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RE: Phantoms in my mind, dementia is unkind.

in #artexplosion7 years ago (edited)

Ooof, this hits close to home for me, my grandmother is suffering from dementia and is declining quickly :( I have often told people that speaking with her is like communicating with a ghost of her former self, she is in there somewhere. We live in different provinces so I can't see her often, last time I visited I was afraid she wouldn't know who I was, she couldn't remeber my name but she knew me and was hugging me and saying it's you! It's her! will you stay with me 😭 I am terrified every time I visit she will no longer know me

Thank you for sharing such personal thoughts and it fits well with the theme, I'm feeling emotional now.

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Oh juliakponsford, I feel you. My grandmother was finally put in the nursing home and lasted 8 years there. She only knew I was "her nurse". She couldn't remember my name but she knew I belonged to her. The best gift I ever received was when I went by to check on her after work the day she died, and she looked at me and called me by name. I don't know how, but it was precious. Blessings to you.

😢 I will see her in two weeks, she has just been put in a home because the care routine was too much for my family, apparently she likes it though she has always been quite social and has made some friends, she carries little plushies in her purse, so cute she's like a child again, at least she seems fairly happy though I am sure she is scared sometimes as well it must be very confusing.

Coloring simple pics, folding washcloths and towels; things like that are helpful in my experience. Even if she forgets who you are, just learn to be who she thinks you are. I'm glad she sounds happy.

Thanks for the advice she seems to love art and music :) she also seems to like washing the counter hundreds of times so the counter is very clean!