My spiritual perspectives have changed dramatically in past ten years, but memories of WHY I myself made those changes are growing dim. Why do I no longer celebrate the special days that my loved ones celebrate? … Soon I suspect you will again find me enjoying those activities, because my theological understanding is going backward in time, as well as all my other memories.
Surprise; one of my major dementia symptoms is something that I previously excelled in; numbers.
Biggest cues for me in recognizing sight of self and loved ones are hair length, hair color, and hair style. … But my most reliable recognition for both spouse and loved ones is not sight; it is sound, and smell. … But even when I no longer recognize loved ones … please do not pull away from time spent together. Relationships are what make life worth living.
My main project was to crochet a collar and set of cuffs for Autumn/Winter.
i dont think dementia has ability to change the CORE nature of our “person”, but can highly influence the “perspective” and PERCEIVED “personality”
Don’t know what is coming, but I am listening and applying this “premonition” to prepare for change, in that I am going to back up from my tremendous outflow of energy and time output to online dementia issues.
I do not feel that the “best” of my grandmother was gone in her later stages. Her context was gone. The ability to delay gratification was gone. The ability to even know what she wanted or who she was … was gone. But her visceral response to life was NOT gone. Having my grandmother as a Dementia Mentor (even if only in my memory), has been a tremendous source of hope and example. In my final days I hope the same can be said of me.
“Music is Connection (despite dementia symptoms): to myself, to others, and to the unseen rhythms connecting each living entity.”
… I choose to focus on life’s blessings (and the blessing in opportunity of advocacy). But in order to do that I must pass THRU and endure the grief. Both are an important part of the complete process for keeping my life in a larger perspective.
For many years alarms were wonderful tools to meet needs … but this year? … I think I have progressed past their usefulness. grr-r-r-r !! … multiple other intensified symptoms in past couple weeks 😦
