Hey guys-Thought I would give you an update on Mom B. I just had her over to our house for chili dinner with cornbread muffins. I made some turkey chili with limited spice and put it over spaghetti noodles so it was not so rough on her stomach. Tom and Scott on the other hand dumped in lots of hot sauce and chili peppers and burned off their tongues!

I chatted via email to Mike a few times lately as there seemed to be a change in mom's behavior. Not for the better. Lately she has been saying that "Her Dad is coming to get her, that she spoke to him and she needs to go to Michigan. Her Mother is sick and she needs to go back to Michigan to help him out". Unfortunately people with dementia often speak of their Mom and Dad. Mainly because they lose the concept of time and often think they are younger and still have their parents. However, sometimes I am not sure if Mom B is actually talking about her Dad or her Husband. Hard to say. Anyway, she seemed more flustered lately, asking me to take her out of that "Rat Hole". She even walked to the front door one evening when I stopped in to visit after work, wanting to leave with me.

She got mad that I would not take her home to our house. But she calmed down pretty quickly. Anyway, Mike and I have been chatting about this newish behavior. (She was pretty upset when she lived at Regent St with Dad, demanding to leave). I spoke to the Head Nurse at Sunrise. I thought Mom appeared more anxious than usual. Not necessarily having more memory problems. Mike had inquired about medication for memory loss. There really isn't any cure yet for memory loss. Mom is on a patch for memory, but obviously it is not a quick fix. Instead, the nurse noted that mom has an order for medication for increased anxiety, and we decided to get her back on it. It may take some time to kick in, but I think she can use it. May be that since a year has gone by since Dad has died, she is feeling something is missing.

She has called a few times, and when I spoke to her she said there was something wrong, but she just couldn't figure out what it was, or why she felt afraid. So anxiety as a medical diagnosis can do that to a person. Make them more upset, agitated and frustrated and it is worse with dementia. I hope the medication helps.

In the meantime, I stopped in last Monday as I had to switch my days off. I joined mom at Sunrise for a painting event. We had a good time. We painted a Georgia OKeefe fall landscape. I did not know Georgia O did landscapes. Apparently in her earlier years. I also found out that Mom had gone to the local Pumpkin patch with the residents on an outing the week before, besides her weekly trip to the Sr Center. I think it is good to keep her busy and keep her mind off things she can't control.