Grandpa gets lost when sitting down

a text from Vince:
"Gpa has been watching tv with me in the living room. He forgot where he was and asked if he was going back to his place soon. So I took him back to his room. He's ok now."

Later, Grandpa brought out a bathtowel which he had wrapped tightly into a ball, and held it out to show Vince. Vince asked him about it, and Grandpa stuttered, mumbled, couldn't find a complete word to use. Vince unwrapped the ball; in it was Gpa's toothpaste and wallet. Hmm. Mysterious!

Later, getting Gpa ready for bed, Vince had him change into pyjamas. Oh wait, there's his toothbrush in his shirt pocket. And the razor is in his pants pocket. Hmmm...

ah. We think that Grandpa had decided it was a time to travel someplace, and that he had to pack up his personal items. Not having a suitcase, he wrapped things in a towel to make a travel pack. And stashed the rest in his pockets.

Hey, dreams - it's me! Richard Ralph!

When Grandpa goes to Eldercare, they give him an ID tag to wear so that they can call him by his name. When he comes home still wearing it, we take it off and put it on his side table until the next session.

During the night, he often gets up and rummages through his drawers, sometimes changing his clothes completely, going back to bed so that we find him dressed in something entirely different than we set him up in the night before.

This morning, we found he had re-attached his ID tag to his pyjamas. Perhaps he wanted to make sure his wandering dreams found him during the night.

Grandpa's musings about himself

This is from an Eldercare activity to incourage introspection and writing (his answer in blue):

What I've been told about me..... That I'm a very good person! and very helpful to others!
(I'm glad he remembers this, as it is something I tell him often)

What I tell myself about me... That I help any neighbors and friends and do not harm anyone!

What I really know about me... That I help my neighbors and friends and do not harm others!

July 2011

Grandpa's July 4th musings

Grandpa's day at Eldercare (3x week) includes writing excercises designed to maintain writing and thinking skills. Last week they were asked to write their thoughts about the July 4th holiday and its meaning to this country, making sentences that began with the letters of 'America'.

This is Grandpa's work, and all spelling and punctuation are as he wrote it (in blue):

A - America offers its people Freedom for its people!

M - Many of them are living in much more freedsom!

E - Every where one looks, we see them in great freedom!

R - Regions of people can be seen with people living freely!

I - In all of these regions, the people have developed great pleasures.

C - Citizens of each region have developed their pleasures as they wish!

A - American citizens each of their regions and taught their people how to live with each other in the most pleasant way. Richard Ralph

Gotta save him from himself!

Ah Vince, thank you for your diligence in always keeping a weather eye and ear out for Grandpa's doings in the kitchen...

Vince heard the microwave bell go 'ding' and went out to investigate. He found Grandpa heating up his coffee cup. In it was: hot water, tea leaves from an opened tea bag, and cat food.

Yum!

Grandpa funny

Grandpa walks out to the living room where Gabe is sitting with his girlfriend, Meredith, watching TV. Grandpa bursts out laughing. Gabe asks, "What's so funny, Grandpa?"

Grandpa relies, "You and Nixon, huh?"

Visit from Ed last summer Aug 2010