Day One Alzheimers

My Mom has Alzheimer's. She recently called 911 and when the emergency responders could not get into her house they broke through the door of her home. This is the third 911 call in a 7 month period of time. This last call has made it apparent that she cannot be alone. She now lives in a long term facility that specializes in memory care. I saw her in this setting for the first time last evening. As I walked toward the sitting area I saw a group of women with gray hair sitting around the walls with varying blank expressions. They were playing music on what appeared to be a modern version of an old radio. With country music playing in the background, I realized that one of those women with gray hair and a blank expression was my mother. When she saw me her face lit up. She remembers me, still. She wanted to talk with me. When we went into her corner of the room that housed 3 women, she began to plead with me to take her home. She promised she would do anything if I would just take her home. She has improved since her arrival to this facility a week ago. She speaks with me and only rarely repeats the same information. She does repeatedly introduce me to her new acquaintances. It is hard to not grab her belongings and load her up when she has times of clarity. You see, like many family members living with a family member with dementia, I want my Mom back. I actually need her right now. You see I have a huge decision to make and I always consult her. The problem is the decision is about her care.