You Smell Familiar

This is going to be short but very sweet.


My mom was getting ready to go visit my dad yesterday. She decided to put perfume on that my dad use to love.



She got to his house and sat down next to the bed as he was just waking up from a nap. She leaned over and said "smell my neck, I am wearing your favorite perfume". He leaned over as if he was going to smell her neck but instead started to kiss her several times all over the neck.



She got on her cell phone right away and called me to tell me the interesting news. Regardless of the Alzheimer's, I bet he remembered that smell. That made her day! That was a joy for me to hear. My dad is so sweet.

I Still Have My Heart

I visited with my dad two days ago. I had been telling them to take my dad outside so he can get some sunlight on his skin, so they finally did and he was out back when I arrived. It seemed he was enjoying the view of the trees, grass and flowers. The locusts were really loud too. He had a perplexed look on his face. I introduced myself to him again and proceeded to talk to him about all the things that are beautiful outdoors. I reminded him that we live in AZ and that is why it's so hot out. He didn't have any change of expression in his face as I spoke to him.

I changed the subject and asked him if he was happy and if they were treating him good in the home. He just stared into my eyes as I asked him how he was doing and if he was feeling good. He continued to stare so I stared back. He looked sad and lonely. I could see it in his eyes. I asked him again and he said "I'm doing OK". He has no idea that he has Alzheimer's. It hurts my heart to see him like this.

I continued to talked with him but this time about his past. I told him what he used to do for a living and mentioned some names of people he worked with. His eyes lit up and he started to laugh. I am not sure what was funny about that but at least he was expressing happiness. I talked to him about our family and named my siblings one by one including me. There are 7 of us kids. He smiled and laughed again.

This was a lesson for me. I need to continue to talk to him about more positive things rather then asking him if likes the home and if they are taking care of him. He may not understand why he is there and it's not up to me to try and analyze his emotions but I do know that he is happy when he hears about things that are familiar to him. Hearing familiar names of those he loved and hearing about the things he enjoyed doing, I believe, is what makes him happy.

I believe that even though he is in the severe stages of Alzheimer's, which affects his brain, he still has a heart and it is so filled with love and wonderful memories that I believe that is what he is using to communicate. He as always had a big heart so full of love and he still does.

As I was getting read to leave I told him that I would be back very soon. He reached out for me to give him a hug and he has NEVER done that since he has had Alzheimer's. I hugged him back trying to fight back my tears. I could feel his love and I know it's still stored deep in his heart.

Are You Reducing Your Risk of Alzheimer's Through Exercise?

I was talking to my friend the other night and she mentioned that she is worried that she may develop Alzheimer's. She is not a fan of exercise and hasn't been for years. I told her how critical exercise is to prevent Alzheimer's amongst many other diseases.

Sticking with a regular exercise program may be the most difficult lifestyle change we try to make. It is a choice that we must make priority.

Exercise strengthens the pumping force of your heart, increases blood flow to the brain, enhances your health and reduces the risk of diseases that can effect brain functioning such as Alzheimer's.

It is so crucial that you try for 30 minutes a day to walk, jog, swim, cycle, hike or what ever it is you like to do to get your heart rate up.

Will He Recognize My Beauty?

My mom has been losing weight and feeling good about herself recently. The other day she got all dressed up to go visit my dad. She doesn't normally do that. She was just hoping that there might be a slight chance that he would recognize her by her beauty that he once so loved. They have been married for 52 years and she talked to me the other day about how much she still is in love with him. It made me sad for her. It's hard because even though he is still living, he is basically gone at the same time. We have mourned him but he is still here. It's really hard to deal with. Alzheimer's is tricky. Your gone but your still here.

She said that when she got to his house he was just waking up from his nap. He saw her and his eyes lit up for a second as if he recognized her but then the light turned off very quickly. She didn't need to get all dressed up but she wanted to feel young and beautiful again. She sat next to him and held his hand and told him how much she loved him. He didn't say anything but he didn't push her away either. She understands his disease.

We miss his personality that was so bright, happy, witty, loving and beautiful. Alzheimer's takes all of that away from you. It is very hard for me to deal with. My poor, poor dad. You are so loved.

Train Your Brain In Minutes A Day

I recently found the Brain Age game that I bought for my dad as a gift, along with the Nintendo DS that went with it. I got it for my dad a couple years ago but took it back after he proved to me that he was too far advanced with his Alzheimer's to even understand how to even turn it on. I wish I would have known about brain games so that I could have had him exercising his brain before it was too late.

So, I tried the game for myself and I have to say that I need some serious brain exercise. I think it said that my brain age was 60. Eeeekkk! I am only 38. I really enjoy the game though.

I think there is a part 2 game as well. I hope everyone can encourage their Alzheimer's loved ones to exercise their brain daily. It really does help.