At the VA today. I bring my friend to lunchroom where one guy, alone, is talking at length. An aide joins the lone talker and

Just came back from weekly visit to VA in Bedford MA, the dementia unit. What stays in my mind is the fellow at the next

Couple of things. If you are in a ward like this, a little bit of attention from a visitor can bring you to the attention

My guy is stronger today. I brought him fresh berries. He asked for whipped cream to go with the berries. Some dementia patients are very

My guy is more alert than last week, aware of his situation. He says “It shouldn’t end like this, with whipped cream”, looking at the

I got the OK to take my guy outside in a wheelchair. He liked the sun, fresh air, birds singing. He loves country and bluegrass

Last week I didn’t share anything from VA dementia ward. There was no way to tell it without violating people’s privacy. This week my old

My guy a little stronger, knew I was there and smiled before he slid back into the fog. Behind him is a table of three

My guy was in pretty good shape; we had a nice chat about trips we’ve taken and projects we worked on together. But when I

My guy requested Doyle Lawson bluegrass so I got an exquisite gospel album from iTunes and we listened together to my phone while going through

A visit on a Thursday at VA dementia ward, since we will be away this weekend. My guy is hanging in there, sang along with

Brought a friend with me this visit. We were talking to the Jewish vet about Boston sports. We can’t remember the name of that East

One day I was watching an aide stroking the hand of the one woman resident, who I have never seen to be conscious. But the

My vet is in a wheelchair for the first time in a long time, rather than bedridden. It is a perfect late summer day and

This was not a good visit. For the first time, my guy was difficult, demanding, and angry with me. Over time, I have brought him

Much better day. I took my guy on long, long wheelchair romp down rail trail to Fawn Lake and beyond. We stopped to smell ferns,

My guy was in a good mood when I got there and we had a real conversation. Then he spotted a mother and daughter and

Went to see my guy yesterday when it was warm and sunny. He was in good form, so we wheeled out for a long walk,

It was so warm last Friday, spooky in November, that I decided to play hookey and take a walk. It occurred to me that my

To appreciate this, you need to understand about Marcia, my friend from community theater at Quannapowitt Players. Marcia is warm, outgoing, and wonderful, but she

My guy has been pretty stable, but it has suddenly gotten too cold to take him outside. He had many visitors today, including a group

These unexpected warm days have allowed me to take my guy for long, long wheelchair excursions on the rail trail behind the VA. First thing,

Now that winter is really here, our outdoor adventures on the rail trail are on hold. But we discovered that every building at the VA

Just as we were setting out for a trip around the basement tunnels, some visitor from his church, so I left them to be together.

Sunday was difficult. My guy was sick in bed so no exploring the basement tunnels for us. At one point he asked out loud why

My guy seems to be increasingly in the grip of Parkinsons: his face is frozen and he is talking less. He now gets into many

My guy seems to be sinking a bit further. Still able to smile and laugh, but only when the situation really is funny, which is

As I arrive, my guy is about to be wheeled off to a dentist appointment. I offer to take him and the aide says yes,

A rainy Wednesday at the VA Dementia Ward After a good visit Sunday, both of my guys were in worse shape today: each was barely