Much is lost as LBD progresses. That doesn’t mean we’ve lost everything to this disease. We still exchange affection in words and deeds. We kiss. We hold hands. We express how very very much we love each other. Often. He still says thank you when he wants to show appreciation. More importantly, Burt still knowsContinue reading “The things we still share”
Tag Archives: #abilities
What is slipping away
As Burt’s Lewy Body Dementia progresses There is no logic, so Burt has odd explanations of how things – even in his own body – work. Being able to define tasks, follow through, and find order go out the door with logic. Things he knew and understood are forgotten. This is not memory loss it’sContinue reading “What is slipping away”
Funny
A friend was struck by a Burt response – asked to color, he said, “me and my friends discussed it and we don’t do that kind of work.” She said, “That’s hilarious.” It is. It brought me to the question, “Isn’t it strange that although he no longer has logic, he can still be intentionallyContinue reading “Funny”
A job
Did I mention Burt’s desire to get a job? Actually, he’s been on a hunt for work for a while now. In some cases, his “bad” wife was the impediment. [I wouldn’t join him at the job, and my doing that was a requirement for his getting it.] Other times, he felt they were tooContinue reading “A job”
Harder=Easier
It’s hard to explain. It makes little sense even to me. But… There is something about the challenging symptoms and behaviors that, as they pile on, invite a more vigorous response. He has wilder delusions, more vivid hallucinations, less coherent responses, and my capacity to deal is supercharged. Yes. I have bags under my eyesContinue reading “Harder=Easier”
Funny you should ask
There is nothing funny about having dementia or caring for a loved one with dementia. Yet there is nothing more welcome to patient or carer than a hearty laugh. I devise amusing (to me) ways of looking at our plight. I picture Lewy as a roller-coaster (as it is most regularly described) on and offContinue reading “Funny you should ask”
Workshop thoughts
He’s looking good. The invisible burden. He’s doing well, they’ll say. No response to that makes it any easier. Yes, it’s a progressive illness, and we’re doing what we can. He has good days. I’m glad you got him on a better day. Your visit certainly perked him up. In truth, I have rarely hadContinue reading “Workshop thoughts”
You are invited
This is a Save-the-Date Burt turns 85 this November. He had a downturn. Then, the Lewy roller coaster started back up the hill. Sure, there’s a new baseline that has him looking less like the coherent engaged Burton of 2023, but…. Today, he showed gratitude along with his affection. He’s interested in people and activities.Continue reading “You are invited”
Sidebar
On aging In my early 70s, not so very long ago, I was going on [pretty] wild Spin Rides at a gym on W49th. It’s an experience I can’t imagine having now, although I can recall it vividly. The Spin room had a screen on which were projected travel destinations. Some were real and hilly.Continue reading “Sidebar”
Burt’s on top of it
The “job search” seems to have ended in a mystery job. Mystery to me, at least, but it is vague to Burt as well. He wants me to get him business cards (albeit they’re round, as he describes them). He assigns numbers to his staff, and I am #1 tomorrow, then #2 the next day,Continue reading “Burt’s on top of it”
this is our life 