Women bear the burden of Alzheimer's

Here's an interesting article that I found today which is a good follow-up to The Shiver Report. They are both interesting reads. To be honest, I wasn't surprised with the findings but it just confirmed what I had originally thought. I've know so many great women that have done great things for their loved ones with the disease or similar diseases. It's the disease that's the burden and not my Mother. I am happy to be able to provide her with a happy, safe, environment with her family.

"Women are fully two-thirds of the people with Alzheimer’s.  They are also 60 percent of the unpaid caregivers of loved ones who have it.  In every way, Alzheimer’s is a mind-blowing disease -- not just for the people who get it, but for everyone around them. "

I am so thankful for my sister, Melanie, who takes care of my Mother all the time. It is her job. Kendra and I help out as much as we can while working and going to school but Melanie really deals with a lot and does it without too much complaining. Sometimes being around dementia so much you think you're actually going crazy too! This isn't the life that we imagined living but we're making the best of it both for us and for Mother.

Mother is Mother. Each day brings something new. The other day we were talking about sambuca and my Mom said, "My father drank that; I don't remember him". It was very interesting for her to remember that he liked that drink and that she didn't remember much of him. He died when she was in her late 20s so it has been a long time for her. Is this foreshadowing my future? Possibly.

The weather is so hot right now because we are in a heat wave and Mother sure does enjoy it...NOT. I was outside with Trisha when I heard this banging and I look over to see Mother banging on the window frantically. I go inside and she was freaking out about the people and not knowing where anyone was, which, of course, is completely normal. Melanie and Kendra were upstairs so I brought Mother out in the shade and we hung out. I tried to get her to go through the sprinkler but she just kept saying "not yet" but she stayed outside for awhile keeping a diligent eye on all of her babies (the 2 cats and the dog). I had to give her a play by play every couple of minutes. I literally said, " Don't worry about him; He's going to the bathroom."

After we came inside Mother was a bit tired from her medicine so she napped on the couch. She strangely was napping with her arms wide open like she was waiting for a hug. She tried to deny her napping and would randomly say some nonsense but we just told her not to worry. She still is saying it's cold out when she means its hot out.