Dementia

Dementia is horrible. It takes away the people we love mentally and emotionally which leds to a physical decline. It’s hard to hold Papaw’s hand and he not know me. But, he can sure tell me stories from his childhood like it was yesterday.

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It is tough seeing Papaw not understand certain things and teaching Mamaw to give short commands. She wants to explain everything because “he deserves to know”. Yes he does, but we have to change our communication style so that he does (or we hope) understand the message.

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I’ve taken direct care of patients for 20 of my 26 years of nursing. Geriatrics is my favorite population. I love their honesty and defiantly like the “challenge” they sometimes present. But, feeling it to my core with my Papaw just hits differently.

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I held his hand this day and he asked me to marry him. In that moment, I was Mamaw. Of course I said “yes” after I couldn’t convince him that I was his granddaughter. Through it all, he hasn’t lost his sense of humor. 🥰

#papaw