Category Archives: Dementiaville

mother is losing her memory.

Dementiaville_25

Annie, one of the more lucid residents, tells me that mom sleeps every night upright on the couch in the television lounge, holding a towel. After one whole year at the facility, she still will not sleep in her bed, … Continue reading

Posted in Dementiaville | Leave a comment

Dementiaville_24

“Where’s Joan?” Mom’s Residence is a locked home, but, given some 25 odd resident rooms and handful of lounges and dining rooms, it’s not surprising that someone with dementia can “disappear.” Rather than bother the shorthanded staff, I glance into … Continue reading

Posted in Dementiaville | Leave a comment

Dementiaville_23

Through the 1980s, my mom painted portraits of Indian stereotypes. Most of the time she copied their faces from reproductions, aiming for expressive features, wisdom behind the eyes, capturing a somber stereotypical dignity in an Indian’s face, like that featured … Continue reading

Posted in Dementiaville | Leave a comment

Dementiaville_22

There has to be something funny about dementia, and here it is: first thing when I arrived at my mom’s facility last weekend, my mother tried to sell me her french fries. “How much?” she asked me, displaying a cupped … Continue reading

Posted in Dementiaville | 1 Comment

Dementiaville_21

Dementiaville_21 I’ve given up calling, as it seems to serve no purpose. Her aperture on the real world is the size of a pinhole. Inverted images, memories, might still be imprinted on the back of her mind, but she’s distracted … Continue reading

Posted in Dementiaville | Leave a comment

Dementiaville_20

My mother was an anonymous artist.  Beginning when I was in grade school, school, mom got a part-time seasonal job as a hand-colorist of black and white portrait photographs. Most of her work consisted of high school graduation photographs—which she … Continue reading

Posted in Dementiaville | Leave a comment

Dementiaville_19

Killing Her Softly Quetiapine. Alprazolam. Trazodone. Benadryl. Ambien. In six months in the facility, mom’s medication dosage has ballooned. Even in better-care facilities, adjustment to group living is a six-month benchmark. It’s a firm necessity, and, at times, a deal-breaker. … Continue reading

Posted in Dementiaville | 2 Comments

Dementiaville_18

Back in Wisconsin for July 4th, t has been a difficult few days. Mom wiped herself and got poo on her hand again today. At the doctor’s office, she had a fit and called everyone a bitch and said ‘lets … Continue reading

Posted in Dementiaville | Leave a comment

Dementiaville_17

June 25th. I unconsciously dialed mom’s phone number tonight, six months after we’ve disconnected her line. Drenched by end-of-day fatigue, I let my fingers hijack the touch-tone and punch 226-5946. Even though it’s been half a year, I haven’t memorized … Continue reading

Posted in Dementiaville | Leave a comment

Dementiaville_16

The symbolism of cracked marbles woke me in the middle of the night. Mom’s years nurturing us as Cub Scouts, Brownies, and Girl Scouts rushed in, as a recollection of our Saturday afternoon crafts sessions. My brother, my friends, and … Continue reading

Posted in Dementiaville | Leave a comment