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My grandmother had alzheimers for over 20 years. Got it at the age of 64. Sometimes I wonder whether I have it now, every time I forget, which is often. I have forgotten more about alzheimers than you will ever know. The way we got through it was to laugh, not at her but at the things she actually did or came out with.
On golf "Silly game, what’s the point of hitting a ball and walking after it?"
We found slippers in the oven and cheese in the wardrobe.
And the language! Before she had it I never heard her swear, but she must have used every four letter word. Did not matter where she was either. We were walking by the church when the vicar appears. "Got no efffin buisness parking there", she says.
Alzheimers is an awful disease but the best way to get through it, for suferer and carer alike is to laugh about things. At least until it gets so bad, they don’t know what you’re laughing about and get frustrated. Any carer out there, I suggest get in touch with the Alzheimers Disease Society.
The more jokes the more it gets recognised, made me laugh out loud.
Mark
Value Is EverythingI wonder how many here have visited a nursing home for those with Dementia. I went last year to see a very dear elderly friend who has since passed away.
The staff were wonderful and do a very great job. It would be easy to describe the ‘inmates’ as a bunch of nutters, but when it’s people so close to you and you see them go that way, it’s not a pretty sight.It was a secure environment, behind locked doors with keypad entry and the sufferer will barely know who you are despite having known them for years. That hurts us too, not to mention their closest relatives.
They shout abuse constantly at their helpers and whilst you know it’s no longer the person you knew who’s doing the shouting, it really isn’t something you want to see.I think most of us would say ”shoot me in the head” if ever we got to that stage. Better jokes to be had elsewhere surely and I find it’s the younger and fitter who seem more insensitive to it.
What about if you end up suffering from Alzheimers,Deja Vu and Amnesia all at the same time.
Not likely i know but could cause some real problems.
Mainly as you would not remember anything but then you had already thought you had not rememberd anything before and then totally forgotten about not being able to remember in the first place.
I wonder how many here have visited a nursing home for those with Dementia. I went last year to see a very dear elderly friend who has since passed away.
The staff were wonderful and do a very great job. It would be easy to describe the ‘inmates’ as a bunch of nutters, but when it’s people so close to you and you see them go that way, it’s not a pretty sight.It was a secure environment, behind locked doors with keypad entry and the sufferer will barely know who you are despite having known them for years. That hurts us too, not to mention their closest relatives.
They shout abuse constantly at their helpers and whilst you know it’s no longer the person you knew who’s doing the shouting, it really isn’t something you want to see.I think most of us would say ”shoot me in the head” if ever we got to that stage. Better jokes to be had elsewhere surely and I find it’s the younger and fitter who seem more insensitive to it.
As I said I think a sense of humour about what happens to an alzheimers suferer or carer is essential. But for those who do not understand the disease here is what happened to our family.
I used to help my grandfather caring for my grandmother. Did not really have a normal teenage life because of it. She would not let my mother do anything as mum was "taking over". Forgetfulness, repetition, language, frustration, not wanting a bath, incontinence, even violence. You had to keep a sense of humour. It was like caring for a seven year old that gradually got younger.
Caring for her, I am sure killed grandad in the end (massive heart attack). Nan never understood what had happened. Every five minutes it was "where’s father". Having to explain every five minutes he’d died was both hard for us and nan. Even at the funeral "who’s is it then".
As we were trying to cope, before the funeral; a social worker came and told us we had to sell the house to pay for a nursing home. Running a business from home it would’ve been impossible for my mum to care for her. I do think the nursing home was the best place for her anyway. Though they did drug them up a bit too much I felt, to make them managable. Grandad cared for her for twelve years and she went on for another eight. Before alzheimers nan was a stocky lady (fat), but she gradually wasted away to skin and bone (no exaggeration). Every time she moved she was in pain. I could have given her a lethal injection myself, if allowed. If a dog was kept alive in that condition the owner would be prosecuted. We were grateful when pneumonia struck to end it all.
Mark
Value Is Everything…a touching story and thank you for sharing it with us.
I do agree that maintaining a sense of humour and perspective is important for those closest to the sufferer of any terminal illness, if only for one’s own salvation, but what I think some are upset about are the Johnathon Ross style send ups so prevalent these days about a whole number of issues and misfortunes that befall others, that we often receive as some crappy joke via text message – the latest one referring to John Travolta’s son, for instance.
I expect a lot of other people get them too, and not something I admire, personally.
Totally agree with you there UM. I have never enjoyed the "insulting" humour of Brand and Ross, others too. To my mind some people laugh at things like that out of embarrassment more than anything. And those it is aimed at only laugh because they’d be accused of not having a sense of humour. Or, if something is made of it, that it allows the perpetrator more publicity. It also encourages the public to think it is o.k. too.
Mark
Value Is Everything
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