Sunday, June 8, 2008

The Card: A Sign of Dementia?


The following has been altered due to respect, and confidentiality.


A relative sent me a card recently. I will call her Katie. The card was about a special family occasion that takes place every year. This year Katie signed it "Love Granny." The problem is, she is not my Grandmother. She has grandchildren, and might have gotten mixed up, but I think it's more then that. I have noticed a slight decline in her memory for the last few years. Nothing major, but noticeable. Katie is in her late 70's. Her only sibling, (Mag), had dementia and was tested for Alzheimer's disease just before she died. Mag died before the results came back, but it was probably positive. So I'm a bit worried about Katie. I can't call her. She is gone for the summer, and I don't have long distance. At lest some of the family will be with her.

Katie is one of the nicest, sweetest, people you could know. She loves her family, is very caring, generous, loving, very friendly. She is the type of person that you would feel proud to have as a friend. A good, loyal, friend. But time might be taking a toll on her.

As a Nursing Assistant, (CNA.) I know that old age can be cruel. I have seen some people decline physically, and mentally to the point of torture. That's what I would call it. If one human did those things to another, it would be considered torture. I just don't want that to happen to Katie.

Several years ago Katie had a heart condition, and was operated on. If she hadn't had the operation she might have died. But it might have been a relatively quick death. Unfortunately modern science, (medicine), sometimes can be a curse in old age. I hope that when it is her time, that she goes quickly. I hope that she never regrets having that operation.

Please say a prayer for her.

3 comments:

Awake In Rochester said...

Hi LadyBanana,

I'm sorry that you have experienced that too.

Don't get me wrong. I personal do not believe in euthanasia, or assisted suicide. It's just a difficult situation.

Tracy said...

I am so sorry. I know that this will be hard to watch, and it does sound like a symptom. Maybe it was just a mistake.. who knows.

Hugs.

Awake In Rochester said...

Hi Tracy,

Thanks for caring.

If it was the only incident, it would be different, but it's not. It's not major, but I have noticed she is forgetting a bit.

Fortunately her daughter talks to her almost daily, so I'm sure she is on top of it. I just don't want to be the one to bring it up.