How Many People Does It Take?

My sister, Dad, Mom, Jeff and me

How many people does it take to care for a person with dementia?

For just three days this weekend, in order for all of us to be able to do the things we need to do (work, attend church functions, celebrate an anniversary, take a class on dementia, and do a bike tour) we need six adults and one child. True, this is a far busier weekend than most, but now that Mom can not stay at home alone anymore, it is very hard to work out our schedules.

My sister has given us the wonderful gift of spending time with Mom three days in a row while Dad goes out of town to learn about how to better communicate with people with dementia, Jeff and I celebrate our 11th anniversary and attend a few church events, and Jeff, Dad, Jeffrey and I to go on a bike tour we have been looking forward to for months. My sister is so amazing!

Two of my son’s friends are having him over for a playdate while I attend a work meeting one day and Jeff and I go to a musical for our anniversary.

I didn’t realize how hard this was going to be, not being able to leave Mom home alone. We can not run up to the store anymore, or leave my son and Mom home together for a bit to attend a short meeting. Today I was home, but upstairs working, and ten minutes after the boys left on an errand, Mom was opening up the doors to the house looking for them. Even having me in a different room was too confusing for her.

They say it takes a village to raise a child, but it takes a village to take care of us all.

Thank you to everyone in my village!

Blessings,

Rev. Katie