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with Alzheimer's Disease

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About the Painting:
My friend, Audrey Hanried, painted "Jesus Blessing the Children" in 1990. She discovered her artistic gift after she retired.

Helpful Books

The 36-Hour Day
A Family Guide to Caring for Persons With Alzheimer Disease, Related Dementing Illnesses, and Memory Loss in Later Life
considered the best guide for caregivers

More Books on Coping
with Alzheimer's Disease

A Hug for Alzheimer's

by Traute Klein, biogardener

When words can no longer reach a mind clouded by dementia, a hug can reach deep down into the soul. This true story tells how one hug chased away the clouds of confusion.

I had just recently moved into this neighborhood and was puttering around in my front yard when an old lady wandered into the garden quite confused and crying, because she did not know where she was. It did not take me long to recognize the signs of dementia in her, because I had been watching my mother deteriorating from Alzheimer's disease for many years.

My heart went out to this poor lost soul. I took her into my arms and let her sob on my shoulder. Neither of us said a word. When she was done sobbing, she looked up. As she glanced around her, a spark of recognition brightened her eyes. There, right across the street, was the house in which she had lived with her husband since they had been married 40 some years ago.



As we got to know each other in the following months, I got to sit on that lady's front steps many an evening with her and her husband. She had no recollection of our first meeting. I never mentioned a word about it to either of them. Mind you, Marie may have heard about it by now, because she has been in heaven for several years. She must know and understand all kinds of things. Her memory is probably better than mine right now. I would not be surprised if she is waiting for me so that she can return the hug.