Gotta call a buddy

[pwd72s]

Buddy has Altzheimers...can't understand a word he says these days...but still gotta call...especially after listening to this song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2vOF1DSm7U&ab_channel=ReinadelCid

hint: closed caption helps with the lyrics.

[upsscott]

I lost my mother to Alzheimer’s last year. This song brought a needed tear to my eye. Thanks for the link and the CC tip. Beautiful song. Gonna send this link to my sister.

[FPB111]

I enjoy Sunday morning with Reina del Cid often. The lead singer and guitarist on her right play one or two songs.

[ted]

MIL had it for 10 years.
Even when she could not communicate she could sing every word of some Sinatra songs.

[RM512]

Lost my mother Sunday evening to this terrible disease. Her inability to communicate was pronounced and had a profound effect on her demeanor. We did our best to keep her comfortable. Sincerely, best wishes to anyone who has to deal with the consequences of this horrific condition.

[pwd72s]

Glad I posted the song...it was written by Reina...and although she didn't mention it, she must have someone with the terrible disease. The lyrics obviously come from a good heart. I'll confess to crying a bit as I listened. Then had to make my buddy's phone ring...even if all he hears is static, I hope he knows somebody is thinking of him...

RM & Scott? Hugs to you both...

[billybek]

My condolences Scott and RM.
My dad had Alzheimer's like symptoms and passed in 2019. He had the same difficulty in communicating as RM had mentioned. It was heartbreaking to see someone so competent at so many things become so helpless.
He was pretty good up to 85 years of age but you could see the decline before that time.

[upsscott]

My mother was a classically trained Pianist who taught music at the college level. She was the most well read, intelligent person I’ve ever known. About 10 years ago we noticed that she wouldn’t play the piano anymore. When she did she could play anything by memorization. We knew something was terribly wrong. It was a downward spiral from there. She spent the last year of her life in a memory care unit which basically ended up being a prison due to Covid. It was awful. Visiting through a window was confusing to her. I don’t wish this on anybody.

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by upsscott

I lost my mother to Alzheimer’s last year. This song brought a needed tear to my eye. Thanks for the link and the CC tip. Beautiful song. Gonna send this link to my sister.

I hate Alzheimer's. Took my Dad.

[unclebilly]

This is a beautiful song and very deep.

I’m embarking down this awful road fraught with frustration with my father right now.

[jhynesrockmtn]

We've been dealing with my Mom's dementia downward spiral for several years. My thoughts are with all going through this journey. Unfortunately, medical science has progressed to a point where they can keep the body going way beyond the brains ability to handle things. I don't pretend to have the answer, but quality of life has been lost to the progress of pharma tech.

[upsscott]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

This is a beautiful song and very deep.

I’m embarking down this awful road fraught with frustration with my father right now.

Patience and love. Enjoy the moments of clarity because they are fleeting. It's a tough road but there will be some good moments. My thoughts are with you and your dad.

Sent from my SM-N986U using Tapatalk

[3rd_gear_Ted]

The quality of life paradox in a fully healthy body and a demented mind had our families hearts torn to shreds watching the demise of our FIL.
Get a DNR an make sure your loved one dies with dignity and peace.
My FIL died with lots of broken ribs & bruises because of a family member stopping the DNR order in place.

[pwd72s]

My buddy being cared for by a loving wife with a caregiver...but incontinence has begun...other things. To think that he once flew the F-111 for uncle and now can't say a comprehensive sentence...yes, very sad. Wish I didn't live thousands of miles away...At least I could give his wife a few hours break from time to time.

The only silver lining...money for the care is not a problem for them. I'm thinking it'll be a care facility soon. Actually hope so for her sake...she's a sweetheart.

Jerry touched on it...perhaps medical science has become too good?

Glad I posted that song...hope others got as much out of it as I did. It seems some did.

[jhynesrockmtn]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

My buddy being cared for by a loving wife with a caregiver...but incontinence has begun...other things. To think that he once flew the F-111 for uncle and now can't say a comprehensive sentence...yes, very sad. Wish I didn't live thousands of miles away...At least I could give his wife a few hours break from time to time.

The only silver lining...money for the care is not a problem for them. I'm thinking it'll be a care facility soon. Actually hope so for her sake...she's a sweetheart.

Jerry touched on it...perhaps medical science has become too good?

Glad I posted that song...hope others got as much out of it as I did.

So sorry for your friend, you, his other loved ones. The hardest thing is to watch someone go from an intelligent and engaged adult to basically a child with (in my Mom's case) no short term memory and a rapidly fading long term one.

The issue of pharmaceutical and medical science keeping the body alive too long was brought up by my Mom's long time primary care doctor. It is his opinion formed through a practice focused on seniors over many years.

I would encourage your friend's wife to explore memory care sooner vs later. She can transition from caregiving to advocacy and back to wife. However, if she can keep him home SAFELY, with support and it works for her, that can work well. She'll just want a plan B in place to act on quickly as his condition worsens. That can happen overnight in the case of certain types of dementia with a stroke or heart event. All the best.

[Rot 911]

My mom died from complications of Alzheimer’s six years ago at the age of 86. The only thing we could see positive about it all was that she maintained a happy disposition up to the end. Many others have to deal with anger and violence.

I’ve decided that if I ever start to show signs of Alzheimer’s I’m heading to an assisted suicide state. Or maybe I’ll have to go to another country. Not sure what the requirements are that allow you to end your own life.

[Racerbvd]

I feel your pain, I have a friend who is suffering right now, I call him and he remembers me, his wife said when I call, he gets happy and like his old self, but he is not going to get better . Which is really sad because he has such great stories and history, from driving a tow truck during the Watts riots 5o being the crew chief for Brumos and the history in between is just as fascinating.
I don't know what is worse, losing a friend like that with such amazing history and knowledge to share or watch them deteriorate