Homesick-Alzheimer’s in the Family

It’s Wednesday, August 7th. I slept 9.5 hours and woke up exhausted. I got mom out of bed at 10AM. She is so weak today. Her best friend, Zona, stopped by with a coke and sausage biscuit and stayed for a visit. Mom ate 1/3 of the biscuit and was full.

We went back to the neurologist yesterday to address her downward spiral. I liked the associate that we saw. Seemed very competent. They took mom off the Donepezil and talked about how people with Alzheimer’s didn’t get better and the limited things that they can do for her. I told her that I understood all that but we needed help. She was just making sure that I understood the situation.

The doctor also told me to get help in taking care of mom as she didn’t want my heath to decline faster than mom’s. She talked to me about the toll caregiving takes on a person and for me to take care of myself. She was passionate about it. I know she’s right.

Mom has lost 19 pounds since the first week of June. It’s a 12% loss of weight. Over 5% loss is considered failure to thrive. The doctor ordered more test, the first being an MRI this afternoon. They are trying to determine if she has some other issue/s or if the brain damage due to the Alzheimer’s has affected the part of the brain that tells the body to process and use nutrients.

Yesterday mom told me that she was homesick. She was home, sitting in her favorite chair. So, now I’m thinking was she speaking of her heavenly home. I don’t know. She talks so much about “leaving here” and dying. Everyday. Yesterday she told the doctor that she was sad about leaving her family.

I have mom washed and dressed for her appointment and it’s 1 PM. She’ll rest until we leave at 3ish for her 4:30 PM MRI. Hopefully, they can determine what is going on. Next up is a chest and abdomen scan to rule out other disease. They tell me if she is in the failure to thrive stage, there isn’t much if anything that can be done and her time is short.