In stage 4, issues involving other cognitive functions including difficulty with language, organization, and calculations develop. The person with Alzheimer’s may remember their spouse and their state of residence, but what happened earlier that day may elude them. They may wander outside in inclement weather or face dangerous traffic conditions looking for that elusive feeling…

By spring of 2015, Judy had been on Aricept for over a year without any adverse side effects. Aricept helped her memory and made her more self-assured. Getting her on Aricept had worked out. This episode with Dr. Femsby told me to not take a doctor’s recommendation as gospel, but to question what was in…

Taking care of Judy hadn’t cut into my time spent on the activities I enjoyed—playing golf, writing novels, and attending creative writing critique sessions. However, at this point in our journey, incidents kept occurring that kept me mindful of Judy’s state of mind. Two days after Suzanne’s return to Oklahoma from her Thanksgiving visit, I…

At this stage of Alzheimer’s, many of the incidents brought on by the disease happen in the kitchen. Over the years, Judy had become a self-styled gourmet cook, the queen of the kitchen. Over the years, I had developed a real liking for barbecuing; when I retired, I began barbecuing our dinner’s main course most…

Judy’s sensitivity to medications made me watch her for adverse reactions to the Exelon Patches Dr. Femsby had prescribed. One morning in July 2013, when I woke her up, she raised her head from her pillow, forced her eyelids apart, and stared at me through bleary eyes. “…too tired to get up,” she mumbled as…

My lack of knowledge about Alzheimer’s led me to  the Association’s WEB page, where I learned about the seven stages of Alzheimer’s, the characteristics of each stage, and helpful information about caring for a person with the disease. Some people with Alzheimer’s turn belligerent and physically aggressive which can be dangerous for the caregiver, especially…

The day after Judy’s diagnosis, she decided to call family and close friends to tell them about her condition. It was as if she were afraid they would find out from someone else. Judy was a planner, and she wanted to tell our three kids, Suzanne, Charles, and Douglas first, and then move on to…

It was windy, chilly, and cloudy on Monday, April 15th, 2013—the day of Judy’s diagnostic appointment with Dr. Femsby. Standing at the kitchen sink facing the den, I watched Judy staring at the blank TV screen. “Can I fry you some eggs and bacon?” I asked. “No, I’m OK.” “How about waffles? Toast?” I thought…

On Tuesday, March 26th, when Judy and I completed our semi-annual physical with our Primary Care Physician, Dr. Highlander, I explained Judy’s memory issues and asked for the name of a good neurologist. Concern showed on the doctor’s face as he gave me the name of Dr. Gravier, a prominent local area neurologist. “He’s busy,…

In the first week of March 2013, six months after we bought her new car, Judy came into my office as I was working on a novel and dropped into my rocker-recliner across the room. Her pallid face and strained expression told me something traumatic had happened during her visit to see the grandkids in…