This is a story about Alzheimer’s patient and family caregiver. Dianna Patch, 72, she’s been married to her husband Jack Patch (behinds Dianna) for 54 years. After 45 years of ups and downs, Jack was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease on the 46 years of their marriage. This makes Dianna his full-time caregiver. Love and loss exist at the same place.
Dianna and Jack put their hands together while watching TV. Love is still there, it never leaves. They don’t have to kiss each other for hug each other to show it, it’s in the air, it’s follows them wherever they go.
Breakfast is Frech toast with syrup and fresh rasberries on top. Dianna can finally enjoy her breakfast break after Jack finished eating. They don’t have meals on the same table, because Jack is left-handed, it is uncomfortable for Dianna
Jack trys to put bunny ears behind his head. Jack is still a fun guy, he didn’t lose the sense of humor that was born with him. He still makes Dianna smile, even just for a minute.
Jack takes his pills once a day after dinner. Dianna has to put those pills in his hand and keep on track of when he takes them. She uses stickers to remind herself when to get refills for Jack’s prescription.
“Jack used to be a funny guy, he makes people laugh,” said Dianna Patch. After his diagnosis, Jack’s condition is not getting better. He would spend most of his day gazing out the window.
This is Dianna’s nature diary, she’s been taking notes about weather and nature changes around their house everyday for over 5 years. She loves to record what kind of wild animals she spotted under different weather.
Jack took a walk after his lunch while Dianna cleans the kitchen. He walked into the wood but not too far away. After he comes back, he stands behind their house and look up to the sky for few minutes.
This is the care giving tip sheet that given by the Alzheimer’s Society. “Our relationship is never the same since that day,” Dianna said.
Dianna is cooking dinner in the kitchen and Jack has the same hallow look in his eyes. They are five meters away from each other, but it’s really not that close.
Dianna asked Jack to brush his teeth after lunch. As soon as Jack entire his bedroom, he forgets what he came upstairs for.
‘This is the way to deal with stress’, it’s written under a photo of Dianna’s big smile.
Dianna recently discovered her eye condition is getting worst. Every night, she has to put warm towel on her eyes before she apply her treatment. As a caregiver, sometime she forgets to take care of herself.
In Dianna’s hands, it’s the photo of her and Jack when they were fairly young. She lets mind goes back in time, but only for few seconds. Her eyes are, once again, full of exhaustion.
It’s eleven at night, Dianna finally called it a day after doing laudry and other house keeping works. She and Jack sleep in separate beds, that allows her to read and no noise will wakes her up during the middle of the night.
Jack is waiting for Dianna to drive him to his ‘day care’ center. Every Thursday is Dianna’s line-dancing day. She drops Jack off for half a day, then she can have some fun with her girlfriends.
Dianna takes Jack to his ‘day care’ centre. Every Thursday is Dianna’s line-dancing day. She drops Jack off for half a day, then she can have some fun with her girlfriends.
Jack sits on his seat quietly while Dianna talking to the employees at the ‘day care’ centre. Every Thursday is Dianna’s line-dancing day. She drops Jack off for half a day, then she can have some fun with her girlfriends.
Every Thursday is Dianna’s line-dancing day. She drops Jack off for half a day, then she can have some fun with her girlfriends. She smiles, smiles and smiles.
Caregiving often calls us to lean into love we didn't know possible.
- Tia Walker, Author