Comments | winkingstar: when the dark night seems endless, please remember me...

winkingstar

when the dark night seems endless, please remember me...

Feb 12, 2005 00:42

one of my grandfathers has Alzheimer's. he's had it for like a year or two now. they just decided that he needs to be put in a nursing home because it's too hard for my grandmother to take care of him.

the idea of not knowing who the people around you are, or not knowing where you are, or even when you are... that really frightens me. the idea ( Read more... )

for the world's more full of weeping, me, other family, alzheimer's, love

Comments 6

phut February 12 2005, 08:44:26 UTC

sorry to hear about that.
the fact of not remember the people you care about the most scares me too. just not remember the people i love is just something i hope i will never go through

i pray for your grandfather and hope for the best.

winkingstar February 12 2005, 16:51:26 UTC

thanks Sam.

punkin495 February 12 2005, 22:13:59 UTC

Oh God, I'm so sorry, Laura. That's terrible and saddening news. *HuG*

winkingstar February 13 2005, 00:18:46 UTC

thanks Jennie. i'll be okay. i'm more worried about my stepdad, 'cause it's his dad. just thinking about having to deal with this frightens me so much.

grimmyx February 13 2005, 03:01:43 UTC

The only advice I can give you is to stay focused on what's important. When you visit your grandfather, and I hope you do. If he doesn't remember you,don't make a fuss. If he calls you by the wrong name, answer to it. If he doesn't remember you at all and asks why you are there, just smile and say, "I'm just a volunteer and I thought a visit might cheer you up. Can I read you a story? Look at the flowers ,Aren't they pretty?" There's plenty of time for you to go home and curse to the heavens on the hurtful injustice of it all. While you are with them make sure it's all about him. Make him happy, keep him calm. We become the keepers of memories for those who go before us. I'm sorry I have nothing more profound to say then the random rantings of an idle mind.

winkingstar February 13 2005, 04:02:15 UTC

oh but i love your random rantings. i've seen him a couple times since he got Alzheimer's, but they happened to be good days so it wasn't that bad. but mostly my mom and i have stayed away 'cause we feel like we're in the way. my stepdad's family all live in San Jose, so we never saw them all that frequently anyway. i'm much more worried about my stepdad than i am about me. for me, i'm just being selfish and saying that forgetting and being forgotten scare me.