After spending some time with the first resident, I decided to spend time with a woman named Delia. She was very confused by her surroundings. I was able to sit her down and I asked her to color with me. We were coloring in some leaf clovers for St. Patrick's Day. She kept saying, "I don' understand what to do." I would then show her how to color and she would copy me. After a few minutes, she would tell me that she didn't know what to do again. This is a perfect example of short-term loss. When I asked her to write a name, she was having difficulty remembering how to write. I would constantly have to show her how to write the letters.
We took a break and decided to play catch. The residents love catch. It was amazing how one minute, Delia claimed that she didn't know how to play, and then the next minute, she was throwing and catching the ball. Following our game of catch, we served tea, coffee, and sandwiches for their daily afternoon snack. I was a little sad when Delia asked me how to get home while I was serving her some snacks. (When residents ask questions like that, we are advised to stay away from the subject.) I replied by telling her to relax and eat.
It was a busy afternoon for the LN residents and a very insightful one for me. It's interesting being exposed to all the different stages/episodes of Alzheimer's, but as always, it is sad. I will try to upload the picture that Delia and I colored.
No comments:
Post a Comment