The Other Shoe Dropped

Well, it happened. The senior center informed us today that Dad can't go back on his own. His dementia is considered a liability risk. They are not designed to monitor and assist. As noted in an earlier update, it is for people who can operate independently. He really can't. He can follow simple directions, like get in line for lunch, or deal the cards, but he can't initiate the actions by himself. I arrived early the other day to pick him up and watched him play cards for a while. It was quite sad. He could follow suit, but not pick up on the whole idea of what was taking place in the game.

Earlier I had talked about the potential for his playing taps for military funerals. Whereas he had seemed a little interested in the idea, he never actually made any effort to follow through on preparing for doing so. He got his trumpet out twice and played for a couple of minutes and put it away. He said that was all he could do for the day and didn't want to hurt his lip. Well, today the American Legion called and wanted him to play. I had to make my apologies and explain that he wouldn't be able to do it afterall. It had seemed such a bright prospect, but he just doesn't have the faculties to do it, and I have to accept that.

Today he had the lesions removed from his face. It was quick and simple and he experienced no pain. The downside is that he is confused. He now thinks that the cancer on his face was related to his alzheimer's and that the removal of the cancer also means that the alzheimer's is now also gone. That is presenting its own complications since he left the doctor.

Final thought for today. Dad has gone down hill considerably this week. It has been almost agonizing to watch. It is like he stepped off a ledge and fell to a lower ledge. Abilities, thoughts, reactions have changed in big ways. But tonight we had a great heart to heart talk. He won't remember tomorrow, and that is too bad because we discussed some very important things and came to an agreement on all of them. As I told him, each day will become an exciting new adventure of territory he hasn't covered before. The future is bright the prospect of great new discovery for each day of the rest of his life. Sunshine and descent.