My Life With Jim – Page 16 – Dementia Makes A Strange Bedfellow

Diagnosis – Part 2.5 – Occupational Therapist Visit

April 22, 2020September 28, 2020 Wife of JimProgression ResourcesDementia Safe Home Evaluation occupational Therapy and Dementia OT house inspection

This was an unexpected bonus. As I was wrapping up my conversation with the doctor after Jim’s Dementia Diagnosis, he said that he would refer us to our area health department. They would have someone come out to evaluate Jim’s physical condition. They would also inspect our home to see if we had any trouble …. Read More

Diagnosis – Part 2

April 15, 2020September 28, 2020 Wife of JimProgressionDementia Diagnosis

After months of waiting after the referral, I finally received notification for an appointment for Jim’s geriatric assessment. Downside. We’re in the middle of the Coronavirus pandemic and it’s a phone consultation instead of an office visit. All of the reading I’d done, I was expecting a 2-3 hour office visit where they tested things …. Read More

Remember/Rediscover – Who you Are

April 14, 2020September 16, 2020 Wife of JimCoping Grieving Imtimacy Lossregaining your identity surviving long term illness of a spouse

One of the things the world seems to have screwed up in the past few decades is the idea that romantic love means that your person, is the only person you will ever need. That they will fit you like a glove and you’ll never want for anything or anyone else. If your partner …. Read More

Ability Roulette

February 18, 2020January 25, 2021 Wife of JimCoping Progressionability roulette temporary skill loss

It looks like we’ve climbed aboard the ability roulette game. It’s different than the slow rollercoaster of good days and bad days because only specific tasks are affected. He can be having a great day, relaxed and aware and then hours later, I find something he’d done that leaves me scratching my head muttering WTF …. Read More

YouTube Videos Help

January 26, 2020September 16, 2020 Wife of JimResourcesDementia Care-Giving help Ted Talks on Dementia UCLA on Dementia

I’m a reader. It’s always been my escape. When I read on my phone, it’s private. Sure it’s not as easy to see graphs or illustrations but it allows me to do research when Jim is sitting beside me. I don’t have to explain why I’m reading about Dementia. Now that Jim’s symptoms are getting …. Read More

Shifting from Observing to Management and Beyond

January 23, 2020September 16, 2020 Wife of JimCoping ProgressionCrossroads for Dementia Care Moving from Observation to Care for a Dementia Patient

A friend and I were talking the other day about how Jim seemed to be declining faster over the past few weeks. Part of it, at least I think, part of it had to do with the holidays and the highlighting of how distant his family is from each other. He worries how big and …. Read More

I Miss My Partner

January 19, 2020January 25, 2021 Wife of JimImtimacy Lossdementia robs conversation losing a partner

I have my friends and a good support system in place for myself, but it isn’t the same. I miss my partner. I miss discussing our day over supper. I miss sharing what’s on my mind and working out issues and coming up with solutions. I miss making plans together, even if it’s just …. Read More

My First “Who Are You?”

January 16, 2020September 16, 2020 Wife of JimGrieving Imtimacy Loss ProgressionLosing your spouse to Dementia

According to my calculations, Jim is about 6 months into stage 5 on the Global Deterioration Scale. This stage averages 18 months long and seems to be the one that heralds the greatest change in the person with Dementia. This stage is where they become dependent on other people to survive from day to …. Read More

Christmas Visit From Old Friends

December 28, 2019October 19, 2020 Wife of JimGeneral ProgressionOld friends and Dementia

I’m so thankful that I’m the new wife. Jim and I don’t have the negative baggage of divorce or other bad memories between us. I came into his life after he found peace with himself and he seems to find comfort in my presence. For now, that makes me exempt from his frustration about …. Read More

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