Thanksgiving With -Alzheimer’s in the Family

What a week. My cousin, Richard, drove in to see mom. A 10 hour drive from Memphis. Richard is Aunt Gayle’s son. Aunt Gayle is mom’s younger sister who passed with complications of Alzheimer’s Disease the first of June.

From speaking with her immediate family I have discovered that their journeys with this disease are very similar.

Mom remembered Richard even though she was having a very bad day. She still isn’t really eating and she is very weak and wobbly on her feet. I think we are nearing a time to move up to a wheelchair. She is in constant risk of falling.

Mom did enjoy Richard’s visit and he was so good with her. We’re glad that he came.

Mom is still having a bad day today. Still not eating and a new twist, she hallucinated today. She saw butterflies coming out of the wall in her bedroom. She said she wasn’t afraid but it scared me. None of the meds that she is on cause hallucinations.

I called her primary care physician (PCP) and they returned the call promptly. They said it is most likely her advanced Alzheimer’s but that for piece of mind I could take her to the ER. She said they might check for an infection such as a UTI but most likely, with her history, they probably would not do anything. My support group indicated the same. I did get tips on how to handle hallucinations if we have them in the future.

We are still going to try to have the Thanksgiving celebration here tomorrow afternoon. I don’t know if we will make it to the family celebration on Saturday. We will see how she is doing before we make the trip.

I have been emotional today, realizing that this is most likely our last Thanksgiving with my mom. The way she is declining I don’t know if she will be here for Christmas. It’s heart breaking. We just do the best we can.

I don’t think we will have many more mobile days as mom really is having trouble walking with the Rollator. A wheelchair is next and there is a high likelihood that she will be bed bound in the not to distant future. I am hoping that a bed opens in memory care soon. She is almost at the point that I can’t keep her at home. I’m tired and I can’t keep her safe.

While all this is going on I do want to give thanks. Thankful to have this time with my mom. Thankful for my family and friends. Thankful for the life the universe has given me. Have a blessed Thanksgiving.