It is strange how dementia effects different people. Kay has a cousin who died recently and a sister in law who has it but is still living. Her cousin died a fairly short time after being diagnosed with it. Her sister in law is also fast succumbing to it's ravages. Kay has had it now since we moved her nearly 7 years ago probably somewhat longer of course and still can manage to take care of herself in most respects. She dresses, eats, takes her bath with help getting the water and clothes. So in a sense she is still the Kay I have known for 75 years. She still tries to read the paper. A couple days ago she got all upset when she read the story of the guy who blew up his house with his two boys inside. It took her quite a little while to stop asking wasn't that a horrible event.
One thing you can not do is order one with dementia around. They have a mind of their own. For instance she eats things I wish she would not. Like butter straight! It doesn't do any good to tell her not to. Of course I try to give her what she will eat. But whether she eats it will depend on what she has been snacking on. On the other hand she is 90 and her vital organs seem to be in good condition. So what then if she eats butter! She participated once in a UW Med. Survey many years ago about people with high cholesterol. At the time I didn't know cholesterol from a hole in the ground. If I remember right hers was somewhere up around 800 or a 1000. I might be wrong about that. I have been meaning to see if I could find out what happened to the survey and what hers was. There should be some recent measurements but have not had any discussions with a Dr. They tend to overlook these things with older people if you don't bring up the subject.
More soon
4 years in 3rd Inf in WW2 Go here My less heroic contribution. KE7PLR Established (born)Aug. 23, 1921
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