Thank you everyone! I just know I’m going to get bombarded at different points of time while up there, most likely by my aunt and my sisters husband. They will feel I need to be told what my responsibilities are and will be doing so to protect my younger sister who they think cannot handle it. I told everyone long ago that as I lost my childhood I had no plans on losing my older age years as well. My Aunt who just passed knew this and coaxed mom into setting herself up in an environment that has assisted living. I contacted several facilities and had literature sent to her as well as info on all senior amenities in her area. Mom was under the notion that it was all her idea, picked her place to live and she uses most of the local senior services. Of course I will do my share but had to say those things to get the ball rolling while mom had all her wits. I do love my mom but do have to limit the responsibilities to somewhat shared responsibilities with my sister as I live five states away. I have decided not to have any conversations with others regarding mom (except with sister) while up there. My response will simply be “its Karen time” as in, my aunts’ funeral time. And, instead of getting myself worked up over likely “mom” topics from family members I’m going to think of Annie’s words and let it rooolll off me lol. Thanks for that Annie; I’m already putting that great advice into action. This morning I was getting worked up again and visually pictured myself awash with comforting warmth starting at the top of my head and moving down over my body taking all negativity away. Mattie, I have no idea how you have cared for two elderly persons with Alzheimer’s/dementia. My potential problems are nothing compared to what you do on a daily basis. I do not have it in me to be a caregiver for elderly. It’s a selfish thing to admit but true. You are a special person! Kellielog, I know you get what I’m talking about. I had an alcoholic parent and a mentally unstable parent. I’m not sure but do I remember that your dad was both? I know I always felt like the real parent as young as age five or maybe even earlier. It’s not something you ever get over. It’s something that takes over against your will. Being that I’m a very strong willed person it still catches me by surprise. To all, your kind words really have helped right now and I mean that.

It's always good to read any study, whether it's old or new....I'm kind of doing my own "investigating"...My husband has been diagnosed with dementia and when I started really thinking, a lot of his buddies from high school have all gotten the same diagnoses...And in further checking, all these fellows played football...This was back in the late l940, early 50s, long before the helmets were made to "take the shock" of some of those hits...And then in further searching, I'm finding more and more fellows from that age group, who have played football are also in the same diagnoses class...When I asked the doctor if there could be a connection, he said, so many of the older pro football players are actually donating their brains to medical science to see if there might be a connection......

Hospice nurse told me, firmly, to ad-lib, play along, whatever. not under any circumstances was I to try to make her "see reality". What she was seeing or experiencing *was* her reality; denying it or arguing about it only agitated her. about that locking up/wandering off thing... I used to go to church with Bob & Flo, who were a very devoted couple; then I moved & lost touch, never saw them again. One day I ran into another church friend who told me: When Flo developed Alzheimer's, Bob promised her he'd never put her in a nursing home. He retired to take care of her. By this time, Flo was in one bedroom & Bob in another, since Flo sometimes didn't sleep at night. Late one winter night, a cold breeze woke Bob up. He found the front door standing open, & Flo was gone. He threw on his robe & ran out the door, just as a Dallas Police car drove by slowly...with Flo, in her nightgown, barefooted, in the back seat. Bob waved them down, & when Flo saw him, she started to cry. She begged the police not to make her "go in that house with that man". They had been married over 50 years. It is a very cruel disease.

took me about 5 panicked minutes but i found it... agree, the scale is so small compared to other large animals which made it really difficult. and you are 'under the gun' to find it !! :)