Mom’s New Place

Ann H GabhartAnn's Posts, One Writer's Journal

I haven’t talked about Mom for awhile here. Not since I told you we were moving her into The Lantern, a memory care home for those with Alzheimer’s or dementia problems. It’s a very nice facility, bright and open, and the staff are kind and caring.  Even so, it’s been a difficult transition. The first week, we were in the …

A Hard Day’s Night at the ER

Ann H GabhartAnn's Posts, One Writer's Journal

Here’s Mom about five years ago with a lap full of great grandbabies. She was beginning to have problems with her thinking then, but they were things you just passed off as getting older. Dementia was actually raising its ugly head, but we either didn’t recognize the symptoms or didn’t want to see them. I, for one, never thought Mom …

The Hard Choices of Dementia

Ann H GabhartAnn's Posts, One Writer's Journal

When I was a little girl I always wanted to look like my mother. I thought she was the prettiest woman ever. And I wanted to be like her too. Strong. Determined. Smart. Patient. Loving. She was ready to do whatever necessary to take care of her family. She loved us, her three daughters.  Mom grew up during the Great …

The Saddest Disease – Dementia

Ann H GabhartAnn's Posts, One Writer's Journal

“I want to go home.” That’s my mother’s constant desire these days as her dementia continues to worsen. She’s not talking about heaven as some people might think. She’s quick to say she’s not ready to move up to heaven just yet. Most of the time, the home she’s talking about is her mother’s home where she grew up. This is a …

The Sad Path of Dementia

Ann H GabhartAnn's Posts, One Writer's Journal

Every day can bring a blessing or many blessings, but then there are days where the shadows of hard things happening make those blessings more difficult to see. This weekend has been like that. My mother fell on Friday morning. At first we hoped she was only bruised, but as the day went on, it was obvious something bad was wrong. She couldn’t bear …