse, etc. It's not losing any given item, we all do that, it's remembering what that item's purpose is what is important.

With Alzheimer's disease, the brain loses it's ability to communicate with what a person is seeing for instance. A sufferer might look at an apple, but the connection of the eyes to the brain transmits that they are looking at a book. Hold up the book and ask the person what they are seeing and the brain tells the speech center of the brain that it is looking at a donut. But the word that comes out of the person's mouth is 'Rock'. That is about as easily as I can explain it.

I once heard two Alzheimer's patients holding a conversation. It went something like this.

First person: Did I ever have lunch when the roller skates went up the wall and she said but the grass isn't short is it?

Second person: Yes, I know. The rug was on the plate but I'm surprised.

Not the exact conversation, naturally but you get the gest. The whole communications system was scrambled in both of their brains. Alzheimer's is such a horrible disease that isolates the person from everything they see, hear and know. They aren't suffering exactly, they are in their own little world more or less but the family members are the ones who suffer as they watch the slow dissolving of their loved one's self.

 

[lovesfarms]

The scenario I used and really happened, occurred around 2003, long before electric or modern vehicles were around. But the concept is sound. You might lose a spatula but as long as you know what the spatula is for once you find it is all that matters. Same for your coffee mug, purse, etc. It's not losing any given item, we all do that, it's remembering what that item's purpose is what is important.

With Alzheimer's disease, the brain loses it's ability to communicate with what a person is seeing for instance. A sufferer might look at an apple, but the connection of the eyes to the brain transmits that they are looking at a book. Hold up the book and ask the person what they are seeing and the brain tells the speech center of the brain that it is looking at a donut. But the word that comes out of the person's mouth is 'Rock'. That is about as easily as I can explain it.

I once heard two Alzheimer's patients holding a conversation. It went something like this.

First person: Did I ever have lunch when the roller skates went up the wall and she said but the grass isn't short is it?

Second person: Yes, I know. The rug was on the plate but I'm surprised.

Not the exact conversation, naturally but you get the gest. The whole communications system was scrambled in both of their brains. Alzheimer's is such a horrible disease that isolates the person from everything they see, hear and know. They aren't suffering exactly, they are in their own little world more or less but the family members are the ones who suffer as they watch the slow dissolving of their loved one's self.

I agree with you, just showing what life is like through the eyes of forgetfulness. Small things that you don't really think about but it feels like a big part of your life is consumed searching.... Searching... Searching

Or as long as you remember what you wanted to do with it once you find it... It when searching for awhile you don't remember what you are searching for

 

[lovesfarms]

I agree with you, just showing what life is like through the eyes of forgetfulness. Small things that you don't really think about but it feels like a big part of your life is consumed searching.... Searching... Searching

Or as long as you remember what you wanted to do with it once you find it... It when searching for awhile you don't remember what you are searching for

I thought of it because we were searching for those keys again. I even considered putting a push button lock on our doors that we use the most. The time spent searching for keys surpass the cost of changing door knobs.

 

[microchick]

I agree with you, just showing what life is like through the eyes of forgetfulness. Small things that you don't really think about but it feels like a big part of your life is consumed searching.... Searching... Searching

Or as long as you remember what you wanted to do with it once you find it... It when searching for awhile you don't remember what you are searching for

Both of my parents suffered from vascular dementia. I spent over 5 years of my career taking care of people with various dementias and Alzheimer's disease. I could write a book.

The losing the keys and knowing what they are used for once you find them is the best example I know.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I miss driving

More and more I'm letting GC do my driving for me. I thought I would be one of those old ladies who would hang on to her independence (and car keys) to the bitter end. Maybe if I didn't have her here to take over it would be different but I rather appreciate being chauffeured around like Driving Miss Daisy, lol.

I wouldn't care if I never drove again. I'm sick of it.

I'm not sick of it but I am getting a little spoiled in my old age. I taught her well and I feel safe with her at the wheel.

I agree with you. Even my towels don't match. I'm totally fine with it but when I get visitors I think about all those little things.

Bah, who cares, I mean I don't. People don't come to see my house and if they do shame on them. They should come to see me and what they see is what they get. I'm old and tired and decrepit and sick more than well most of the time. If the state of my house bothers them they are welcome to pick up a broom, a mop, a dishrag or a dustmop and go nuts. I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. I do the best I can. So anybody that doesn't like it can stay at a motel, lol.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

Both of my parents suffered from vascular dementia. I spent over 5 years of my career taking care of people with various dementias and Alzheimer's disease. I could write a book.

The losing the keys and knowing what they are used for once you find them is the best example I know.

when I told people I was diagnosed with 2 different types of dementia they didn't understand and neither did I really. When my sugar levels changed part of the forgetfulness went away. This thread also helped a lot.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

Nancy isn't coming tomorrow. I'm not sure if I can handle Tom and myself walking in and out and I don't know where to take him. He really doesn't want to go out.