Living with Bob and "Al"

At Bob's "work" (code for Adult Day Center), some people only go a couple of days a week, while Bob attends 5 days a week. "Al" feels like they should get a handle on those who don't come to "work" everyday because it leaves the bulk of the choir work for him to get figured out. :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

Sheri can see that Bob is slipping away, sometimes this seems like life in slow motion. The simplest functions are becoming more difficult. "Al" can not longer follow "get undressed" without assistance. Everything seems foreign to him. From where to go to get undressed to how to do it. Sheri must stay with him and assist from start to finish. Bob may look the same on the outside of these four walls because Sheri disguises "Al" the best she can, but Sheri sees the shadow of the man she knew around every lost corner of this tiny house.

2 Corinthians 4:16

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

Living with Bob and "Al"

Bob struggles greatly with conceptualization. Listening to one of his favorite singer's Daniel O'Donnell. Daniel is singing "Please Release Me", "Al" says "I am so surprised, he is such a wholesome guy, why would he leave his wife?"  Although Sheri was surprised he knew what the song was about:)

Living with Bob and "Al"

"Al" goes into the bathroom to get his pajama's on, Bob comes out still fully dressed...three times.  :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

Bob and "Al" have an interesting relationship with "their" watch. Most of the time "Al" can't find it. Most of the time if he finds it, "Al" has it is on upside down. Most of the time if "Al" finds it and puts it on right, he can't read it, but Bob however, can't live without it :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

Sheri is always surprised at how little the general medical community seems to know about the effects of Alzheimer's and cognitive impairment. When Sheri took Bob and "Al" for his injections in his back, they did the procedure and then wanted "Al" to tell them what "percent" improvement he felt after an hour sitting in the waiting room. How he answers is going to determine whether or not he moves to the next procedure. Huh? "Al" can not possibly tell you what percent improvement there is, when "Al" has already forgotten that he had a procedure and what the procedure was for, much less how to put it in a percent.They would have been far better giving him a physical test to see his movement restriction (because of the pain) before and then again after the procedure. She knows it is probably not as simple as all that, but she is baffled by the lack of understanding.
Sheri hates this disease.

Living with Bob and "Al"

Bob managed a hardware store in his second career in life. "Al" is sure that if he could just get a hold of some "shims",  he could convince the doctors to put them between the disks in his back... and he would be all better.
If it were only that easy  :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

Bob is so funny. He has done something to his shoulder again. He is experiencing a lot of pain ( that of course is not the funny part) "Al" is trying to figure out why it hurts. He looks at the other shoulder and sees the scar from one of his previous shoulder surgery's, turns to Sheri and says " See... this one has stitching in it already... the one that hurts doesn't."  :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

Sheri took Bob to the Thanksgiving Service at church last evening. It was a wonderful service filled with praise and thanksgiving. It was followed by a meal that we all shared together. An older gentleman was sitting next Bob and asked him what he does to keep himself busy theses days. "Al" stared up into space a few seconds and then clearly not sure what to say replied " well... I belong to this group... kind of a church thing." He was clearly caught of guard... and could not find his " work" in his mind, so he drew from his surroundings,  he was in a group and we were at church.   :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

"Al" is quite sure he toured with Daniel O'Donnell ( an Irish singer, and Bob's favorite) when he watches the DVD he gives Sheri a blow by blow of  what it was like working with him.  :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

Sheri was recently contacted by a young man that composed something that Sheri thinks is very moving and wanted to share it with you. After watching his Grandmother suffer with Alzheimer's, he as a composer decided to try to express her journey with the disease, through music. When you get a chance watch this video it is about 15 minutes long, You will however recognize your loved ones journey through the music. I know Bob and "Al" landed somewhere in the middle.  It will pull at your heartstrings.
Thank you for sharing this Michael.

Michael Park is a composer, a pianist, and a grandson. After watching his grandma succumb to Alzheimer's, he asked, 'What would happen if a piece of music went through the stages of Alzheimer's Disease?" The result is a piece of music that has been described as moving,haunting, and an amazing translation of the disease.

Michael Park's Music journey through the stages of Alzheimer's

Click the link above

Living with Bob and "Al"

Sheri can see changes with Bob and "Al". Sheri has always laid out his pajama's in the bathroom. She has been able to give simple instruction " it is time to put your pajamas on", Bob will get up and put them on. Sheri has been noticing that his reaction time is not what it has been and then the last couple nights, Bob has gone into the bathroom to change but "Al"comes back out fully or partially dressed still in his clothes. After three try's Sheri got up and went in with him, handed him his pajama shirt which he them put on over his regular shirt. Sheri thinks the lack of sleep is getting to all "three" of them. Subtle changes ... Sheri hates this  disease.

Living with Bob and "Al"

"Al" said they terminated another "co-worker" last week. Which was followed by "if it were up to me... there would be a few more headed for the door." Sheri thought to herself " now that was a Bob comment."     :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

Sheri is thinking she may need a checklist for herself for before bed. Things like check freezer for  items that "Al" may have put in the freezer... that are not meant to be frozen. :(

Living with Bob and "Al"

Even through Al's confusion, Bob's tender heart shows through. They were watching the end of "Cup Cake Wars" last night. At the end of the show each baker has to bake 1000 cupcakes to take to a special event of some type. "Al" says " I don't understand why they do that,  making all those those cupcakes, they would go much further if they gave them to the poor."
Yes a very tender heart, confused... but tender.  :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

At church yesterday, there were many friends Bob had not seen in a while. He did not remember any of them of course, but he shook their extended hand politely and said hello. Sheri must have been standing a little to close to one man, because "Al" shook her hand as well.   :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

Sheri actually scheduled some time to do something by herself, it is not even an over night thing just weekend days. It is 6 months away, and Sheri is already worrying about Bob and "Al". This is a crazy disease, and it makes caregivers even crazier. Sheri needs to remember what she has heard and read over and over. That caregivers need to take time for themselves, and not feel guilty about it. She is 5 years in this Alzheimer journey and this will be the first time she has done something like this. She just needs to get over the worry... or it will be a long 6 months.  :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

Like most men, Bob would never stop for directions so he thinks he knows how to get from the bathroom to the bedroom. But lately the confusion on Bob's face shows that "Al", is having trouble deciding whether to turn right or left .  :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

Sheri is sometimes fascinated ( in a sad kind of way) at the disconnect between "Al's" thought processes. Sheri takes the same route to and from "work" ( code for adult day center) every day. There is a gas station  that rents U-Haul trucks. Every morning at 7:20 am as they pass the gas station "Al" will say "My their business is not going well, look at all the trucks in their parking lot."
Then last night coming home, they approach the light where the gas station is and "Al" with the familiar new sound of disgust in his voice says," Wow, they must be expecting some kind of big business, look at all the trucks in the lot. "Al" pauses, turns his head toward Sheri and looking over the top of his glasses says "I'll bet that's because of the election".   :)
Heavy sigh...

Living with Bob and "Al"

Bob is not himself today... Of course Bob is not himself most of the time, but even "Al" is not himself to day.