I posted this on Instagram but thought I'd repeat it here as I felt it really made an important point. The prompt word was REMEMBER.
Remember
is a difficult word for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia to deal
with. Oh, how we wish we could remember. But, since we often can’t, we
have to make new memories, new friends, and relearn things that we can’t
remember how to do. A child does not get angry when he or she doesn’t
know something. They just set out to learn. So, I will learn and learn
as many times as I can without anger (well, maybe just a tiny flare up
now and then). And, if I am successful then, hopefully, I will.
I have a group of ladies that meet at my home once a month to work on our different crafts and just chat for a couple of hours. I pulled out some embroidery to work on. Now, I have been embroidering for most of my life and I suddenly couldn't remember how to do a lazy daisy stitch. Fortunately, a couple of the ladies knew embroidery and one of them showed me how. I felt so stupid and found myself tearing up.... that's normal for someone with dementia, to cry. But, I didn't cry and proceeded to make some very nice lazy daisy stitches. If I set it down for a couple of days though, then I have to relearn it.
My niece, who is trying to understand what I'm going through.... probable the only person who is..... said she read that people with Alzheimer's get angry all the time. Yes, I understand why they would. It's so frustrating at times. I do get angry but not around others. I don't feel they should suffer because of my upset when I can't do something or understand something. Around others I cry.
"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” - Benjamin Franklin
