It’s been a strange last 5 days with my grandfather. My last visit with him on Sunday was one like no other. I must have caught him day dreaming or hallucinating……not sure what you call it. It was as if I entered his past and was part of his dream. Imagine how strange it must be when the past and present collide for a Dementia and Alzheimer’s patient?
My grandfather was sitting in is wheel chair in front of the nurses station like he always is. That’s where they can keep an eye on him. When I said, “hi gramp,” he literally almost jumped out of his chair with excitement and burst out into tears.
Where have you been and how did you get here? he said.
He proceeded to tell me that he just took a group in the covered carriage with the horses to Mt. Stowe in Stowe Vermont. They were just getting ready to eat lunch as the “women” had made sandwiches. You see, he thought he was back as a kid (they didn’t have a car, they only had a horse and carriage when he was younger) and when he saw me, he freaked out. He was so confused and couldn’t figure out how “I” was there. His brain knew who I was and knew I was from his present but he was in his past. So strange right?
It took me a few minutes of talking to him to get him to calm down and stop crying. He was so happy I was there. He continued to tell me about how he was with his uncle Walter and he wanted me to meet him. Keep in mind, his “uncle Walter” died before I was even born.
The staff was half laughing as he was pretty funny but I could tell they were half concerned too. He was really in a time warp and very emotional.
Since Sunday, my grandfather took a turn for the worse. His mood, behavior and well being has landed him in heap of trouble and we had to transport him to a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation. This just happened late yesterday so I am headed to see him in a bit. Fingers crossed they get his agitation under control.
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