Saturday, September 18, 2010

Feeding the hungry

Either I'm going crazy or getting good at living in the Alzheimer's world.

Bob's been having hallucinations again; he did this several months ago but back then he could agree that they were not real. Not so now.
Today we had finished lunch when Bob said, "But what about those men? I think they're hungry."
My usual response, "What?" Then I said, "Show them to me."

As we returned to the kitchen, I thought about what I've learned: if the person with dementia isn't frightened by the hallucinations, then don't try to talk him out of them.

"Do you want me to give them something to eat? We have left overs from lunch."
"Uh, yes, uh, I think, uh, that would be ... good."
I set containers with left-overs out on the table. He asked me about something to drink so I added a glass of water.

I left the kitchen feeling charitable and he said, "I'm glad we could help them."

He is a dear man and a good human being.

1 comment:

  1. Oh. My. How sweet that was and how wise of you to just go with it. I pray I will be as wise when things get curiouser and curiouser...

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