Trip Report

Yesterday, we got back from Denver where we spent the weekend visiting my father-in-law and mother-in-law. We opted to stay in Lakewood, which is less than 5 minutes from the Memory Care facility he currently lives. Jim has Alzheimers. He deals with other physical problems in addition to this diagnosis. Some of the other problems have meant he has used narcotic and other medications for over 10 years as a standard regimine. That, in itself, it pretty scary. Jim's short term memory is maybe 2 minutes at the most. You can literally have the same conversation with him several times in a 30 minute period. His long term memory is more or less in tact, but we saw evidence over the several hours we spent with him over the weekend that this is starting to go now too. He still seems to know all of us, and he showed a strong interest in his grandchildren that he hadn't showed in quite some time. He is especially interested in E, as he is his only grandson. He is excited that he is a Boy Scout, and is doing well in school. He commented multiple times on how tall K is now. He got a kick out of telling me that she is as tall as me now. "Thanks Jim, I didn't know that!" We went to the playground behind his residence facility and Grandpa watched as the kids had a foot race. He laughed and admired their speed. We all laughed and had a fun time looking at pictures of family, motorcycles, and of S in his recent play at the Community Theatre. "That's my son!" He told the other residents as they sat visiting around a table on the day we arrived. He said this mulitple times saying, "They might forget, if I don't remind them!" He was fun. Jim didn't feel like going out to the Aquarium with us on Saturday, but we had a few more hours in his apartment visiting and watching TV. We don't get out to visit near as often as we would like, but we will make sure we make the little time we have "Quality" time. It seems at this point, that is what we all need.