My Mother's Journey With Dementia

The Tournament of Rose Parade will have a float called the Boomer Express to raise awareness of Alzheimer's disease.

The float will have a bell on it that will ring every 70 seconds to bring attention to someone being develops Alzheimer's. 

They have also made a website in which you can submit your pictures, and stories.  Heck even check out the website just to look at neat designs they made from all the photo submitted!

The float, titled "The Boomer Express," is sponsored by the Alzheimer's Association and Pfizer. It's the final piece of their "It's Time to Face Alzheimer's" initiative designed to encourage all Americans to join the fight against the disease.

This message is now more crucial than ever for the 10 million at-risk baby boomers in the country -- with the oldest members of the group turning 65 in 2011. By 2030, the number of seniors with Alzheimer's is estimated to grow by 2.5 million. Along with that growth comes a critical need for caregivers such as Miranda who have the skill and compassion to care for individuals with this disease.

When the first wave of baby boomers begins to turn 65 next year, the numbers of people affected will only continue to escalate.  I pray that brings the awareness to others, and it helps research on how to top dementia or Alzheimer.

Cute Driving PICTURE!  Tee hee!

I was doing a bit of reading about the dementia patient and driving again. Recently, I found Alzheimer's reading room. and the site presented a podcast about driving and the dementia patient. Carole B. Larkin is the Geriatric Care Manager for ThirdAge Services, specializing in all forms dementia care.

When we had an in home dementia evaluation we also had a Geriatric Care Manager come to our home. Carole is from Dallas Texas, and that is where my mother whom has dementia was born.

Anyway, here is the podcast about when its time to stop the dementia patient from driving.

My brother called this morning, and mother canceled the driver's test.  He said that she genuinely doesn't feel good.  I'm sure part of it is nerves over the test, but she was vomiting all last night.  It sounds like they have rescheduled things for tomorrow.

He was mentioning that he feels he needs to go over, and take away her keys to the car.  I mentioned to him that I have purposely been placing myself in the position when visiting with her to have her drive when we had to go places.  I have done this a couple of times recently, and she never scared me so far.

I think that relieved him a bit, but at times he can be rather laid back.  You never really know, but I think he was okay.  I can sure understand his position, and maybe I'm wrong as well.  I'm thankful we can talk without getting nasty.  I don't believe either of us are like that, but when emotions are on high alert?  You just never know what can happen I suppose.  I think we even each other out pretty well.  I admire him very much.

Dementia and driving as you can imagine may not be the best combination.  I think we can all giggle at the picture I found today, but on the other hand it can also be a sad reality.

I have to admit I have been in the car with my mother, and so far she hasn't scared me.

I remember going to visit my grandparents for vacation when I was younger, and my grandmother could scare the daylights out of anyone driving.  Heck that was BEFORE the Alzheimer!  I was adult by the time her condition of Alzheimer's changed things, and we always drove after that until they finally took her driving privileges away.

According to the letter I received from my mother's doctor he doesn't seem to think mom should be driving at all.

Mom is a very social creature, and she has always participated in church, AARP functions, and once my father passed away a senior grief group.  She also gets her hair done on a regular basis.

We recently had a new major road in our area completed, and it saves us time for travel at this point.  During the Christmas dinner family members were telling her about the road, but I'm sure at this point if she continues to drive?  She will stick to what she is familiar with.

Tomorrow my brother is taking her to a rehab evaluation test for driving at a hospital.  He told her that this will either keep her insurance rates 'as is', or possibly reduce them.  That maybe true, but we all know the real reason behind this.

My brother called to see how this all works, and they told him they only report directly to the doctor.  I have to admit my heart dropped when I heard that.  I mentioned the doctor's opinion on the subject already.

Well I hope everyone had a pleasant holiday! As I had mentioned before we had an in home dementia evaluation done. My brother had received a letter from my mother's doctor regarding his recommendations, and he gave me a copy.

It was nice to read from the doctor that he felt my brother and I were taking the appropriate actions towards my mother. He had also mentioned what I'm sure most that deal with dementia patients do at first, and that is clearly 'resistance'. My mother is warming up to this reality slowly but surely.

I had to go over to my mother's house after the in home assessment, because it looked to me as if she was hoarding food. The refrigeration and freezer were packed, and the cabinets were just as full. I don't think she was hoarding as the condition you read about, because I don't think she knew what she had and what she didn't.  I have read that hoarding with dementia patients also makes them feel secure.  It was the in home evaluation that called my attention to this circumstance.

I went over to clear out the kitchen, and I only got as far as the refrigerator, freezer, and one cabinet. I had 9 to 10 black garbage bags full of either spoiled or expired food.

I tried to keep the conversation light as we worked, and asked her to wash down the shelves as I emptied them in the refrigerator. I figured it would keep her busy, and she wouldn't question every last item I pulled out. I will say after a while she just gave up, and went along with anything I dumped. I don't think she realized HOW much she had.