8/30/2009
August 30, 2009I am no more special than anyone else. Naturally when most bad things happen I think like most other people in that I don’t deserve this. My situation with my parents is no different. I am an only child of both of my divorced and very elderly parents. On my father’s side ther are no nieces and nephews around to help take care of him. That “traditional” Black family consisting of five or more brothers and sisters, several cousins, nephews and nieces does not exist in my household. A few neighbors check in from time to time. A few friends check in on the phone from time to time. There are a few cousins who call. Overall, Dad’s care falls in my hands Thankfully he appears to be in only the early stages of Alzheimer’s. I will revisit this on another day though.
Today was not bad. Dad got himself up and got bathed and dressed for church. He woke me up so I could go downstairs with him and wait for the church van. He did not have to take his medication (not Aricept) so I told him to just fix his breakfast (cold cereal). He was well dressed (Dad knows how to wear a suit!) and prepared for chhurch. I put him in the van, did a little shopping and started preparing dinner.
When he got home a little after noon I was prepared to give him his lunch at about 1 PM. Until I noticed in the sink that the breakfast bowl wasn’t there but the dish I had a late night snack was still there meaning that Dad had no breakfast this morning.
This is unacceptable in our house. Dad knows to have three meals a day. It doesn’t matter how large or small the meal. He could decide to have a bowl of fruit in the morning, as long as he eats something reasonably healthy. I doubt if Alzheimer’s has anything to do with this. This is vintage Dad.
As long as I have known my father he has never been big and has never been more than 150 pounds. Family legend has it Dad was never more than 160 pounds. He used to drink back in the day and always ate like a bird If he had his way he would have a spoonful of rice along with a single chicken wing and another spoonful of rice or vegetables.
Ultimately I fixed him a ham sandwich and he ate it. But it’s frustrating. Just when you tink you can cut the leash and let him breathe a bit something like this happens.
Today was not bad. Dad got himself up and got bathed and dressed for church. He woke me up so I could go downstairs with him and wait for the church van. He did not have to take his medication (not Aricept) so I told him to just fix his breakfast (cold cereal). He was well dressed (Dad knows how to wear a suit!) and prepared for chhurch. I put him in the van, did a little shopping and started preparing dinner.
When he got home a little after noon I was prepared to give him his lunch at about 1 PM. Until I noticed in the sink that the breakfast bowl wasn’t there but the dish I had a late night snack was still there meaning that Dad had no breakfast this morning.
This is unacceptable in our house. Dad knows to have three meals a day. It doesn’t matter how large or small the meal. He could decide to have a bowl of fruit in the morning, as long as he eats something reasonably healthy. I doubt if Alzheimer’s has anything to do with this. This is vintage Dad.
As long as I have known my father he has never been big and has never been more than 150 pounds. Family legend has it Dad was never more than 160 pounds. He used to drink back in the day and always ate like a bird If he had his way he would have a spoonful of rice along with a single chicken wing and another spoonful of rice or vegetables.
Ultimately I fixed him a ham sandwich and he ate it. But it’s frustrating. Just when you tink you can cut the leash and let him breathe a bit something like this happens.
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