Alzheimer’s and the Pirate
Alzheimer’s and the Pirate
March 6, 2011
by Lori La Bey of Alzheimer’s Speaks &Â Senior Lifestyle Trends
I normally would not refer to my Mother as a Pirate, but today she was giving me the “Pirate Look.” Now you have to remember Mom is in her very end stages of the Alzheimer’s disease. She lives in a nursing home where all her needs are met in a very loving fashion. She isn’t able to speak much, but on a good day she might say three words. On a really good day, those words actually make sense in the conversation at hand. When she is having a fantastic day, those words are in a sentence that makes sense.Â
As you can probably tell, my expectations have had to change in order to find the simple pleasures that still exist.
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The point is, it’s about focusing on the little things. The things we all overlook when life gets busy.
 I said to Mom, “Are you being a Pirate today?” She didn’t respond.   I decided to keep jabbering and in a light hearted voice said, “You know with that one eye closed Mom, you look like a Pirate”
In a brief moment Mom then let out a light giggle, opened the other eye, and looked square into my eyes. In a second, the moment was gone. Both eyes closed and she went back to resting. I continued to massage her arms with a smile plastered to my face.
The moment might be gone physically, but it is captured in my mind forever.
I enjoyed reading your Blog. My grandmother had alzheimers and I can really relate to what you are saying.
HI Thanks for writing! I’m glad you found us here on Alzheimer’s Speaks
Lori
OMG! That so reminds me of the things I used to say to my mom! For me, a very very good day was her saying one word towards the end. I learned that it worked best for my sanity and who knows what effect it may have had for her if I just babbled away to her like it was a two way conversation. Yeah, I remember the eyes closing too.
Thanks for writing. It truly is the small things in life that are important.
Lori