Kelley Irwin

One day last week, Dad, Mom, and I spent a day just having fun! Haircut, pedicure, and a late lunch outside at the park watching young children doing what they do best – exploring, running, and laughing!

It has been 18 months since we received a formal medical diagnosis of dementia.

I’m always looking for ways to engage Dad in things that he will enjoy, knowing at any moment his attention and abilities can ‘freeze’ and I need to be prepared to hold him up physically and emotionally. Some days the whole plan gets diverted because he is fixated on a task and we need to sit and work through it – for a vacation, a job assignment, a trip to the bank. (None of these are events in reality on that day, but they are strong in his mind)

This day everything went my way. He was able to get in and out of the car by himself, he was engaged, happy, and talkative. He is happy to wear his sunglasses and asks me how they look. He loves a picnic. He lights up seeing the kids. He recalls days of his own small children. He is at peace.

Conversation this day:
Dad – How old am I?
Mom – How old do you feel?
Dad – Maybe 80. Is that right?
Mom – You are 86.
Dad – Hmm. Imagine that.

And then he continued walking.