gwendolyn
Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2007
- Messages
- 6,770
To start off, I should say that I''m not entirely sure what the point of my posting this is. There isn''t a great deal of flexibility in my situation, but I suppose I am hoping maybe someone here will have some ideas for me.
My great-uncle (my grandfather''s brother) was diagnosed with Alzheimer''s last February. He was put on medication, declined slowly, then quickly, and passed away in July. I was here in England working on my master''s degree and did not get to see him before he died, and was not able to fly back for the funeral.
Two months ago, my grandfather has been diagnosed with Alzheimer''s and was put on medication for it. He has been legally blind for years and sometimes gets upset when I send letters or cards to him because he feels frustrated by the fact that he can''t read it himself. My grandmother is still living and reads things to him, but often he reacts poorly to his dependency upon her. He has never enjoyed talking on the phone and just sits there without saying anything. I have thought about getting a tape recorder so I can tape record messages to him (they don''t use computers), but they only have a radio in the house because they frown on music.
I am hoping to fly back to the US in April over my 2-week Easter break and visit him, but worry a bit that it''s 5 months away and he was put on the medication 2 months ago--worried because Easter is 7 months away and my great-uncle declined and died within 6 months. Obviously my grandfather is not his brother, but am concerned about how long it is until I have the chance to see him again. I''m pretty sure it''ll break my heart if the next time I see him, he won''t recognize me. But what else can I do from way over here?
Anyway, if anyone has any ideas, please share them with me. Otherwise, I could use a hug or two.
Thanks for listening.
My great-uncle (my grandfather''s brother) was diagnosed with Alzheimer''s last February. He was put on medication, declined slowly, then quickly, and passed away in July. I was here in England working on my master''s degree and did not get to see him before he died, and was not able to fly back for the funeral.
Two months ago, my grandfather has been diagnosed with Alzheimer''s and was put on medication for it. He has been legally blind for years and sometimes gets upset when I send letters or cards to him because he feels frustrated by the fact that he can''t read it himself. My grandmother is still living and reads things to him, but often he reacts poorly to his dependency upon her. He has never enjoyed talking on the phone and just sits there without saying anything. I have thought about getting a tape recorder so I can tape record messages to him (they don''t use computers), but they only have a radio in the house because they frown on music.
I am hoping to fly back to the US in April over my 2-week Easter break and visit him, but worry a bit that it''s 5 months away and he was put on the medication 2 months ago--worried because Easter is 7 months away and my great-uncle declined and died within 6 months. Obviously my grandfather is not his brother, but am concerned about how long it is until I have the chance to see him again. I''m pretty sure it''ll break my heart if the next time I see him, he won''t recognize me. But what else can I do from way over here?
Anyway, if anyone has any ideas, please share them with me. Otherwise, I could use a hug or two.
Thanks for listening.