Almost a year ago, I lost my mom.
She lived 78 years on this earth enduring many different hills and valleys, ups and downs. Mom spent her last twenty years quietly as a caregiver to my dad. Now that she has passed, I care for Dad.
Dad is 82 years old. Dad lives with moderate Alzheimer's Dementia.
Dad is now a small man, standing at about 5'1" and 144lbs. He walks with a cane. He enjoys food and eats easily 5 times in one day. He tells me he needs the clear, sweet, water aka soda. He goes in and out of the house to do things like water plants, and pick up trash taking a guess at where it belongs between green waste, grey garbage bin, and blue recyclables bin.
Dad enjoys Khmer news, Bible, and animal TV shows. He is subjected to five grandkids who care as much for him as he cares for them. They're quite indifferent and confused with one another.
Dad likes a particular pair of short pants he asks about it when I have to have him change out of it. Once he was looking for it all week, it was in a pile of clean clothes messily stacked.
Dad, he's getting older and rarely smiles.
We get Dad to get out of the house about 1x a week, and we're working on Dad to go into daycare plus respite for me as the main caregiver.
I've learned a lot in a year. I have cried a lot of tears in a year. I have moaned and groaned in sadness, frustration, and angst in the last year but I have sung songs, danced, and given gratitude to Creator God the Father, Son, and Spirit for the goodness the year has brought. I have learned a lot. I am learning a lot.
No comments:
Post a Comment