Alzheimer's La La Land

My Dad has Alzheimer's. Thankfully, he is living at a "health care center" a place previously known as a nursing home. It is part of a larger, elderly living arrangment complex. Actually, it is a nice place located on acres of beautiful, well maintained land with a river running through it. When my Mom was alive, they lived in independent living and had their own large apartment. After Mom died, Dad stayed in indpendent living, but his Alzheimer's slowly got worse and we moved him to assisted living.

In assisted living, he still had his own, small 2 room apartment and paid for the extra care he needed such has getting his meds, being reminded to go to meals, activities, etc. He was still very active and I loved going out there and walking along the grounds with him and my dog, Gracie. My Dad was always active and loved long walks.

After a fall and knee surgery last October we moved him to the health care center, where he has remained. Since then he had another surgery. After each surgery, the Alzheimers gets worse.

Today at his facility, there was a band concert on the grounds. My sister and I drove out and put Dad in a wheel chair and wheeled him outside to the concert area. It was lovely and so many people were there who knew him. However, he didn't remember them. At one point I said, "Do you know who I am?" He didn't remember. He didn't remember my sister, either.

It's sad. But, I try to see the best side of this situation. My Dad is very happy and always cheerful. He loves any type of company. He has always been a very friendly, social man and still is. Conversations with him are limited. He may not know who we are at any given time, but he is happy to see us. He really enjoyed the couple of hours outside, listening to the Dixieland jazz band. They played the "oldies, but goodies" music and he sang along. He talked briefly of playing the accordian in a band when he was a young man- in the 1940's. In fact, he seems stuck in the 1940s. That's OK. It was the best time of his life - he met my Mom, had 2 of his 3 daughters - life was good. Although he served as a medic in WWII, he was far behind the lines and never saw any fighting - just the results. The '40's were very happy years for him.

My Dad is 88. He has told us over the last couple of years that he would like to live to 90. Physically, despite his bum knee, he is very healthy.

Today, at the band concert, when I told my sister that Dad didn't remember we were his daughters or our names she teared up and said, "Maybe we should tell him he's 90."

Maybe so.