Life in the Memory Care Wing

I went to visit my former neighbor, Anita, at the assisted living facility where she now resides. She is an elderly lady that once lived in a charming blue Victorian house with white gingerbread trim across the street from me. I always admired her independence, spunk, eclectic taste and personality. Sadly, that Anita has been changed by the ravages of amyloid plague and tau tangles resulting in the destruction and death of nerve cells in her brain. Alzheimer's is an insidious disease...with no prevention or cure...yet.
While I was waiting in the activity center for an attendant to get Anita, I watched the interaction at the BINGO table. Simon, on the right next to the caregiver, was struggling to stay engaged. I got the feeling that he had been an accountant or a CFO in his former life. He still seemed to have a comfortable attachment to numbers.
The visit to the Memory Care wing had a profound effect on me. It was my first up close and real experience with dementia/Alzheimer's.
Anita didn't remember me. But the nurse said it was the first time she'd seen Anita smile in a long time. And Anita did ask me in a whisper if I would be coming back. Absolutely.

Three Good Things:
1. Profound experiences that lead to understanding
2. Medical research
3. The Alzheimer's Association - http://www.alz.org/about_us_about_us_.asp

[Camille Bisson]

i so admire you for visiting Anita and am so happy she smiled. I imagine you will have a difficult time not forming attachments to the people she resides with as you continue to visit. she is lucky to have you.

[Rick Schies]

A very familiar sight for me but I must say, in spite of the difficulty family members face as they lose their loved ones to this disease process, these people are so special. Their characters are so unique and I love how they still enjoy life.

[Pat Knowles]

Oh dear Peggy this is such a typical scene, heads bent low & in a world of their own, makes you feel sad that such once bright busy intelligent people are brought so low. Good job we have no idea what's round the corner for us! We must give every care to our older sick folks it might be us one day. Sadly not all places of care are such as this one! Visiting is good!