Spending my days with senior adults, many of them have Alzheimer’s.
So what have I learned from this wonderful group?
Most of it boil down to one fact that is not all that different from the rest of us. They want to be loved.
Some examples include:
- I have one lady that sighs every time a hand is placed on her shoulder.
- I have another man who constantly says “I love you.”
- I have a lady that claps her hands when she sees a familiar face.
- I have another lady who will take your hands and kiss them.
- I have a lady that is a recluse, but a hand on the shoulder and kind word will elicit a smile
These are just some of the common responses I see on a daily basis. They just want to know they are not forgotten and that someone cares.
We often think that they don’t know when family visits. However, I’ve seen time again the way a face lights up when family appears. I’ve also seen the sadness of watching a peer with his/her family. We may not think so, but they are aware of whether loved ones visit on a regular basis or not. Again, they know if they are loved and wanted or not.
No, they may not remember who you are and they may have forgotten what you’d just said, but they also know how you make them feel.
