Part nine of 12.
Gradually it appears that my Alzheimerβs patient has a special kind of forgetfulness. Joan either forgets to eat or forgets that she has eaten. This poses special problems.
First was the problem of the cookie jar. I liked to keep a jar of cookies on the counter for that quick picker-up. Then I began to notice that a full jar would go down by half in a single day. Something had to be done.
Just as I have to distribute clothing one piece at a time, now it is the same with food. It took me a little time to realize that putting a few cookies out, while hiding the rest in the cabinet, actually worked. Even when my wife watched the package go into hiding, she was unable to remember that.
She likes a slice of toast with breakfast. If the loaf of bread is available, there soon will be three or four β or more β slices gone! It keeps me hopping to remember to put the loaf away.
Unless those hunger pangs β real or not β are satisfied, though, she is very uncomfortable. Particularly during the night, she sleeps with food on her mind. She used to get up, wander around the kitchen, find nothing and then come and wake me. I found that if I put crackers spread with peanut butter or a cookie on the counter, she eats them and comes back to bed. That can happen three or four times in a night. If I awaken, I refill the cracker-cookie display.
Once, Joanβs hunger pangs resulted in a real surprise. Folks in her morning exercise class commented that her mouth was bleeding. l saw some redness but no blood. Back at home, I happened to glance at the kitchen sink and noticed a bit of red powder around the drain. Aha! Joan likes to drink fruit punch, and I use powder packets to mix it. Well, one night she couldnβt find anything to eat so she opened a packet and tried to eat it straight. Guess it didnβt taste so good!
A side note on food. At one caregiver presentation I attended, I was cautioned to prepare foods she likes or is used to. In Joanβs case, thatβs not yet necessary. She eats plenty. On the other hand, her memory loss has had one funny effect. She no longer remembers what foods she didnβt like. A friend served us sauerkraut, which I love but never fixed because she wouldnβt eat it. She had two helpings! There are some blessings in forgetting.
Tomorrow: Falls.
