In 2018, my beautiful grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease at 85 years old. Being 18 years old at the time, I had heard of Alzheimer’s, but I was unfamiliar with what this disease truly looked like. It was difficult watching my grandmother quickly lose her memory and ability to have normal conversations. Along with losing her memory, my grandmother experienced a lot of confusion about the day and constant fatigue. Being able to go visit my grandmother in the memory care unit allowed me to understand more about this disease and how difficult the journey of this disease is. My grandmother, who I once had been so close to, was now so far away. However, by spending time with my grandmother, I was able to gain new insights to carry with me in my life.
- A Hug is Powerful: Since my grandmother did not talk much or was sleepy when I visited her, I hugged her. To her, a hug was almost more meaningful than words. As I hugged her, she often put her hand on top of my hand or started to smile. One time she even told me “That hug feels nice.” Being able to give my grandmother hugs reminded me that, even when we don’t have the words to speak, simply hugging someone can speak volumes. To my grandmother, a hug meant love and comfort. A hug is what made her feel at home. From now on, I will give hugs and never forget how meaningful a simple hug can be to someone.
- A Reminder to Enjoy Every Day: Watching my grandmother lose the memories of her life made me reevaluate my perspective on my life. I started to evaluate my life and be thankful for every moment of every day. Yes, we all have good and bad days, but even on the bad days, I will find something for which to be grateful. Suddenly, I had the desire to smile more during the day, take more dance breaks and spend more time with my family. I want to soak in all of the beautiful and difficult moments of my life because, through every season, I grow and appreciate the gift of life even more. It was hard for my grandmother to enjoy every day once this disease took over her mind, and I realized how precious every day of life is.
- A Newfound Appreciation for Memories: Before my grandmother’s Alzheimer’s journey, I had never really thought about memories. Of course, I had thought about good memories in my life, but I realized that I did not appreciate the gift of memories. Now, I am thankful for good memories because, even when experiences pass, memories still live on in our minds. Sadly, with Alzheimer’s, memories fade and disappear. I often talked to my grandmother and reminded her of the wonderful memories that I had of her. I reminded her how delicious her homemade pancakes were, how much fun we had playing “grocery store” together and how much we enjoyed shopping at the mall. Sitting next to her, I was incredibly grateful that I had positive memories to refer back to when talking to her. Even if she did not remember them, she was reminded of happy, special times. I have learned that, especially on difficult days, thinking about good, happy memories can be therapeutic.
I wanted to write this article because I felt that, even during a difficult, messy journey, I was able to focus on important, beautiful new insights in my life. If you know someone who is walking through Alzheimer’s, my desire is that you will find hope and comfort in this article.
