Alzheimer’s  disease, is the most common form of dementia.

There is no cure for the disease which worsens as it progresses and eventually leads to death. Most often it is diagnosed in people over the age of 65. In 2006 there  were 26.6 million sufferers worldwide. Alzheimer’s is predicted to affect 1 in 85 people globally by 2050.

It is an intensely  personal disease in that spouses and children become  the first line of caregivers.

Many times the parent- child relationship reverses and as reality slips away, many caregivers become very discouraged. We cry out to God and question why should our loved one suffer this tragic malady.

These spouses and children need our prayer and understanding. From the cross Jesus told  the disciple John to take care of His mother.

Kenneth Chafin wrote in a compassionate way about a mother who is now taking care of her mother. It is about those who need our love and acceptance no matter how inadequate we may feel.

 

REMEMBER ME

When you forget your own address, and find yourself on strange streets, we’ll sell your car and I’ll drive you to all the places you need to go, like you did for me when I was a child.

When you forget how to dress, and end up with three sweaters,  two sets of panty hose, and slip on over your dress. I’ll help you look proper when you go out, like you did for me when I was a child.

When the words on the menu don’t match the pictures in your mind, and you keep ordering things you don’t eat, then I’ll order the food I know that you’ll enjoy, like you did for me when I was a child.

When finding your way at church is frightening, I’ll take you to your class and pick you up and let you sit with me in big church. If the sermon seems long and you get sleepy, I’ll let you put your head on my shoulder, like you did for me when I was a child.

When hot and cold faucets confuse you, I’ll put you in a tub of warm water and give you a bath, like you did for me when I was a child.

When you forget who people are and can’t tell your family from total strangers,  I’ll be your memories and tell you their names,like you did for me when I was a child.

When they are having a party for all the residents, and you want to go but don’t know what to wear. I’ll make you a costume that everyone will envy,like you did for me when I was a child.

When you forget who I am, not just name or my birthday, but that you ever had children, then there isn’t much I can do but go somewhere and cry like I sometimes did when I was a child.

God bless those who are taking care of their mothers or fathers.

Special thanks to my precious mother-in-law, Ann Bearden, who cared for both her mother and mother-in-law and taught us all how to love unconditionally.