Jan 26 2009
Living with Alzheimer’s
Our next door neighbor’s father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s a while back and they recently brought him to live with them. The dad was getting too bad off to be left alone and the memory loss and confusion is getting worse. The neighbor’s alerted us that dad would be coming to live with them and asked that we keep an eye out in case he should see him wandering down the street.
Today the dad somehow walked outside and got locked out of the house. It is very cold outside and he did not have on a jacket and only had on a short sleeved shirt. I have no idea how long he had wandered around in the cold but he eventually ended up on my doorstep. He was shivering with cold and very confused.
Luckily I knew who he was and contacted his son. The son left work to come get dad and take him back home. I spent a couple of very eye opening hours with this kind man and got a cold hard look at Alzheimer’s. It was very scary.
I could speculate for hours on how long he was outside in the elements with no coat and short sleeves in the freezing temps … or why the neighbor’s don’t have a way to keep him from getting outside … but for now I’m just relieved that everyone is safe and sound once again.
God bless those who are living with this disease and those who are caregivers and family members having to watch the devastation.
