Over the past year, Jim’s steady decline has begun to ebb and flow into good days and bad days. Lately, I’ve noticed a larger cognitive, multifaceted rollercoaster operating in the back ground. 

Now it seems that each type of cognitive function has it’s own schedule. He can seem to be having a good day in one way yet be worse than usual in another.

Let’s us the computer for an example. Last spring, Jim came to me upset because he couldn’t sign in to his laptop. He didn’t even recognize the log in page or the icons on his desktop. A few days later. He was able to log into his computer, do his online banking without issue and forgot about having problems the previous week. Through this whole episode, it was only his computer that seemed to be causing him issues. 

On the same day he had computer issues, he made toast for the first time in months. He suddenly remembered how to recognize hunger and make himself something to eat. (lately I’ve been having to pester him to eat at midday)

It’s the hit and a miss, the inconsistency, that really does me in. If it was a steady decline, where once a step is breached there is no going back, it would be so much easier to care for him and understand what’s coming next. But because Jim’s Dementia decline is so inconsistent. It’s hard to gauge and react appropriately.

One day he needs reminding of the same thing six times in a row. And the next day he’s impatient, because “I don’t need to tell him twice.” in the same breath where he asks me the same question  for the fourth time in as many minutes. 

God grant us the patience to weather this epic roller coaster ride, as our loved ones decline.