My Mother’s Case of ‘Pleasant Dementia’

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  Posted By: cricket2 @ 10/16/2008 6:24:33 PM

  Enjoyed your article! Thank you! I say to close friends that I've had 3 moms (in one body). The first one was social, a great friend, lousy mother (my perspective), and often nervous. The second one (predementia) was hostile and very nervous and the third one (obvious dementia) is sweet, appreciative and occasionally nervous. I wonder how much of the pre-dementia phase was actually beginning dementia. I also wonder how much of the sweet dementia is actually a medicated state e.g. effexor. Finally, II wonder whether we should have been giving her Effexor with the pre-dementia phase. I tthink we took the hostility too long, I suppose because we thought she was a full functioning adult. I've witnessed another family membr die of Alzheimers. I'm convinced the decline begins much earlier than identified.

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  Posted By: psaltz@sonic.net @ 09/26/2008 7:18:31 PM

  In the late 70;s I spent a very pleasant , peaceful afternoon on a porch swing in Kentucky, with a woman in her late 90's.Every five or ten minutes, she would say, with a gentle smile, "It sure is a beautiful day, isn't it?" At first I tried to extend the conversation, but quickly realized that she wasn't going to respond to anything. So I'd reply, "Yes, ma'am, it sure is." And on we would go rocking slowly, gently, quietly. Five or ten minutes later she'd say, "It sure is a beautiful day, isn't it?" "Yes, ma'am," I'd reply. "It sure is." The funny thing is, I don't think she was so far out there. She just had nothing left to say, to teach. I learned a lot from her that day.

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  Posted By: sroig @ 09/19/2008 3:27:09 PM

  Sara,
  I have met your mom at the Hawaii care facility. She is truly a woman of grace and love. She is next door to another woman who has lived her life to the fullest. to both of these woman, I tip my hat. Demntia is hard for the daughters. You lose your mom a little at a time. Hang in there and know that you are providing a priceless gift to her of your time and care.