Dementia caregiver

The Kissing Couple

The romance is still there even after a 58 year relationship with almost 55 of them in Holy Matrimony.  We dated three years before I convinced June to marry me.  Our care giver Shellie Cox snapped this photo as we were ending our morning walk at our driveway.

June has been doing incredibly well with loads of laughter, surprisingly humorous and joking, and repeated attempts to carry on conversation.  Recently we have been blessed with family and friends dropping in.  June always perks up when someone comes to visit.  She surprised me several days ago; she received a card in the mail and I heard her reading it aloud.  She has been unable to make out writing.  She continues on the prescribed medications (Aricept, Namenda, Sorequel) plus Coconut Oil daily and vitamins.

Today is Lewy Body Dementia support group which I will be attending.  The past meetings have been very helpful.  I am also now involved in two Bible study groups each week and they are meaningful to me.

I am trying to work with Shellie to arrange hours so she has adequate time with her children.  Tomorrow we will interview a potential caregiver who would come for only a few hours each evening and possibly all day Saturday.  Shellie has been a real blessing to June.  My goal still is a live in caregiver from the Philippines but the U.S. Embassy continues to deny visas for caregivers since they are available in USA.  The difference is in the cost; I can not afford a 24/7 live in American, but compared to the Philippine economy, a competent Filipina can realize a financial blessing at a fraction of what I would have to pay an American.

Today is a good day!  Thank you Lord!

June with her head on Philip's shoulder

The other morning during our walk June said she was tired.  Shellie snapped this picture at the entrance of our driveway.

Recently I posted on FACEBOOK that the Alzheimer Association is a charity rip off, begging millions of dollars from people sympathetic to the destructiveness of the disease, but it does nothing directly in helping either the patient or the care giver.  I have received comments to my posting, a typical one being this one:

“My dad died a few weeks back from complications related to his Alzheimer’s disease. He suffered for years and the last time that I saw him alive he did not know me. The association was no help to my mom either.”

No person yet has written me with a positive story about Alzheimer Association giving direct support to either patient or care giver.  One caregiver did write a book about her experience which the Association paid for its publication but that is not a direct help to the victim.  Like so many so-called charities, this group pays out enormous salaries to people in charge of begging for more money or asking you to bombard Congress for support.  Don’t give to them!

Shellie Cox is now our five day a week care giver eleven hours a day.  I am going to attempt caring for June alone on the weekends.  It is both difficult to get some one on Saturday and the financial cost is staggering.  She has had many happy days since returning home from Runk and Pratt Assistant Care Facility.  The one on one care is so much better than institutional care.  I am thankful to God for her laughter and good days.  She is always happy to see visitors; people mean much to both June and me.

June sitting on our deck this morning

The last few days have been incredibly pleasant with temperatures only in the low 80s.  It has been good deck sitting weather.  I took this photo this morning as June was enjoying the day watching the birds and squirrels feeding on the edge of our mowed yard.

Yesterday Michael Clark helped me greatly by using the weed eater and cutting a large area in the wooded back yard. I used the weed eater two weeks ago and my lower back still hurts to the point I sometimes can hardly walk.  I guess something got mis-aligned.

Today we picked up a few supplies at the grocery, dropped a birthday card off at my sister Charlotte’s house (tomorrow is her birthday) and returned home to have lunch on the deck.  Plans tomorrow will include Church, hot dogs on the grill, and watch the fireworks display at Liberty University.  June has been very happy and responsive since returning home June 8.  I thank God!

A happy Fourth of July!  May it be a safe holiday and may God bless America.  I fear some of the positions taken by the President has jeopardized this country and God may withhold His blessings.  I am thinking particularly of our uncertain support of ISRAEL!  Scripture is clear that God blesses those who bless Israel.  The opposite of that promise is the withholding of blessings for those who fail to bless Israel. Blessings include PROTECTION against terrorists.  May on this holiday weekend we remember the Christian principals on which this nation was founded and the reasons Pilgrims and Puritans left the old country to sacrifice for the building of a nation where Freedom would reign.