I can’t decide if comparing my husband/care-receiver to a dog is funny or pathetic. However, the similarities between pets’ care and behavior and my guy are hard to dismiss. Here are some:
- He shadows me everywhere, wanting to be by my side.
- He gets anxious when he doesn’t know where I am.
- He loves to go for car rides.
- He sneaks food if I’m not watching.
- He makes messes that I clean up.
- He barks at other dogs (true).
- He’s loving and loyal.
- He’s grateful for my attention.
Many other caregivers, on reading this, will deem me fortunate. Dementia patients can be cantankerous and ungrateful. As yet, my dementia dog-man is agreeable and appreciative, which makes the caregiving easier.
When we’re out walking and we see someone with a dog, he says, “I’m glad we don’t have a dog. They’re so much work.”
I say a silent, “Amen to that!”
Tangled Magic 
I cannot imagine what it must be like when a dear one begins to lose understanding of himself and becomes a different person in many ways. have lost two loves in my life, apart from both parents, but neither lived with dementia.
Have you discovered Wendy Mitchell, an Englishwoman living with early-onset dementia? Wendy writes a blog post every day and has written a book ”Somebody I used to know”
Her blog is http://www.whichmeamitoday.wordpress.com this might be helpful.
With warm wishes from the other side of the world.
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Thanks again for reading, for the empathy, and for the link. I appreciate that you’re out there, listening.
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