http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=the-heart-brain-connection
As a subscriber to Scientific American I recently read the above article from the magazine. This morning I noticed it was posted on the SciAm facebook page so I can easily share it with you.
The article is not completely full of bad news. I was especially interested in the Australian study which found that people who did 20 minutes of exercise a day had 2x enhanced cognitive test result compared with those on the drug Aricept (Donepezil).
My Dad took Aricept and Namenda. Although these drugs facilitate enhanced memory they evidently do nothing to prevent dementia or Alzheimer's Disease. My father has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. In the past year his motor skills have diminished, he less frequently walks on his own (indoor) and I have found him mostly sleeping in a chair in the dining room at Sentry Hill when I visit. He is locked into the Alzheimer's ward by a keypad. If you can't punch in the correct four digits you cannot exit.
Upon arrival for a visit I can wake him by calling his name or tapping his arm. Sometimes he dozes off and sometimes he remains attentive throughout a visit such as yesterday. My sister and I both visited him together. I was greeted by a broad grin which assured me he knew who I was immediately. My sister brought 3 boxes of donuts and provided coffee. She shared them first with my father and then the other residents whom seemed interested. He seemed very happy to be amongst his children.
We were told that the memory enhancing drugs (Aricept and Namenda) would run their course and he would have to stop taking them, which he did. There is no hope in site for a cure for Alzheimer's Disease. But the linked article does provide some hope that a healthy heart is a benefit for the brain.
Showing posts with label Alzheimers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alzheimers. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
July 19, 2010
Cone Flower (echinacia purpurea) taken in my garden yesterdayAlzheimer's Disease is truly tragic. When I first started this blog my intention was to share my experience with others. I am finding it to be a very sad subject to write about. When I think back about my Dad's life I don't see it like this at all, yet this is his life now. A large part of him that I knew so well is now gone. It will never return. The neuron tangle in his brain will never untangle. The shrinkage of his brain will only shrink more.
Eventually he agreed to go outside and we did sit near the pond. My Dad could not stand up by himself. He required our help and when he got on his feet he was unstable. It was doubtful he could remain standing. But he did ambulate himself, precariously.
And we did manage to get him outside, through the doors and onto seats near the pond. The ducks accosted us and then returned to their somber summertime existence. There isn't much conversation to be had with an Alzheimer's patient so far advanced so Sandra and I chatted with each other and my Dad occasionally contributing, "what, hah?"
I will be changing the title of this blog as soon as I can think of something. "Alzheimer's Disease and observations of a Son" is getting old.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
July 8, 2010
The heat of summer has arrived in York, Maine. We have had lots of 90°F weather and not much rain. A customer called from Boston on Tuesday and declared it was 106°F sitting in traffic. Ouch!
My sister called yesterday and told me my Father had fallen out of his bed early in the morning and then fallen while walking around 10 am. He seemed to have no bruises. The staff at Sentry Hill had placed him in a recliner for the day.
I went over to see him around 4pm. And sure enough he was still in the recliner. He was awake and as usual in pretty good spirits. I brought him 2 milk chocolate caramels from our chocolate shop, Divine Chocolate. He ate them with a fervor. It was nice to see him enjoy them. He asked me if I had been over to see Evelyn's grave (his oldest sister). I told him no, but last memorial day he and I and my kids went over to rake and clean up the graveyard. He couldn't remember.
I sat with him quietly as we watched the staff prepare the residents for supper. Most of the residents require assistance to get seated so there is a lot of effort made. The whole endeavor begins around 4pm and lasts until 5pm. Moments before 5 I said goodbye and headed home.
My sister called yesterday and told me my Father had fallen out of his bed early in the morning and then fallen while walking around 10 am. He seemed to have no bruises. The staff at Sentry Hill had placed him in a recliner for the day.
I went over to see him around 4pm. And sure enough he was still in the recliner. He was awake and as usual in pretty good spirits. I brought him 2 milk chocolate caramels from our chocolate shop, Divine Chocolate. He ate them with a fervor. It was nice to see him enjoy them. He asked me if I had been over to see Evelyn's grave (his oldest sister). I told him no, but last memorial day he and I and my kids went over to rake and clean up the graveyard. He couldn't remember.
I sat with him quietly as we watched the staff prepare the residents for supper. Most of the residents require assistance to get seated so there is a lot of effort made. The whole endeavor begins around 4pm and lasts until 5pm. Moments before 5 I said goodbye and headed home.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
February 4, 2010
I haven't seen my Dad since Christmas night. I think about him often, every few hours. On Christmas day, Sandra and the kids and I all went to visit him. We all sat in the big room that is octagonal with a high ceiling and punched a balloon back and forth to each other. My Father is remarkably agile for his age and condition. He dominated with the balloon punching.
I haven't visited with my Dad because I am emotionally exhausted. Driving over to see him is atleast a 2 hour endeavor. It's an 18 minute drive each way. I can never pop in and just say, "Hi Dad, just stopped by to see how your doing, gotta now." Although I have tried this it is just too confusing for him.
There have been so many things going on with the rest of my life I have put visiting him at the end of my list of priorities. I need to spend time with my kids. I was taking a lot of time off from work to visit which I cannot afford. In the evenings when I am at Sentry Hill visiting my father for a few hours I am not at home with my family.
My heart aches no matter which decision I choose.
With my oldest son off at college it has become completely clear that you become severed from your children. Nathaniel's college is an hour and a half ride from home. It is too far to drive for a casual visit. With my other two kids still at home I cherish all the remaining time I have before they too, head off into the world. I feel best after work to go home and look forward to sitting at the dinner table and being in the presence of my wife and kids. The completion of this ritual is usually 7-8pm, too late for me to visit my Dad.
I also enjoy visiting my Dad. The look on his face when he sees me is like no other. I love talking walks with him, reviewing the past and joking around with him.
It has given me a lot of peace to know that he is in a great place. Sentry Hill is very dignified, far and above his expectations and the staff is genuine.
The social worker, Sara, called me a few weeks ago to ask where I have been. I explained to her that although I love my Dad and pray for him often I cannot put as much energy into visiting him as I have in the past. I just don't have it.
My sister emailed me yesterday reminding me that our Dad won't be around long and that he asks where I am all the time.
There have been times in our past that my Father and I haven't seen each other for atleast a year and often months would pass even though we lived about a mile from each other. I think I have seen him more since he has been at Sentry Hill than I have in the past 20+ years. I am really grateful for this. When he was first admitted I had no idea what to expect. I didn't if he would be gone in a month, week or year. He has done very well.
I haven't visited with my Dad because I am emotionally exhausted. Driving over to see him is atleast a 2 hour endeavor. It's an 18 minute drive each way. I can never pop in and just say, "Hi Dad, just stopped by to see how your doing, gotta now." Although I have tried this it is just too confusing for him.
There have been so many things going on with the rest of my life I have put visiting him at the end of my list of priorities. I need to spend time with my kids. I was taking a lot of time off from work to visit which I cannot afford. In the evenings when I am at Sentry Hill visiting my father for a few hours I am not at home with my family.
My heart aches no matter which decision I choose.
With my oldest son off at college it has become completely clear that you become severed from your children. Nathaniel's college is an hour and a half ride from home. It is too far to drive for a casual visit. With my other two kids still at home I cherish all the remaining time I have before they too, head off into the world. I feel best after work to go home and look forward to sitting at the dinner table and being in the presence of my wife and kids. The completion of this ritual is usually 7-8pm, too late for me to visit my Dad.
I also enjoy visiting my Dad. The look on his face when he sees me is like no other. I love talking walks with him, reviewing the past and joking around with him.
It has given me a lot of peace to know that he is in a great place. Sentry Hill is very dignified, far and above his expectations and the staff is genuine.
The social worker, Sara, called me a few weeks ago to ask where I have been. I explained to her that although I love my Dad and pray for him often I cannot put as much energy into visiting him as I have in the past. I just don't have it.
My sister emailed me yesterday reminding me that our Dad won't be around long and that he asks where I am all the time.
There have been times in our past that my Father and I haven't seen each other for atleast a year and often months would pass even though we lived about a mile from each other. I think I have seen him more since he has been at Sentry Hill than I have in the past 20+ years. I am really grateful for this. When he was first admitted I had no idea what to expect. I didn't if he would be gone in a month, week or year. He has done very well.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
October 11, 2009
Haven H. Freeman in Japan while serving in the Korean Conflict (War), 1954My daughter is doing a project for social studies and asked for some family photos. I scanned some photos for her and when I got to the photos of my Dad in uniform I recalled how proud he is to have served in the Korean War. He was there in 1954 and has told me things were winding down. He said that although he never saw combat they were always on alert. They slept outside in the winter, washed with cold water and would hike 30 miles with full gear.
Currently, my dad is noticeably worsening weekly if not monthly. He is much more likely to begin a sentence and stop after one or two words. When prompted to finish he has completely forgotten what he started and isn't overly frustrated.
Although there are exceptions such as when he went apple picking last week with some other residents at Sentry Hill. He told me many details about the ride to New Hampshire, the apples he tried and about the "old timer" who owned the orchard, plus two others.
He remembers me when I see him, although a few days ago he initially referred to me as Fred. Fred was his Uncle. He then laughed and said, "I just called you Fred, Kevin."
I never met Fred (Perkins), he was gone long before I was born. In the past 10 years my father has also called me Paul (his brother's name) a few times. It has been rare but one takes notice when they are called by a different name other than their own. He has always corrected himself, so far, when this happens.
After supper on Monday my daughter, Amber and I visited my Dad. He was still eating when we arrived at Sentry Hill. I didn't want to disturb him so Amber and I took a short drive down to York Harbor where she took my camera and took photos of the sunset over the marshes. When we returned he was in the middle of dessert. So we took a seat opposite him but a few tables away. He immediately recognized us. He said, "Oh, Hi Kev."
After he finished he got up and I heard him say to the 3 others at his table that he was getting up to see his son. There was no indication anyone heard him. We took a walk through the building. Recently I have used the elevator rather than the stairs but decided to try the stairs last night. Each flight is about 20 stairs and the first set he did very well on. We walked the lengths of each level and used the stairs on each.
As we walked he told me he got into trouble by telling a lie. He couldn't remember the circumstances but told me it had to do with a woman that I knew. He couldn't tell me if she was old or young, resident or staff. He had embarrassed himself. I told him I had never know him to tell a lie before and asked what kind of lie it was. He couldn't remember any further details.
I did notice the medal he won in the Senior Olympics was not around is neck as it had been on Saturday's visit. I asked him where it was and he said at his house. I looked in his room and couldn't find it. There was a photo on a chair in his room of a baby on a bed, naked. But up in the air, face looking at the camera. It was a large photo, maybe 20 inches across in a very characteristic frame of the turn of the 19th century. It was of Andrew my Dads roomate up until yesterday as he had just passed away and his stuff was being readied to be taken from the room. It may be at his house as he might have asked my sister to take it so no-one would steal it.
It was difficult as usual to leave. After 2 hours I needed to get Amber home and we tried a, "love you dad, give me a hug, goodbye."
As usual it nearly worked but then he asked, "where am I going?"
I told him as usual for the last (and then counted the months off with my fingers,) 10 months you will be staying here tonight. The concept seems so foreign to him.
Last week my sister drove him to his primary care physician's office, I met them there and we all attended his 4 month check up. He slept most of the visit and woke up at the end. He has type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and more. He takes 7-9 pills a day. For the doctor it is all a balancing act. My fathers stomach rumbles almost constantly and he has lost some control of his bowels. It is a concern when I take him out. As a result I have taken him out less than I did a few months ago.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
September 12, 2009
I woke up early this morning (for me), around 5am. Couldn't get back to sleep so I went downstairs on the couch and watched part of a movie on showtime. It was called the The Creator. It was about a mad professor at a research university using cells from his beloved and dis ceased wife to create a clone. He was also extracting eggs from a nympho maniac he had friended for stem cells. He was a much older man and she was 18. They became lovers. At the same time he recruited an assistant who was a student and they began a strong friendship that was uncharacteristic. I don't recommend the movie but it did get me out the door with my camera and down into the woods.
I took lots of pics. I was in an area where my father and I spent lots of time hunting when I was growing up. I also spent lots of time down here with my Aunt Evelyn who owned the property before my Dad and then myself. My kids grew up in these woods and as I walked along there were still artifacts testifying to their long ago prescene. All of these thoughts co-mingled in my brain. It felt euphoric, daunting and lonely.
The late summer is particullary beautiful down there. It is just behind my house. So many memories came back of my Dad and I down there, looking along the river banks for deer tracks.
I took lots of pics. I was in an area where my father and I spent lots of time hunting when I was growing up. I also spent lots of time down here with my Aunt Evelyn who owned the property before my Dad and then myself. My kids grew up in these woods and as I walked along there were still artifacts testifying to their long ago prescene. All of these thoughts co-mingled in my brain. It felt euphoric, daunting and lonely.
The late summer is particullary beautiful down there. It is just behind my house. So many memories came back of my Dad and I down there, looking along the river banks for deer tracks.
I let the feelings and emotions swell up. I remembered how I love the smell of applying gun oil on the guns when we returned from hunting. I remembered the smell of chain saw exhaust synonomous with seeing my father. I longed for the multitude of memories that I cherish as I was in this place that we loved to frequent. Where we were nearly always rewarded with the site of a deer. The early morning light was so beautiful.
I sat down on the river bank and began a poem. But was interupted by a huge wave of emotion. I started crying. I sounded more like a damn fool than I could imagine. I tried to stop my pathetic whaling to no avail. I needed a good cry. I did manage to write a bit of a poem. The end was like this.
I sat down on the river bank and began a poem. But was interupted by a huge wave of emotion. I started crying. I sounded more like a damn fool than I could imagine. I tried to stop my pathetic whaling to no avail. I needed a good cry. I did manage to write a bit of a poem. The end was like this.
"I love you Dad"
Monday, August 17, 2009
August 17, 2009
I visited my dad yesterday morning and took him for a walk. The morning was very beautiful, bright blue sky, a slight northerly breeze, a truly magnificent summer morning. After about a half mile of walking and as I was about to say how nice the new sidewalk was that we were upon my father's foot caught a pressure treated landscape perimeter abutting the sidewalk (covered with weeds) and fell down, face down into the over run flower garden. I was shocked to see him lying there. He didn't move a muscle for a moment and then slowly got up. He had some blood on his finger tips and his left palm was chewed up my the pavement that took the brunt of his fall. His knee had been scraped.
We walked back to Sentry Hill where a nurse cleaned him up, assessed him and bandaged him.
It was very frightening to see him sprawled out on the ground so suddenly. I had no idea that he was even falling as he was a step or two behind me.
It has become more difficult to take him out for a drive as when he needs to use the bathroom he needs it within minutes. And on walks this has become an issue. He walks much more beleaguered than even a month ago. He sort of limps, right shoulder forward with a bounce. Very uncharacteristic of him as he looks like he could tip over easily. As he did on our walk.
I don't like to think that I shouldn't be taking him for walks. I haven't brought him to my house since our summer party on July 18. After the party he had reached a new level of confusion which lasted for about a week. He was very foggy and more disoriented that previously.
After the nurse had bandaged my father he and I went back outside and filled a couple of cups of cracked corn that I keep in the back of my truck and fed the duck's in the pond adjacent to the Browning Wing at Sentry Hill. The pond is very pretty as are the flowers at the whole facility. It was very hard to tell him I had to take him back inside on such a beautiful day. He didn't understand. And I would have liked to stay much longer.
Sandra had planned an 80th birthday party for her mom in Bedford, NH. So I left him, inside and he was disappointed. It is becoming more difficult to leave as he really wants to go with me and on Friday was very insistent that he was going home as I was leaving. One of the activity personnel pulled him back inside, physically.
We walked back to Sentry Hill where a nurse cleaned him up, assessed him and bandaged him.
It was very frightening to see him sprawled out on the ground so suddenly. I had no idea that he was even falling as he was a step or two behind me.
It has become more difficult to take him out for a drive as when he needs to use the bathroom he needs it within minutes. And on walks this has become an issue. He walks much more beleaguered than even a month ago. He sort of limps, right shoulder forward with a bounce. Very uncharacteristic of him as he looks like he could tip over easily. As he did on our walk.
I don't like to think that I shouldn't be taking him for walks. I haven't brought him to my house since our summer party on July 18. After the party he had reached a new level of confusion which lasted for about a week. He was very foggy and more disoriented that previously.
After the nurse had bandaged my father he and I went back outside and filled a couple of cups of cracked corn that I keep in the back of my truck and fed the duck's in the pond adjacent to the Browning Wing at Sentry Hill. The pond is very pretty as are the flowers at the whole facility. It was very hard to tell him I had to take him back inside on such a beautiful day. He didn't understand. And I would have liked to stay much longer.
Sandra had planned an 80th birthday party for her mom in Bedford, NH. So I left him, inside and he was disappointed. It is becoming more difficult to leave as he really wants to go with me and on Friday was very insistent that he was going home as I was leaving. One of the activity personnel pulled him back inside, physically.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
May 16, 2009
My father called me up on Wednesday (May 13) evening and asked me to come and pick him up and take him to a place which he could not describe. I asked him if it was home and he couldn't be sure. I was busy with work and told him I couldn't come over at the time. He became more anxious and pleaded with me.
I drove over to Sentry Hill not being able to figure out what he was talking about. When I got there he was ready to go and grabbed a photo that my sister had recently taken and framed of him and myself. I asked why he was taking the photo and he said he couldn't leave it there. I began to feel like he thought he was leaving permanently. I reminded him that I couldn't take him home and leave him there and that if we went to his house I would have to bring him back in a short while.
Still being leery of the situation I agreed to take him for a drive. I asked if he were hungry and he said not really. We drove from Sentry Hill up to the hospital and through the parking lot near the cafeteria that he is very familiar with. I asked him if this is where he has in mind. He said no and asked me to keep on driving and he would show me the way. We drove into the center of York Village and he said go left and then right. We drove for a few miles up Old Post Road and he eventually said we have gone to far. He asked me to turn around and explained how we needed to go back to Woodbridge Road and turn right after about a half mile.
He had just described directions to Sentry Hill. I did feel relieved that his home wasn't his destination but had never experienced anything so bizarre either. We drove up to the back entrance and I thought I would try driving on to make sure he meant it. When I didn't slow down to make the turn into the parking lot he asked where I was going. I turned in. He didn't waste a second getting out of my truck and into the building.
He seemed so relieved to be back to where we had just come from. He placed the photo he had taken back on his night table. Technorati Tags: dimentia, strange
I drove over to Sentry Hill not being able to figure out what he was talking about. When I got there he was ready to go and grabbed a photo that my sister had recently taken and framed of him and myself. I asked why he was taking the photo and he said he couldn't leave it there. I began to feel like he thought he was leaving permanently. I reminded him that I couldn't take him home and leave him there and that if we went to his house I would have to bring him back in a short while.
Still being leery of the situation I agreed to take him for a drive. I asked if he were hungry and he said not really. We drove from Sentry Hill up to the hospital and through the parking lot near the cafeteria that he is very familiar with. I asked him if this is where he has in mind. He said no and asked me to keep on driving and he would show me the way. We drove into the center of York Village and he said go left and then right. We drove for a few miles up Old Post Road and he eventually said we have gone to far. He asked me to turn around and explained how we needed to go back to Woodbridge Road and turn right after about a half mile.
He had just described directions to Sentry Hill. I did feel relieved that his home wasn't his destination but had never experienced anything so bizarre either. We drove up to the back entrance and I thought I would try driving on to make sure he meant it. When I didn't slow down to make the turn into the parking lot he asked where I was going. I turned in. He didn't waste a second getting out of my truck and into the building.
He seemed so relieved to be back to where we had just come from. He placed the photo he had taken back on his night table. Technorati Tags: dimentia, strange
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
May 12, 2009
I have just talked with my friend who is at the psychiatric hospital in Concord, NH and is praying he doesn't wake up in the morning. I told he I would pray harder that he does wake up. He has been stripped of everything that he may use as a tool to harm himself, including pencils.
I also spoke with my friends wife and his son who are not dealing very well with the situation. My friend, Mike has become much more despondent than when I talked with him on Saturday and Sunday. His family has not talked with a doctor and really have no idea of why the situation is deteriorating. yuk.
His son Matthew said when he went to visit his father today his father was sitting on the floor leaning against the wall, sobbing. An attendant went to get Mike and was told by him that he wasn't in the shape to see anyone. His son sat for over 20 minutes waiting to no avail.
I met with my father's social worker, head nurse, nutritionist and daughter today. For some reason my father wasn't invited. We all thought keeping him in the Browning unit, which is locked, would be the safest thing for him. Although they did offer to allow him to move upstairs into Tennyson which is assisted living. I was quite surprised.
After my sister and I left the meeting we met with my father and told him what had transpired. He was very upset and insisted he couldn't stand being locked up any longer and wanted to go home. At that point I realized he should have been included in the meeting.
Now, we will re explore the possibility of him moving to a section of the building that is not locked and where he will have the opportunity to come and go at will. I do feel it will be dangerous if he wanders off and gets lost but cannot say it is better to break his heart.
Although my dad is still responsible for his actions he has made no attempt to go home. He certainly has told us that is where he would prefer to be.
Mid afternoon, realizing I wouldn't be able to find time to go back over to Sentry Hill for a second time today I called my oldest son Nathaniel and asked him if he could go over and visit his grandfather. He declined saying that he was just out the door going for a run. He said that he would like to go over though and added that he is uncomfortable seeing his grandfather in such a condition.
I am glad he told me this. He also added that he will go see him but today was untimely.
I called my father later in the day, before super. I told him that my sister and I would make an effort to get him into and area of the building where he would be free to come and go outside. He was pleased and asked me to visit him tonight three times. I told him I had to work late and wouldn't have dinner til after seven at which time I would be very tired and didn't think I would be able to. He asked again and said he hoped to see me.
I have though about him a lot today. He is still so very much alive and still wanting and hoping though more often than not is in despair. Some of his brain is faltering and some is still as much in survival mode as ever. I am a huge admirer of his determination and have told him many so many times.Technorati Tags: psychiatric hospital, suicide, nutrionist, Tennyson,
I also spoke with my friends wife and his son who are not dealing very well with the situation. My friend, Mike has become much more despondent than when I talked with him on Saturday and Sunday. His family has not talked with a doctor and really have no idea of why the situation is deteriorating. yuk.
His son Matthew said when he went to visit his father today his father was sitting on the floor leaning against the wall, sobbing. An attendant went to get Mike and was told by him that he wasn't in the shape to see anyone. His son sat for over 20 minutes waiting to no avail.
I met with my father's social worker, head nurse, nutritionist and daughter today. For some reason my father wasn't invited. We all thought keeping him in the Browning unit, which is locked, would be the safest thing for him. Although they did offer to allow him to move upstairs into Tennyson which is assisted living. I was quite surprised.
After my sister and I left the meeting we met with my father and told him what had transpired. He was very upset and insisted he couldn't stand being locked up any longer and wanted to go home. At that point I realized he should have been included in the meeting.
Now, we will re explore the possibility of him moving to a section of the building that is not locked and where he will have the opportunity to come and go at will. I do feel it will be dangerous if he wanders off and gets lost but cannot say it is better to break his heart.
Although my dad is still responsible for his actions he has made no attempt to go home. He certainly has told us that is where he would prefer to be.
Mid afternoon, realizing I wouldn't be able to find time to go back over to Sentry Hill for a second time today I called my oldest son Nathaniel and asked him if he could go over and visit his grandfather. He declined saying that he was just out the door going for a run. He said that he would like to go over though and added that he is uncomfortable seeing his grandfather in such a condition.
I am glad he told me this. He also added that he will go see him but today was untimely.
I called my father later in the day, before super. I told him that my sister and I would make an effort to get him into and area of the building where he would be free to come and go outside. He was pleased and asked me to visit him tonight three times. I told him I had to work late and wouldn't have dinner til after seven at which time I would be very tired and didn't think I would be able to. He asked again and said he hoped to see me.
I have though about him a lot today. He is still so very much alive and still wanting and hoping though more often than not is in despair. Some of his brain is faltering and some is still as much in survival mode as ever. I am a huge admirer of his determination and have told him many so many times.Technorati Tags: psychiatric hospital, suicide, nutrionist, Tennyson,
Saturday, March 28, 2009
3/38/2009
I went to visit my father this afternoon around 3:30pm. He was sitting near the door waiting with a paper in hand that had my sister Karen's and my phone number on it. He was very frustrated as he wanted to call us and said the nurses made him dial a nine first. To dial the phone number as written is a challange for him..to add a nine was impossible. Evidently the nurses weren't helping him and he said he would die if this kept up.
I suggested that we leave, go for a ride and he quickly agreed. As we were departing a lady who was also leaving and had been sitting next to a different resident said she would like to tell me that the nurses weren't helpful to my father and she felt like he wasn't getting respect. She added that he had been very frustrated. It was sad to see him in such a state of despair.
I drove us along the beach and up to Ogunquit and finally up the backway to his home. We stopped in and walked around his yard. He asked me if the truck in the driveway was his. I told him yes it was and a nice one at that. After we left his house we stopped by the chocolate shop where my wife Sandra was working. He was very happy to see her, she gave him a shortbread cocoa cookie which he liked very much. We then left and I drove him back to Sentry Hill where my sister was waiting and they drove off to York Hospital for dinner. They had arranged to meet a lady friend of my dad's and her 98 year old dad for dinner.
I suggested that we leave, go for a ride and he quickly agreed. As we were departing a lady who was also leaving and had been sitting next to a different resident said she would like to tell me that the nurses weren't helpful to my father and she felt like he wasn't getting respect. She added that he had been very frustrated. It was sad to see him in such a state of despair.
I drove us along the beach and up to Ogunquit and finally up the backway to his home. We stopped in and walked around his yard. He asked me if the truck in the driveway was his. I told him yes it was and a nice one at that. After we left his house we stopped by the chocolate shop where my wife Sandra was working. He was very happy to see her, she gave him a shortbread cocoa cookie which he liked very much. We then left and I drove him back to Sentry Hill where my sister was waiting and they drove off to York Hospital for dinner. They had arranged to meet a lady friend of my dad's and her 98 year old dad for dinner.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
3/25/2009 (2)
9:22 pm
Not very tired but should be. I took my daughter to a 2 hour basketball practice in Portsmouth, NH and managed to sneak in some photography. I got several nice shots of the sun setting over the Mill Pond looking westerly.
I visited my dad at 1:30 today. We went for a 1.5 mile +/- walk. My father saw an old hey wagon on Woodbridge Road and immediately nocked on a neighboring door and he asked if it were for sale. A twenty something gentleman asked us to come inside where father found out he knew the owners mother and that the wagon was not for sale. The weather was great, 40's, not quite cold! Bright and sunny...spring is closer.
We walked back to Sentry Hill via Varrell lane from Woodbridge and passed Rita's house, Rita is my father's second wife. Divorced. Upon return to Sentry Hill we ran into Jack Lewis an artist at Sentry Hill who is 90 years old. He is very interested to paint my father's potrait. After negotiating by himself, with himself he decided he would charge $100 for a protrait or $20 an hour. He added we would not have to pay if it wasn't suitable. We agreed to the terms. Jack and I played a couple of songs on our resptective harmonicas and I managed to get back to work for an hour. Not enough.
Not very tired but should be. I took my daughter to a 2 hour basketball practice in Portsmouth, NH and managed to sneak in some photography. I got several nice shots of the sun setting over the Mill Pond looking westerly.
I visited my dad at 1:30 today. We went for a 1.5 mile +/- walk. My father saw an old hey wagon on Woodbridge Road and immediately nocked on a neighboring door and he asked if it were for sale. A twenty something gentleman asked us to come inside where father found out he knew the owners mother and that the wagon was not for sale. The weather was great, 40's, not quite cold! Bright and sunny...spring is closer.
We walked back to Sentry Hill via Varrell lane from Woodbridge and passed Rita's house, Rita is my father's second wife. Divorced. Upon return to Sentry Hill we ran into Jack Lewis an artist at Sentry Hill who is 90 years old. He is very interested to paint my father's potrait. After negotiating by himself, with himself he decided he would charge $100 for a protrait or $20 an hour. He added we would not have to pay if it wasn't suitable. We agreed to the terms. Jack and I played a couple of songs on our resptective harmonicas and I managed to get back to work for an hour. Not enough.
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