ALZHEIMER'S BLOGGING:

It felt so good yesterday to come home and sleep a few hours and than to lounge around in my pajamas and robe for the rest of the day. Jimmy made me a great meal, and than a warm bubble bath came excitedly to finish the day before bed. I hate when I am not feeling good. But I am so happy to be in my own home.

We moved into my father in laws house, when it was decided that his confusion was to much for my sister in law to handle. We quit our jobs, and found new ones by him. We wanted him to stay in his own comfortable environment, to know where he was, and not be scared. But as you know one of the signs of Alzheimer's is disorientation to time and place. The day we moved in, dad saw the big truck in his driveway and all the boxes we were taking out. As he would walk through his house, he would ask us why we were taking his things. Even after we showed him that inside the boxes was our stuff he was still confused.

We didn't live there for very long before he started asking us to take him home. He was very polite and would thank us for letting him live with us but he had to go and take care of things in his own house. This was hard to understand. But in time we figured it out. He had only lived in two houses his whole married life. The address of his first house kept coming to his mind and he wanted to go back. Jimmy did drive him there one day, and dad was really confused when he noticed that it did not look the same anymore. Than when Jimmy drove him back, he recognized this house. But each day was the same thing. He would say he wants to go home, and than when we would drive him around the block and back to this house he would say thank you for taking him back home.

I know how difficult it is taking care of a person with this awful disease called Alzheimer's. Sometimes you need to vent. I am here if you need to vent or just ask any questions. I know your heart is in the right place or you would not be taking care of your loved one. But it is not an easy job. God Bless You. You are an angel here on earth. Some day they will be gone, but your memories will last. When you are getting really frustrated take some respite time. Remember if you don't take care of your self, how are you going to take care of anyone else.

Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretaker Journal
Seaboard Press an Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com