Alzheimer’s: “I don’t know what’s wrong with me”

My friend Carl is saying, “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”  And I don’t know what to say back to him – that’ll be any help.

It’s not a good situation – not encouraging at all – for either of us.

Routines and Touching

Photo by Les Lawrence

Routines work. They were important to Carl in the past, and it’s possible that they are even more important to him now.

In an earlier post here (Reestablishing/reinforcing routines seems helpful), I explored my growing understanding of how Carl’s routines had suffered, and how, in this difficult time, routines seemed to help. Today I see more clearly that encouraging and focusing routines is helping.

Reestablishing/reinforcing routines seems helpful

Structure and routines were a significant part of Carl’s life. A prime example was his morning routine. It evolved as our circumstances changed, but it always included making coffee, feeding the cat (or cats), taking vitamins, breakfast, reading his newspaper, and then cleaning up and moving on with his day.