Hello everybody.

It's been a while since I've visited the forums regularly. Starting in July I took a kind of sabbatical from caregiving so that I could pursue my music and tour with a band, and I'm back in town again. It was nice to take a break from caregiving, and it was really nice for my mom and dad when I came back! They're quite happy to be back in their home (they moved in to take my place) and Laurette is happy that I'm back too.

I thought I'd give a little update on her condition. She's still doing pretty well, and to date hasn't had any major drops in function. She's definitely on the AD path, but she's progressing slowly and steadily. She's been sick a couple of times and broke her foot once, but thankfully those events didn't trigger a more rapid decline in her memory or function. In keeping with the rest of her life, she's handling this with a great deal of grace.

The things that are new are fairly predictable. She's increasingly resentful of my assistance because I'm obliged to take over more tasks than she is accustomed to. Most of the time it's fine, but sometimes she feels like I'm bossing her around or babying her. With the time change and the shorter days she gets a little bit disoriented, which did not happen this time last year, and I don't think she ever knows what time it is any more. She has not been able to read for at least a year but she's looking interest in her pictures as well, which is too bad.

Her health is good, although she's only 92 pounds. She's never hungry, and getting her to eat three meals a day is a struggle. I usually settle for 2 good meals and sometimes a little snack because it's not worth the fight. She's in diapers full time now, but oddly enough once we switched to using them full time her need for them declined somewhat. I'm sure that's only temporary. =-)

She doesn't remember any of her friends, save two or three, but she's retained all of the family so far. Her short term memory is totally gone and conversations are now very much for her sake - she doesn't have a lot to talk about that we haven't already heard.

She can still walk a couple of miles, although she's completely lost after just a few minutes. She doesn't wander and probably never will because she's never been curious about much. Her room is still upstairs and she's still managing the stairs well. The only bedroom downstairs is tiny, so that will be difficult when the time comes.

In general she's happy and healthy, which is a blessing.

I'll try to start popping in from time to time again. Cheers.

Thanks for the update! She sounds REALLY spry! I can't even walk two miles! Clearly, you are the kind of guy, that looks for the blessings, I try to also. I hope she has a hand-rail on those stairs, but she does sound like she is in pretty good physical health? Her insides must be bigger than her outsides. I like to say that about my Mother & my Grandmother!

I'm glad you got some "ME" time in too!

Sounds like things are going as smooth as they can there. Of course, you have a good handle on it all and that helps.

Good to see you back posting again. You have been missed! Thanks for the update on yourself and your grandmother. Take care

Welcome back Jezza. Sounds like things are going pretty good for your grandmother.
Hope you had a great time.

((Jezza & Laurette))--Thanks for the update
Carol

Welcome back!!!! Good to see you! It really sounds like things are smooth with Laurette and I'm so glad they are.

Welcome back, Jezza and Laurette!

As far as the appetite goes, 2 good meals is doing good. We just supplemented Old Navy's diet with plenty of healthy snacks with fiber and liquids.

To satisfy his sweet tooth, I would make him a 'milk shake' by using one of his Ensure drinks, about 1/4 (or less) of a package of tofu and some frozen fruit, add a bit of BeneFiber and honey and put it through the blender to make him a drink. He really loved those, and he was getting both protein and fruit with it.