Mom and Alzheimer's

Actually, she wasn't ever diagnosed: Alzheimer's Disease is just one under the Dementia umbrella. Mary Frame was too far advanced in her disease to consent to diagnosis and treatment by the time we all could agree there was a problem. She's been living in a Memory Care residence in Minnesota, stage 7, doesn't know anyone, but could eat, speak, and ambulate. Then she fell and broke her hip. Very common beginning to the end. Surgery went well ( pinning only) but she is not waking up well. Anesthesia accelerates the decline in dementia. It's very well-documented, but like most issues with mental impairment in the elderly, there is scant to zero knowledge of it by doctors and nurses in hospitals. There wasn't a choice here, though. You can't NOT pin a broken hip.

So the future looks like this: a rehab facility (i.e. skilled nursing home) where she will starve to death over a few weeks. Many get feeding tubes placed at this point, which can prolong this limbo for years.

I have zero say in the matter, as I am not her legal guardian. My niece is, and is doing a terrific job with all the decision-making in this "upset".

I will fly home if/when I'm needed, possibly could assist my niece with the associated burdens.

Here are some Mom photos from happier times.

This was taken for the local newspaper column "Newcomers"! Davenport, Iowa, maybe?

I took Mom to see Yosemite  during mid-stage Alzheimer's. We call this Two Grizzlies. (That tree is Grizzly Giant).

The next year Mom and I drove to see her retired friends in Phoenix, stopping at Mesa Verde National Park. This park ranger immediately noticed Mom had issues, and was SO solicitous and kind to her. Gave us a private tour. 

At Jon Mark's wedding. This was probably the last event she could process. 

Mavis, Mom and Mary Ann, her Omaha friends. 

 

Mom requested once I use this photo as her obituary photo! It's saved on the hard drive as maryframeobitphoto.














So it's a wait and see game.

It's been a rough slide for her the last 10 years. She had to bury her son and her husband, 3 months apart. She lost her home and savings to pay for long term care. She won't see her grandson Andy get married. And she never got to enjoy her three great-grandchildren. One of the smartest, quick-witted women I ever knew is just a shell.

Alzheimer's Disease robs one of everything. I would much prefer a heart attack, massive stroke, or even cancer to this. But that's just me.

*UPDATE*   Feb. 21, 2010
Mom did wake up the day after I wrote the above and is now in a rehab facility. She doesn't feed herself, but eats when fed.