Alzheimers in Bittersweet

  • Dec. 30, 2019, 11:18 a.m.
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  • Public

Sigh ok so this one will be deeper…
I think my grandpa has early onset… Its been a lot of things since i got here. But things like not remembering anyones names. Mine, my kids, my moms. Hes lived with my mom off and on for 20 years. He says you you you instead of a name. Hes quick to anger, quick to be aggravated and sometimes a bit aggressive. Like if i tell the kids to do something and they dont jump. He runs over and grabs them by the arm and gets really handsy. Far more then i would be. And you cant say anything to him because he really thinks he is helping. He dosent hurt them. Sometimes swats their butt, But hes more then i would normally be. He goes for several walks a day. But he gets lost and cant tell me where he is when he calls me.We have had to have him ask workers in stores and gas stations what road he is on so i can go get him. Because he cant get back. He makes a lot of sounds like shouts whoopeee all the time. If im making dinner he comes in and whoops at me. He gets excited over the tv and claps along. He howls with the dogs and gets them all riled up. But he wont hold a big conversation.
I try to bring him with me places, stores or the farms ive gone to. He loves going. Hes not much for conversation but he loves to see the animals. I put the bunnies in the grass in a pen and he stood on the bocany and laughed and clapped as they did their binky jumps. I feel bad. My dad thinks he has a year before he has to figure out a home situation that will be more round the clock care. He wanders and if he gets hurt. We wont know. I need my parents to program me as ICE in his phone. That way i get called first seeing i dont work. Im going to be the one most likely to be able to go help him. I said i dont mind looking after him. I make him his dinner, and he eats whatever gets made for lunch snacks. Like i set out veggies and fruit and he enjoys them. Or when i get sweeties. He has a sweet tooth. So i pick up donuts or a snack for the kids. And he will eat a bunch of them. Which is fine, I make sure i get extra because i know he is going to be in there. Mostly he hangs out in his room until i go somewhere and then he starts wandering downstairs. So i always ask him to go with. He wanders away but he always end up at the front of the store when im done.
But things like he cant remember what kind of phone charger he needs. Or asking him what he wants for dinner and he kept saying that meat log thing. We said meat loaf, sausage, pork loin? He had no idea but kept saying no. We made him pork chops on the drill. But we think its early onset Alzheimers. His aunt had it. Im not sure if its more likely if you had family with it or not. But i kinda feel like i need to be responsible for him too.
Currently he is in Oregon. My parents sent him to a cousin for Christmas and new years. give him a break and ask them what they think. But we all kinda think this is his last solo trip and is going to have to stay here or somewhere in one place. And no other family will take him in. Which means our combined houses of my sister, her family, parents and my family have him. Which is fine. Its always fine. We will always figure it out. I guess till something happens. We just. Take care of him. The way we are and hope he dosent wander, get lost, or hurt. Because you cant make him stay home. He likes his walks. I wish he would walk one of the 5 dogs, but we also dont want them to pull and he fall.
Last week before his trip, i took him to 5 stores to find a puffy winter coat. We finally found one and he couldent remember his pin number for his card. That he has had for years… We ran it on credit. Just that kind of thing you know. Coupled with not remembering our names. He calls me by his adopted daughters name ( she was white like I am. He is alaska native) IF he calls me by any name.
Just… Sad i guess.
But let me tell you, at the Alpaca farm, when they hugged him. The joy on his face… Was worth it. Its going to be one of the photos you put on the wall. :)


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