I admit that I’m scared to death that I’ll be following down Mom’s path to Alzheimer’s. And as I age, I am finding that sometimes a word or a name will just slip away from me, until I stop thinking about it, and then it pops back into my memory as quickly as it left! Supposedly this is a natural part of aging. The old “senior moment” thing.
The Alzheimer’s Association has produced a flyer called “Know the 10 Warning Signs.” Here are they are:
1) Memory changes that disrupt daily life
2) Challenges in planning or solving problems
3) Difficulty completing familiar tasks
4) Confusion with time or place
5) Trouble understanding visual images or spatial relationships
6) New problems with words in speaking or writing
7) Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace your steps
8) Decreased or poor judgment
9) Withdrawal from social activities
10) Changes in mood or personality
You can read the entire article here: Know the 10 Signs
Good Luck to you and your mother. It seems that this disease is harder on the family members and caregivers than to the individual themselves. Enjoy the time you have together and the memories that she has retained and the new ones you make together.
I totally understand the “disappearing word” thing – happens to me all the time! In was interested to see the list of warning signs and relieved that I don’t have any of them – just these jolly words or names that I suddenly can’t remember.
Hope you and your Mom are both continuing to do well. Difficult time but I think she would love your exploration of her jewelry box.
I pray for you and your mother. My mother’s mother has also Alzheimers and I know my grandmother is taking it hard. In fact all of us are taking it hard and all we can do is to be patient.
My husband just sent me this article yesterday.
The Surprising Strengths Of The Middle-Aged Brain
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125902095&sc=emaf
Blessings to you and your Mom. My mother is in the beginning stages of Alzheimers. What a wonderful idea to share with us your thoughts, the jewerly and the memories. You will be in my prayers.