Oooweee, Dementia is a trip!! So, I told y’all that my dad thought we were going swimming. Hahaha I told him we are going to Fresno for Thanksgiving. So, for 45 minutes down I-5 he kept talking about swimming and we kept saying no, we are going to Fresno. Then he was quiet and dozing off but not for long because the sun was beginning to go down which means Sundown time.
What are the signs of sundown syndrome?
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, as many as 20 percent of people with Alzheimer’s experience sundown syndrome. When your loved one has dementia (and some other conditions, as well), the approach of sundown can trigger sudden emotional, behavioral or cognitive changes. These might include:
- Mood swings
- Anxiety
- Sadness
- Restlessness
- Energy surge
- Increased confusion
- Hallucinations
- Delusions
Well, Dad had an Energy surge and Increased confusion. If you have seen the movie Gremlins then you know that you cannot feed them sweets because after dark, they go cray cray!! It’s the same way with Dad. He had a Granola Bar and that had more sugar than it should and that got him going. No sweets for Papa Richie or you yourself will need some valium (lol lol lol just kidding or am I??) So every little gas station or shopping mall that we passed on the freeway Dad would say, “Oh, I remember that place. My Dad used to take us there. Wow, it hasn’t changed.” Mind you, he was in Arkansas and Oklahoma when he was younger.
Dad: We in Oklahoma huh?
Me: No, Dad we are in Modesto.
Dad: Whaaat, in Modesto??
Me: Yeap
(10 mins later) Dad: Oh, I remember that place. Dad took us to that place. We had a fun time.
Me: Oh yeah?
Dad: Yeah. We in Oklahoma, right? (We just passed a sign that said Kansas Street) Oh wait, we’re in Kansas. (smiling as he said that)
Me: No Dad, we are in Merced.
Dad: We are?
Me: Yeap.
Dad: Yeah, my dad is dead, my mom is dead, Tutti(brother) is dead, Jr is dead (another brother), Josephine is dead, they shot her (his sister but not shot the way he is thinking), Almeda is dead (other sister)
Me: Dad, Almeda is still alive. You just talked to her earlier. (me giggling)
Dad: Oh yeah. Are we in Oklahoma yet?
Me: no (I gave up saying where we were going)
When he has to go to the bathroom, he will not say that he has to go. Instead, he will tell a story about some guys he was hanging with. They were all talking and all of a sudden one of the guys would stand by the side of the street and stand there for a good minute and then he realized they had some kind of device that allowed them to pee without unzipping. It was like a long tube that was on the inside of their pants and made it easy for them. He said that he needed to get one of those. Lol lol lol He would repeat over and over again. Mom said this is a sign that he must go to the bathroom.
We are back on the road from the stop and Dad is back to seeing all of the places that his dad took him too. Lol lol
(This was repeated at least 10 times) Dad: Yeah, my dad is dead, my mom is dead, Tutti(brother) is dead, Jr is dead (another brother), Josephine is dead, they shot her (his sister but not shot the way he is thinking), Almeda is dead (other sister)
YaY, we are in Fresno. But Dad thinks we are in Oklahoma and asked my mom if she has the key to the house and if she knows where the house is. Hehehehe
Dad: Good Ole Okahoma!!
Me: trying to hold my giggles in.
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