This blog is about life with my husband who was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer's and Frontal Lobe Dementia in 2008. He was 64 at the time although now, knowing more about the disease, Alzheimer's was present many, many years ago, which is why early detection is so important. As you read the blog the character "Al" that I created in 2008, represents the way that Alzheimer's is invading our daily lives.
There is an archive tab further down the page that starts from the beginning of our journey.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Living with Bob and Al

Sheri was thinking back to when Bob and "Al" were coming to work with her.
She is struggling with an image that was etched in her mind, one she would rather forget
It is one that told her in her heart it was time to do something different to care for Bob.
He had been touch up painting in the hallways, something he enjoyed tremendously.
He had returned to the lobby area to get more paint. At the same time a prospect came in
to view an apartment. "Al" in his lingering or shadowing way was standing right in the middle of the lobby area
in the way of Sheri starting the "tour" of the community.She could tell the prospects were uncomfortable with him standing there, so she kind of pulled him aside and asked him to move out of the way. Sheri went on about the tour with the prospect, and when it was completed she did not see Bob around, she assumed he had returned to painting the hallway so she went back to the office to work. As timed passed about 45 minutes "Bob did not come back into the office, she tried to reach him on the small walkie talkie she had given him, but when he did not respond, Sheri thought she better go find him. He was not in the Community room or the hallway, Sheri started to panic, asking the other staff if they had seen Bob. Then Sheri went to the paint room, a small narrow room that is like a cleaning closet. Smaller than a bathroom. There sitting on top of s small paint can, was 6'4 Bob, and because "Al" had been sitting there for what now must of been an hour or more, with the door closed,  his face was red and sweat was running down his face. Sheri was horrified to see him there. "Bob what are you doing in here?" "You said to move out of the way" "I did not know where you wanted me to go". Sheri doesn't understand,  the community room was 3 steps away, with a couch and TV the same place Sheri and Bob have eaten lunch every day. "Al"has stolen all sense of judgment and reasoning from Bob. Sheri was so ashamed of herself for not instructing him to sit in the Community Room. Yes it was time to make other arrangements...

1 comment:

  1. Wow! I leave for a few days and the whole story shifts... WOW!

    I'm excited for Bob and Al. Day Care is the best thing ever for my mom and it will be for him too. Without this program both of our loved ones would be in a home.

    Yay!

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