Mum My Greatest Challenge.

Thursday afternoons my sister and I  visit mum. As I have mentioned before Mum has Alzeimers, occasionally she remembers who we are and I think this week was good. We take her out of the dementia ward and go to the front to have coffee in the garden there.

Outdoor Seating Area off the tiniest coffee shop

There is no conversation with us, Jan and I chat away, occasionally ask her questions for a nod or too as an answer, but even then not sure if she understands. Sad thing is the same group of ladies that have lived there and a gentlemen that we have got to know, are all declining at the same rate.It has been 2 years and 8 months now, and all want to go out the doors when we do.

Front Entrance Path, wanders right to another entrance.

Gardens are kept beautifully.

The nurses and carers have to let us out but always in tow are two or more escapees. So it is a trick to get through once the automatic key is swiped, especially trying with mum and a walker at the same time.

Mum June 2018

Mum and Jan Dec 2017

The latest has been no teeth in. We have never ever seen our mother like that till a few months ago she refuses to put them in. I personally think her mouth is getting smaller with age and they hurt. She doesn't like using utensils so if we get a bite to eat, it is usually a  large Byron Bay biscuits that we break up in pieces. A two handle mug also for mum. Twice now I have had to get a nurse to help, once she couldn't get up out of the chair after Jan went back to work, this week she let go of the walker and wouldn't take it again. A very dangerous move so I held on and Jan raced to get help. The decline has been rapid in the last 6 months. She will wander off suddenly, lose interest or just forget where she is, but always you can find her trying to get out of the side gate.

Violas

The gardens there are particularly lovely. Once a resident used to keep it and it was full of flowers everywhere. She left  and it went into a bit of a recline but now there is an young man, who comes in every week. It is looking neat and tidy and I noticed more flowers going in as well. Mum used to love the garden but now its just somewhere to endlessly walk around. She prefers getting outside away from everyone.

We are still jogging along with our own garden. The big decision with it is what to do with the paths so having looked at some rubber back false grass this is the way we are going. Our next step is to get the crusher dust first which will be on weed mat, then the grass on that. Drainage across the path   is also to be done, to stop the flood at the entrance itself.

Drain needed here.

It has been a busy week lots of different things going on, usually the garden, will catch up next time

Stay safe everyone.