A reasonable month for Anne, and so a short blog this month. Anne is now virtually silent, but smiling. She merely sits on a seat, says nothing, and looks down towards the floor.
Anne spent a week in respite care while I had a holiday in the Lake District and she appears to have been settled and eating well, although she had been very incontinent. She was attending her day care centre while in respite care and when I went to pick up her belongings, assuming she was at day care, I discovered she was in the respite care lounge with the other day care patients - they were having a little outing for a bakeathon!!
Anne looked forlorn sitting in the lounge and when I approached her it took a while for her to recognise me. As I left, I was a bit weepy as I reflected that this is what it is going to be like in the not too distant future.
However, I was encouraged when she was returned home, as she came bounding off the minibus with that smile and arms outstretched to greet me. Clearly, the familiar surroundings of home had helped her to recognise me.
Fortunately, her incontinence has now settled and she is back into her routine - well, perhaps it should be more accurately described as our routine.
As I write this blog I am in a lot of pain as I have done something to my back muscles. This is a weak spot and it usually takes a few days to ease. However, this time I do feel a bit vulnerable as Anne has no idea of my predicament despite my "aghs" as I move. I really do hope and pray that nothing seriously happens to me while caring for Anne - that is my biggest worry and concern.
Finally, in early September our local Ramblers group have agreed to incorporate the Alzheimer Scotland Memory Walk in Inverness as part of their programme of walks. We will be walking along the Caledonian Canal and I am hoping that Anne will be able to do it. I say that because I have noticed that after a few miles of walking she starts to lean over to one side.
Anyway, if you would like to sponsor us to raise funds for Alzheimer Scotland you can find our fundraising page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gordon-h-brown
All donations will be gratefully received.
Until next month,
aye
Gordon
