The most dramatic changes in our lives occurred following Kate’s hospitalization with COVID. Since then, she has required total care with all of her daily activities. We added in-home care eight hours a day, seven days a week. Five months after her hospitalization, we moved to Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community. That was a wise move.
While there are many things we can’t do now, we still enjoy music. Most of that occurs in our apartment where we play YouTube music videos day and night. Our favorites are Andre Rieu’s orchestra and soloists, Andrea Bocelli, Daniel O’Donnell, and the Maestro and the European Pop Orchestra. We watch many others as well. Many are singers and songs that were popular during our teens and early years of our adulthood.
We get out as much as we can. Every afternoon we go to one of the cafés downstairs and follow that with dinner in the main dining room. We also have dinner in another café downstairs on Sunday and Monday nights when the dining room is closed. Still Hopes also has quite a few musical events. We take in as many as we can.
For me, the best parts of every day are “Happy Moments” when Kate is cheerful and talkative. Those are usually in the morning and evening when Kate and I are alone together. I love talking with her even though I only understand a few words that sneak through her gibberish. I also love it when she has these moments with other residents and staff when we go out in the afternoon for yogurt or ice cream.
So, even at this stage of her Alzheimer’s, we have found ways to enjoy life and each other. In my next post or two, I will explain what has enabled us to do that.
