Sky: Alzheimer's Canyon, Part 5

In case you have forgotten, our traveler’s detour has turned from bizarre to frightening. Somehow, he has been flushed into Alzheimer’s Canyon itself, where survival seems questionable.

There’s that rumbling again. Louder. No way can this turn out anywhere near good. Even if I can stay on this wall a little longer, it will only be until the next SAN-DI-FLUSH peels me off and does who-knows-what with me. 

“Help! I need help!” I’m screaming now. “Isn’t there anyone here?”

“Well, ahm here, buddy. And y’all don’t need to shout,” says a soft, Southern voice.

Jane: Dementia and the Arts

At the recent conference of the Dementia Action Alliance in Atlanta, GA, there was an extensive display of artistic creations by people with dementia. There were paintings and drawings (in different mediums), photographs, ceramics, and fiber arts. I was particularly enchanted by the fiber arts created by Cecil, and I asked him to create me a piece.

It arrived in the mail yesterday:

Sky: Who Are the Experts?

Who are the experts around here?

Who knows what’s going on?

What’s next? When?

How much time do we have? 

Where do we look for help? 

Sky: Why am I Doing This?

Why am I doing this?

People who know me know that, by and large, I’m not one to spend a lot of time blowing my own horn.  Why should anyone care if I’m having a hard time figuring out a tip or who might be holding the Queen of Hearts?

Sky: Glen Campbell

Glen Campbell died last week. He lived a public struggle to continue his musical career in the face of Alzheimer's. He and his musical family arranged a five-week farewell tour after his diagnosis that quickly grew into a fifteen-week extravaganza of over 150 concerts.

A documentary film crew follows along on the tour, recording the ups and downs of the shows as well as the Campbell's home life. As the tour became more and more intense, the film crew becomes more and more a part of the odyssey. Several family members are also part of the back-up band, and as Campbell’s condition grows more severe, there are some tense moments as “the show must go on,” even if the star of the show doesn’t know where he is.

Jane: How Can I Help?

At some point in our lives (and probably more than once), we will be told by a friend that they (or their partner, parent, child, or other loved one) have been diagnosed with a serious, maybe even life-limiting, condition.

How do we respond?

I’ve got some ideas: