Comment from Dolly'sPoems

Excellent

This is a fun write about a confused dialogue between a daughter and father who has difficulties with memory loss, there's much sadness in these words, but you managed to see the funny side of life, I liked that, love Dolly x

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 Comment Written 03-Jul-2019

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reply by the author on 03-Jul-2019

Thanks Dolly... comedy and tragedy side by side.

Comment from JudyE

Excellent

Although I didn't work with people with Alzheimer's, I typed, collated, printed hundreds of course work-books for carers of people with Alzheimer's. I also shared many, many breaks with carers so your writing rings very true to me. I love the snippets of rhyme throughout. You did marvellously well to look after your father for so long. Good luck in the contest.

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 Comment Written 03-Jul-2019

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reply by the author on 03-Jul-2019

It nearly drove me mental at times, especially when my husband and I split up and it was just Dad and me for 7 years (and the cat... it didn't go flat). We had always been close so it felt right to look after him.
I put the rhyming silly bits in the reinforce how his brain was declining and skipping about to different topics, but still reflecting how clever and funny he had been before Alzheimer's scrambled him.

reply by JudyE on 03-Jul-2019

I know the people in the hostel where we had our offices could be very astute at times and 'with it'. And some had incredible memories for some things. Have you seen the YouTube clip of the woman singing hymns with her son? If you search for 'woman with dementia singing with son' it should come up easily. I feel sure you'd enjoy it.

reply by the author on 03-Jul-2019

I checked out that youtube clip. Amazing... what beautiful harmony. It reminded me of Glen Campbell, diagnosed with Alzheimers yet remembering his song lyrics and having a concert. He died in 2011. I loved his music. So did my Dad. Music is apparently one of the last skills/appreciations to go... Dad always perked up when there was music playing.

reply by JudyE on 03-Jul-2019

I'm so glad you watched it. I felt sure you'd enjoy it. I love the guy's voice and they are just so 'together'. There is another YouTube clip of an older man which is very difficult to manage unless they get him singing. There was to have been a record cut but I don't know if that happened.

reply by the author on 03-Jul-2019

I volunteered for a while as an activities helper in a dementia ward at an old folks home and sometimes the only way we could get a couple of the old boys settled and less anxious was to put waltz music on and dance with them. They would start smiling immediately. (and it wasn't because I am gorgeous.)

reply by JudyE on 03-Jul-2019

At this same hostel, there was a day-care centre and they would often dance in the afternoons. It was heart-breaking sometimes to see tiny, elderly (yes, even older than me) bringing in big, burly husbands. How they coped alone at home the rest of the time I had no idea. And the opposite was true too of course. Some spouses were so devoted to their affected 'other halves' but often at the expense of their own health.

reply by the author on 03-Jul-2019

It's a common tragedy of old age. Shoot me now!! Maybe not, I still have a few poems and stories to write.

reply by JudyE on 03-Jul-2019

:)