Dementia caregiver

Juli and June

Juli Clark is one of our in house care givers.  She is a retired RN and we met through the church a few years ago.

Shellie Cox is the other in house care giver.  She is CNA and referred to us by Juli. I have one each day Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.  I manage on Sunday alone.

June and Shellie

These two pictures were taken about a week apart.  June’s continence has changed considerably since bringing her back home from the Assistant Living Facility.  I realize it may be a plateau she is on and any day things can change for the worse but I thank God for the happy days we are having.  She tries to communicate with me and the care givers, and jokes, teases, and carries on communication that sometimes makes no sense but at least she is alert and aware.  She is eating good and all bodily functions working properly. She knows Boots by name.  She repeatedly tells me she loves me and some mornings wakes me by patting me on the shoulder.

June and Boots

I have now attended twice the Lewy Body Dementia support group and wish it met more frequently.  The geriatric psychiatrist to whom June goes has determined she has some Alzheimer but more dominant is the LBD along with some vascular dementia.  She loves it when people visit and when she receives cards in the mail.  I appreciate all the prayers.

Daughters Gail and Melanie with June yesterday!

Father’s Day was celebrated at our daughter Gail in Greensboro, NC.  Melanie returned from a Caribbean vacation during the early morning hours and joined us.

The weekend was great.  Gail gave our granddaughter Andrea a baby shower.  She is expecting twin boys in late August.

June is doing great.  The doctor said they get on a plateau and stay for awhile and without warning fall as it were to another level of dementia.  We are praising God for this stage in which she is laughing, joking and enjoying our two caregivers.

Late Blooming Easter Lillies

The Easter Lilly at Easter time are raised in floral hot houses.  This is one of four blooming at our house this month, later than Easter.

June is home.  I brought her home from Runk and Pratt Assistant Living Home June 8.  It may be a plateau she is on at present but she is exceptionally alert and happy about being home, even commenting on the difference in the food I fix and what she got at R&P.  The physician had determined she has some Alzheimer but mostly Lewy Body Dementia and some vascular dementia.  With Alzheimer the deterioration is gradual where with LBD you can be on a plateau for a time and then without warning drop to another level much worse.  Such happened last August that caused me to have to withdraw her from Adult Day Care, and last week of May that resulted in admitting her to R&P.  My care givers, Juli Clark and Shellie Cox, are great.  They work six days a week and I have Sunday responsibility.

Yesterday we went to Sunday School and Worship, then to Harbor Inn for a seafood lunch, came home, rested, went to R&P to pick up more of June’s clothes and talk with her room mate’s husband, then to Cold Stone for ice cream and finally to my sister for a grill cheese sandwich.  She was in bed asleep soon after eight o’clock.  This morning about six o’clock she reached over and patted me on the shoulder.  WOW!  Thank God for little things!

Shellie Cox and June

On May 28 I felt I was without choice and put June in Runk and Pratt Assistant Living about a mile and a half from our house.  Twice a day I was there to feed her because no one else was doing it.  Once I found she was not even pushed close to the table.  Once she fell out of the chair.  I don’t know if she had fallen asleep or tried to get up and fell.  After nine days at this place I chose to withdraw her and bring her back home.  I was blessed to find two competent care givers.  Shellie Cox pictured with June here is one.  She will work three days a week for 12 hours each day.  She once worked at a senior residential community with an Alzheimer unit in Lynchburg.  The other lady, Juli Clark,  is a retired RN who worked at a local nursing home, and a friend from church.  She will also work three days a week for 12 hours each day so I have Monday thru Saturday covered.  Either I will take care of Sunday or if any friends or family members drop in, they can help me.

I brought June home yesterday.  Last night when she put her head on the pillow she was asleep within five minutes and slept the entire night.  She must have been exhausted.  Today Shellie has played puzzles with her, did some painting, and walked.  We have had three delicious meals today.  Some changes have been made in the upstairs level of our house so if a time comes when June can no longer negotiate stairs, our living can be done in the upper level and food brought up to her.  My sister and brother-in-law delivered today a lounge chair in which she can sit in the evenings to watch TV.  If she chooses not to get in the bed she can sleep in that chair because it lays completely flat.

I missed her terribly.  Boots went to sleep last night with her head on June’s stomach – her usual position.  She is also happy June is home.  This almost concludes DAY ONE.  With this disease you take minute by minute, day by day, and thank God for whatever is good in it.