Robinson Ramblings

Today we attended the Delay the Disease class at the YMCA. We have a little routine that plays out twice a week when it is time for class. I'll remind Rich that we have class this morning and we need to leave at 10:00 a.m.  Rich: I don't want to go this morning. You go without me.  Me: But, honey, this class is for you. I am invited to attend because I am your ride! Rich: I don't like to have an activity that breaks up the morning. Let's skip class today. Me: We pay extra for this class, it is very helpful to both of us, and you always like it when we go. Rich: I don't want to go today. When is the next class? We can go then. Me: We are going today! You always tell me that you are glad that I make you go! Rich: (Pouty face)  It helps me stay calm and firm when I anticipate this scenario to play out.  He really does enjoy the class but he NEVER wants to go.  It is so important for Rich to continue to pursue social gatherings. It is also important to do activities...

  We are enjoying a relaxing day at home after a particularly busy few days. Sometimes I think that the emotional exhaustion is harder to deal with than the physical exhaustion.  I am reading a book called "Where The Light Gets In: Losing My Mother Only to Find Her Again" by Kimberly Willaims-Paisley. It is the story of Kimberly's mother, Linda's, journey with a neurological illness called primary progressive aphasia. This is a rare type of dementia that attacks swiftly and takes away the speech and thought processes of the victim with a vengeance. The book points out how dementia affects the entire family of the person diagnosed with the disease.  We don't know for sure what type of dementia that Rich has because he seems to have some symptoms that mimic fronto-temporal dementia, Alzheimer's dementia, and Lewy-Body dementia. Rich's neurologist thinks that he has more than one type. I am trying to read as much as I can about different types of dementia an...