Back on Aricept

Holiday preparations have been completed. Christmas has come and gone. A year has passed, a new year is here. My dad has no idea. He did not get the connection between the Rose Bowl and New Year's Day. He was shocked when I said, January 1st, 2009. Did I really expect anything differently? I guess I just continue to hope.

During the past few months, there have been a lot of changes in my dad. He is quieter. He is more confused. He has been agitated, restless, and showing changes in his sleep patterns. At times, he has been unable to find the bathroom, his bedroom, his clothes, or the garbage can. He has fallen, and the soreness? from that, or the gradual weakness from not doing much, has impaired his ability to get up from the couch, chair, and the toilet. I have noticed that he becomes confused when new types of foods are given to him. He put some butter on his salad the other day. He used a fork and knife to eat a taco. Although seeming content, he has, on several occasions, said he was going home and wandered around the house making sure he "had all his things". He has come up with some interesting things that I have never heard before. The other day, he told me that he was arrested the previous night and spent the night in jail. He kept calling himself a "jailbird". And I want to know who Lawrence is. I have never heard of him, but apparently, Lawrence is "his" son. I have been called honey, dear, Harriet, Gini (his sister), and have been thought to be his wife, whoever that may be. We had another "threesome" this past month, and I have been awakened by my dad so he could "chase" me.

So, the decision has been made and he is back on Aricept. I'm hoping that it has been the lack of that, and not the disease's progression, that has caused daily incidences of increased dementia.

Happy New Year to all!