If you have a loved one with dementia...

[Spiky Bugger]

…there may still be more ”there” there than meets the eye. This Alzheimer’s patient was a prima ballerina. And Alzheimer’s hasn’t taken it ALL.

 

[JackieOnLine]

what a great video!

Have you heard of Alive Inside? It's a documentary about music reaching people who are otherwise unreachable due to dementia. This made me remember I want to see it AND it's on Prime which I have.
so thank you.

 

[Munchkin]

Just a strange story about my father. He died years ago. Dementia exacerbated by small strokes.

He was a pilot for years. He loved small planes. I was always looking for things he would enjoy doing so one day I took him to a small private airport and paid for an instructor to just take dad up and fly around for a while. I explained he had been a pilot and had dementia. By this time he was mostly nonverbal and all you could really do was lead him around. He was in great shape physically though.

Well when they got back from their flight the instructor was amazed. My dad knew exactly what he was doing and had flown the plane. The instructor said all he had done was sit there... Dad just flew the plane like he had been doing it every day.

 

[JackieOnLine]

that is so cool.

 

[hilary1617]

Spiky Bugger and Munchkin Thanks both for sharing. That is amazing.

You never know what is going on inside another person's mind palace!

My dad recently has had a dramatic overnight improvement in lucidity that we have been enjoying. We have no idea why we have seen the lifting of a couple of years of progression of his dementia cloud - just are grateful for it.

 

[DianaCox]

A few months ago was the yartzeit (anniversary of the death) for my father’s mother. Observant Jews light a special candle and say Kaddish (prayer for the dead). I bought some candles (which double as safe 24 hour emergency lights, because they are in a glass with the flame below the rim), and asked if he wanted to say it. He did (although he’s not observant, he was raised Orthodox, so the rituals are comforting), so I gave him his Hebrew prayer book, but he said he wasn’t sure he could read Hebrew anymore.

But as soon as he opened the book, he realized he still could, and proceeded to read the prayer without hesitation. I’m sure some of it was triggering memorized portions, but even he seemed surprised how it came back.

 

[hilary1617]

A few months ago was the yartzeit (anniversary of the death) for my father’s mother. Observant Jews light a special candle and say Kaddish (prayer for the dead). I bought some candles (which double as safe 24 hour emergency lights, because they are in a glass with the flame below the rim), and asked if he wanted to say it. He did (although he’s not observant, he was raised Orthodox, so the rituals are comforting), so I gave him his Hebrew prayer book, but he said he wasn’t sure he could read Hebrew anymore.

But as soon as he opened the book, he realized he still could, and proceeded to read the prayer without hesitation. I’m sure some of it was triggering memorized portions, but even he seemed surprised how it came back.

I'm so happy for him and sorry for his loss. May her memory be a blessing. I'm sure אבא is one of his favorite words!