Metal Angel | I remain, though dreams are shattered, forever awaiting the return of light…
Description: We never really grow up, we just learn how to act in public (some of us don't do that!)
My father-in-law is suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease. Over the past several years, he has gone from an independent, fully functioning male to a shadow of himself. Last year, he had an episode that made it apparent that, despite her best wishes and intentions, his wife Sandy could no longer care for him at home. After an eleven day stay in the hospital, he went to a rehab nursing home near his home. This was not a long term solution and after a month’s stay at that facility, he was accepted at a veteran’s
The home has five separate units. Four of the five function as regular nursing homes do with round the clock care for aging people. The fifth unit where Dad is located is the Alzheimer’s ward. Here are men who have seen Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia rob them of their memories, leaving only holes in their place. I have overheard some of the most amazing conversations during visits on the unit. One day, I listened while Dad napped in his chair to Mr. Ira and Mr. John swap stories of their time on ai
Listening to Mr. Ira and Mr. John and several other former servicemen always amazes me. A few of the men, like Mr. Ira and Mr. John are Korean War veterans, mostly in their late eighties and early nineties. The home also houses a bare handful of World War II veterans — men in their late nineties and over the century mark. These are few and far between and none of them are on Unit Five because Alzheimer’s does not allow its victims to reach such advanced age. At the other end of the spectrum are another hand
Metal Angel | I remain, though dreams are shattered, forever awaiting the return of light…