Mr J truly enjoys
getting out on city tours or planned outings. He is currently on the
3rd floor of the residence where he requires constant
observation, but has the greatest personality and a sense of humour
to allow him to mingle freely within the residence. On one occasion the
Harmony team (responsible for wellness and harmony of every resident)
organized a trip to Mahone Bay. J signed up with great
excitement. He had property in East River and knew the south shore
as home turf in an earlier time in his life. We departed at 1:07
p.m. and were on our way for a three hour drive. Coffee, tea, cream
and fresh baked cookies were brought along.
Mr J came from a
background of sales, and pharmacy was his education to work with his
family in their pharmaceutical business. He was a married man with
children but is now a widower grieving the loss of his wife and
speaking to his children on occasion by phone or when they visit him
on weekends.
While driving along at
any time Mr J sits in the front seat of the bus. We chat about
the weather, the houses, the traffic, and even the girls. We laugh
when he makes a comment about something that strikes him funny – a
car passing “must be in a hurry to go nowhere again”. But then
there is a moment of silence – and when I glance to see how
everyone is, J is deeply and sorrowfully weeping. This can last
up to 5 minutes. When asked how he doing, he replies that he is
“working through a few memories; no problem, thanks”. Mr J relives the death of his poor wife in his arms over and over several
times a day, every day. [all part of his dementia]
All I can say at the
time is that I am here if he needs anything. He responds with a
smiling ‘thanks’. Mr J passed away late 2015. I sure miss
that man!!
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