Just before Ginko Biloba was the last resort to Grandma’s Alzheimer’s crisis, I made a promise to take care of her. That came with many sacrifices, believe me! Like a much quieter life style and all the props that came with it. This was a huge undertaking for an adolescent.

No more hanging with my girls, no more hot dates and as for school and that career I had planned, they took a back seat, over my now full time, twenty four hour job. Mind you Grandma was on her best behavior, when friends came over and this made it seem as if I had it really easy. You often find that the elderly love to have there own way, which is not always possible. You have to do a lot of compromising, in order to make peace flow. In most cases if they are not having there own way, they get really stubborn and irrational, then just sink in a deep depression. So just let a few things slide, as long as it’s not going to cause harm to neither you nor them.

That was the transformation period in my life. That’s when I started looking much deeper, than surface level. I became less of a shallow person and a bit more insightful about life. I started thinking more of her and less of myself. It didn’t seem so important, to be noticed on the social seen. Life now had new meaning.

I watched her fight to remember where the bathroom was and which end of the telephone to speak through, until nothing mattered anymore and Alzheimer started winning the fight. As soon as I administer a dose of affection and attention, Alzheimer’s and I were battling for the knock out punch. She was the one changing my diaper, giving me a bath and spoiling me silly, since I was eleven months old. Being the youngest in the family and the last to leave home, the responsibility of taking care of my Grandmother became mine. A nursing home was never an option.

Caring for your elderly loved one is advisable. In this way they get that personal attention that might just add a few additional years to their existence. Now the tables have turned and I am now giving her a bath, changing her diaper and seizing my privacy to a ninety two year old starker. How the tables have turned. Now my days consist of keeping her happy and wiping pee off the floor every ten minutes. What more can a girl ask for? Through it all, it has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. I assure you there are many blessings in taking care of an elderly family member. It’s definitely not an easy job however. There isn’t much honor from society and it certainly won’t earn you a degree from Harvard but what really counts is what God thinks. And I guarantee you that He, who sees everything, will not make your efforts go unnoticed.

If you are caring for an elderly person or family member, now would be a good time to learn one of the most important virtues you are going to need, which is patience. The saying once a man twice a child is so true. They are like children all over again. Research has shown that effective care and support can improve quality of life for individuals and their caregivers, over the course of the disease from diagnosis to the end of life. They require affection and lots of attention. Those are the only weapons that can fight the disease that comes to rob and destroy ones dignity. Alzheimer’s pronounced (AHLZ-high-merz) is a disease with progressive brain disorder. It gradually destroys an individual’s memory and their capabilities to carry out normal functions and daily activities, such as learning, reasoning, making judgments and communicating. As the disease progresses, the individuals and others around them may experience changes in their personality and behavior, such as anxiety, suspiciousness or agitation, as well as delusions or hallucinations. There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s. New treatments however are on the horizon because of accelerating insight into the biology of the disease. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of Dementia, which is another brain cell killer. It deteriorates mental functions and is mostly found in the elderly. Early recognition of the disease is important. It is also important to ensure that persons living with this condition have someone caring for them.

A person suffering from Alzheimer’s gets stimulation from their own surroundings and persons who are patient enough to devote quality time and attention to them. If they were interested in activities such as gardening before the disease, encourage them to get back in the garden during the summer, when it is much warmer. Water the flowers pick up trash from the lawn. You could read stories, play music they once enjoyed, take them for an occasional drive out in the country and get them involved in devotional activities. You would be amazed how stimulating those activities could be and it’s also a good method of exercising both physically and mentally.

Grandparents are considered the jewels of any family. In order to preserve them the proper care and nutrition has to be taken into consideration. You will receive many blessings and learn a world of wisdom if they are entrusted to you to be their caregivers.

Photography By Anissa Thompson: www.anissat.com, Copyright 2006

About The Author

Melanie Morenike King is a freelance journalist, student, business development executive, and president of her own youth group; currently residing in Jamaica. She can be reached by e-mail at: morenike.digitalink@gmail.com