Over the years, I’ve learned several I have specific ways to cope with life’s difficulties. I need to find silver linings in hard situations. I will search for positive aspects, even if its just to fool myself into thinking that the situation isn’t as bad as it appears.

Today’s silver lining is that Jim is at the stage of dementia where his forgetfulness can be used to my advantage. He forgets his questions when the item prompting his question disappears. Out of sight means out of mind far more often than it used to.

Example, I picked up refills for both of Jim’s eye drops. The bottles currently in use were in their spot and I’d placed the refills out of the way but still in sight. Jim noticed the new bottles of eye drops and got confused about why he had two of each.

I explained that they were the refills and he seemed to understand and put the new bottles back. Two seconds later, he re-noticed that there were two of each. After the third time in a row explaining, I took the refills from his hand and put them out of sight while explaining again that they were the refills, for when the current bottles ran out.

This time he let the subject go. Not because he suddenly understood but because he could no longer see the extra bottles. It’s been a couple of days and he hasn’t asked me about them again because he can’t see them.

Note to self – create more convenient hidey-holes to store items I don’t want him to access/question.