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Gotta see the humor

Humorous things happen with dementia patients like over twenty years ago when my mother was diagnosed with dementia and we were at a second visit with her psychiatrist and she asked me the date and wrote it on a tissue she’d wrapped around her finger in case the doctor asked her what day it was and then another time she asked me if it would be possible to trick a family member she knew needed help into coming to see the psychiatrist. Now all these years later I’m not laughing at my DH just laughing with him. We usually use electric toothbrushes at home but recently traveled and switched to manual ones and as we got ready to brush he said his wouldn’t turn on as he pressed his thumb where the power button would be - we both got a really good laugh. I pray for patience and compassion and I thank God daily for the ability to care for and about my DH’s feelings as he is struggling with what he’s going through. I have to be sensitive to slight changes in his mood and to my reactions to things that happen because it’s easy for me to react strongly and hurt his feelings.

Comments

  • Damiross
    Damiross Member Posts: 81
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    Member

    It's not often but there are humorous times with dementia patients.

    My wife talks with another man at the memory center. He is talking about X; she is talking about Y. But, to them, it is a great conversation even though they are talking about 2 different things.

  • notequipped
    notequipped Member Posts: 141
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    Member

    My Mom is an an avid reader. She probably goes through a book about every 2 weeks or so. I recently bought her a book for her birthday by a different author than the books she usually reads. I asked her if she liked it and she very enthusiastically said that she did. I asked her what it was about and she looked at me like I had absolutely lost my mind before telling me that she didn’t know. It was the look that got me more than the response itself. Made us both laugh.

  • JAnn4563
    JAnn4563 Member Posts: 9
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    Member

    And then there’s the sad times like when there’s no family restroom and my DH has to go into the men’s room by himself and there’s no other men going on or coming out and I hear knocking noises and I realize he cannot find the door to exit the restroom.

  • Damiross
    Damiross Member Posts: 81
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    Member

    If there is no family restroom I would have no issue taking my wife into the men's room or following my wife into the lady's room. There is plenty of room in the handicapped stall in either restroom.

    I would announce myself going into the lady's room or let men know that I am bringing a woman in.

  • JAnn4563
    JAnn4563 Member Posts: 9
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    Member

    I may have to do that.

  • stananon
    stananon Member Posts: 25
    25 Care Reactions 10 Comments 5 Insightfuls Reactions First Answer
    Member

    This thread brightens up my day. I hope people will keep posting those humorous moments.

  • Maru
    Maru Member Posts: 551
    500 Likes 500 Care Reactions 500 Comments 100 Insightfuls Reactions
    Member

    Yesterday, i opened the microwave to discover DH's coffee cup inside, washed and placed upside down. A ibt of humor to start off my day.

Commonly Used Abbreviations


DH = Dear Husband
DW= Dear Wife, Darling Wife
LO = Loved One
ES = Early Stage
EO = Early Onset
FTD = Frontotemporal Dementia
VD = Vascular Dementia
MC = Memory Care
AL = Assisted Living
POA = Power of Attorney
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