Abbey
Spork Queen
I need to vent a bit.
My father in law is declining rapidly into this disease. H and I see it as we live just 2 doors down from them and check on father in law multiple times a day. The holidays really brought this to a critical level for father in law and mother in law.
Christmas day we all went to extended family...played cards, etc. He couldn't remember how to play the games, shuffle cards, spread butter on bread...the list could go on and on. It's painful to watch as he tries his best to cover it up. When it was his turn to shuffle cards, he'd slip them under the table to me to shuffle. In the meantime, well meaning family would take H or I aside and express their concern.
The inlaws have always made a HUGE deal of Christmas. Heck, in just their little half bath we counted 51 decorations. Well, it didn't go off as planned this year. The immediate family celebrated the holiday yesterday. Why, oh, why do people put themselves through such stress when it is supposed to be a day of thanks?
mother in law breaks down literally in my arms as she has become the secret hider of father in law's needs. His response is always...I don't know, Connie will do it. He couldn't remember how to turn on the TV then becomes angry.
The kicker for me was watching him open gifts. He cried the entire time. I think he knows this might be his last family Christmas.
So, I summon H's brother and sister over to the house. They are in SUCH denial, but I think they saw enough to realize an 'intervention' is necessary.
(Crud...I just got a call to go into work. Argh.)
I'm almost more worried about mother in law. She's in breakdown mode. I'm checking into a federal program where a family member is paid to be a caretaker of an Alzheimer's patient. We have a family meeting next Sunday to discuss things like HE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING, needs to get off the city council RIGHT NOW, etc. Most important is the fallout when we break the news to him. He won't handle it well.
Ok, enough rambling. You were saved by Target. Got to run!
Abbey
My father in law is declining rapidly into this disease. H and I see it as we live just 2 doors down from them and check on father in law multiple times a day. The holidays really brought this to a critical level for father in law and mother in law.
Christmas day we all went to extended family...played cards, etc. He couldn't remember how to play the games, shuffle cards, spread butter on bread...the list could go on and on. It's painful to watch as he tries his best to cover it up. When it was his turn to shuffle cards, he'd slip them under the table to me to shuffle. In the meantime, well meaning family would take H or I aside and express their concern.
The inlaws have always made a HUGE deal of Christmas. Heck, in just their little half bath we counted 51 decorations. Well, it didn't go off as planned this year. The immediate family celebrated the holiday yesterday. Why, oh, why do people put themselves through such stress when it is supposed to be a day of thanks?
mother in law breaks down literally in my arms as she has become the secret hider of father in law's needs. His response is always...I don't know, Connie will do it. He couldn't remember how to turn on the TV then becomes angry.
The kicker for me was watching him open gifts. He cried the entire time. I think he knows this might be his last family Christmas.
So, I summon H's brother and sister over to the house. They are in SUCH denial, but I think they saw enough to realize an 'intervention' is necessary.
(Crud...I just got a call to go into work. Argh.)
I'm almost more worried about mother in law. She's in breakdown mode. I'm checking into a federal program where a family member is paid to be a caretaker of an Alzheimer's patient. We have a family meeting next Sunday to discuss things like HE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING, needs to get off the city council RIGHT NOW, etc. Most important is the fallout when we break the news to him. He won't handle it well.
Ok, enough rambling. You were saved by Target. Got to run!
Abbey