NCAA Playoffs and other Alzheimer's Topics

This entry is a follow up on our discussion RE Mom and I filling out the NCAA bracket. Mom and I had fun doing it and we followed it every few days as the games progressed. It became quite the process and Mom was doing very well because as many of you know, she picked many of the "Catholic" sounding schools. Several of them were quite the upsets. By the time all was said and done Mom won the entire process!!

Last Saturday, there was a quarterly party at Mom"s assisted living facility. One of my sons, his wife, and 2 of my grandson's were there and we discussed Mom winning the contest. Everyone congratulated her and we moved on to other subjects. After they left, Mom asked if she really had won the contest. Yes, I assured her, she had. She then commented on how disappointed she thought Logan (the grandson who had set it up) looked. "I think you should tell him he won. That's okay with me." Now Mom could not process the fact that Logan is almost 14 not 3 and just telling him he had won, would not work. He would "know".

Now I had a decision. I could tell Mom that Logan would know the difference or I could take her generous offer and tell her that this would be very nice and he would like that. One was the absolute truth and the other was was "entering into her world" and using what we often often call Creative Reality. I decided to "enter into her world" and tell her that this was such a nice offer, that I would do just that. She beamed when I told her, and it was apparent, that this approach very much nurtured her desire to make the world a good place for her family. That had always been her a key part of her philosophy of life.

My advise to anyone reading this account ,who has a loved one with the diease,would be to "enter into your loved ones world" whenever it is needed. The "truth" sometimes needs to be flexible as the disease progresses. Your loved one's happiness and quality of life can sometimes hinge on doing this. Try it and you will find it may assist you, when you are in a "corner". It will help you and please your loved one-real win-win!!

May God keep you in the palm of Her hand!!