birthday dinner
07.31.05 (10:31 pm) [
edit]
Laurin an friend of my celebrated his 75th birthday this week and wanted to do something special. He is a good friend of Damian, one of the people I take care of so we arranged to take him and also Leo out to lunch. Damian and Leo hang together so thought it would be best to bring them both.
We went to "O'Charleys", a nice place for a food chain. Leo and Damian got their usual, hamburgers, French fries and coke. I got a Mexican dish and Laurin got a steak. It was a lot of fun, Leo having trouble figuring out how to eat his hamburger. He does it in different way; mostly he likes to take the hamburger out and just eat it with his hands, and at the same time munching on his hamburgers. Then I have to keep showing him what a straw is for, so slowly he makes his way thru the meal and really seemed to enjoy it. Damian also did well. Sometimes he does not eat much but yesterday he "et" everything; don't know of anyone who loves hamburgers more than he does. James was with us, another good friend and he took a ton of pictures of Damian and Leo. They both photograph well and love to ham it up, especially Damian, a clown at heat who has always had the ability to make others laugh.
Did a lot of bathroom runs with Damian, his diuretic was working over time, so we wore out the carpet on the way to the bathroom. He waved to the people as he went and for the most part they all waved back. Took Leo once and had a few laughs because he is starting to gain weight and could not get his belt buckled; I think it was the dessert that did it. He has to be watched since he is forgetting how to do the simplest things, so the bathroom could be a dangerous place for him. Yet he can still follow a conversation, and when I drive him he still laughs at the things he hears on the radio.
When we went back to the personal care home Damian wondered out loud where we were, so I told him he lives here; but he could not remember. I have no idea what it is like to have severe short term memory loss, it has to be frustrating at times, but both he and Leo seem to take it with a great deal of grace, and aplomb. They do like the home, and are happy for the most part as are most of the residents. The few that seem unhappy have preexisting psychological conditions that they had for years, before their Alzheimer's developed. Even they have some good days.
They all loved to be teased, and kidded with, and laugh easily, with childlike charm and happiness. Many truly do only have the moment, and each day is filled with "new" things; some like that more than others. Keeping everything the same and the schedule in tact is helpful for them, and makes it easier.
The work is not always easy but certainly worth while and filled with both frustration and joy; just like anything else in life that is worth doing.
Peace
Mitch
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Rejltbecca (
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post date:
03.14.08 (6:04 pm)
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posted by:
Marshgia (
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post date:
03.14.08 (6:04 pm)
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Helpbfen (
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post date:
03.15.08 (3:15 pm)
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Sheiqaxla (
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post date:
03.15.08 (3:15 pm)
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Faith (
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post date:
03.22.08 (9:31 pm)
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