Alzheimer's Disease Support Group

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia and characterized by progressive cognitive deterioration with declining activities of daily living and neuropsychiatric symptoms or behavioral changes. An early symptom is memory loss (amnesia), usually manifesting as minor forgetfulness that becomes pronounced with illness progression, with relative...

378 Members

2,774 Posts

0 Online

Deborah48 07/04/2011

In our county we have our fireworks on the 3rd because we get a big discount. Last night we all went (whole family) and had a picnic and watched fireworks. Rollie didn't seem to even see them. He just stared blankly in front of him and had no expression on his face for the whole show. I even tried to tilt his head and point them out but he didn't react. It made me cry. He did however, hum the National Anthem when it was played.

dancingd 07/04/2011

Tearing up..thinking about Rollie humming the National Anthem.
Some things are never lost.
Hugs
dd

deleted_user 07/04/2011

Our guys seem so similar right now......I took my Rob to the lake (Lake Erie) shore to sit and watch the boats and jet skiers etc. It was so beautiful the sun sprkling off the water. It is a spot we so often enjoyed before. We used to have a boat and have both always loved living near the lake.

He stared at the ground!!!!! He didn't even look at the water....... I couldn't believe it. Shortly after we left, it was s o sad and just showed me even more how far in to the disease we were.

On the way home he said "Thank you".... I said for what .....he said "for taking me there!" ........and here I thought it was a wasted effort.

We really don't know what they think...do we???

Pam65 07/04/2011

We have to keep taking them to happy places and not give up. Something registers in their mind if only for 30 seconds. It's worth it for both of you...... or me.

deleted_user 07/05/2011

I guess they are still in there somewhere if just for brief moments of time....Wayne wanted to go and as sick as i was i took him but when he gets there he wants to come home.....he has so much trouble making decisions..Like what do you want for breakfast? his answer is always i don't know, that is always the answer no matter what i ask him.
Deb the National Anthem sparked a memory in him .....

deleted_user 07/05/2011

I took Ken to his family reunion on Saturday. He said that he didn't want to go because they are all "slimy". (That is not true.) He seemed to have a good time. He kept slipping in an out of cognizance but family could make a little sense out of him. Of course he remembered very little about it when we left.

Ken cries when he hears the National Anthem

inmemoryofhattie 07/06/2011

Deb,

I know how sad this is for you...I think it is a god thing you took him and I'll bet he got more positive out of it than it seemed.....

grammyx3 07/07/2011

So sad Deborah, but his hummming the National Anthem meant he was taking it in...It really is heartbreaking watching our loved ones disappear before our eyes and leaving us with a stranger.

hugs....Carolyn

Join the Conversation