by Linda Batey

Created on: July 21, 2009   Last Updated: July 22, 2009

I had no choice but to cope with my mother's Alzheimer's. She has four children, but I'm the only girl and the only one that lives closeby. I guess it was part of God's plan when I moved back to my home town years ago. He knew I would need to take care of mom. It was also His plan that I get done work five years ago to take care of her and keep her in her own home for as long as possible. My home is less than five miles away from hers and it's been an honor to take care of her for this long.

Last year, it became obvious that Alzheimer's was getting an upper hand; I had to set out her meds in a weekly container so I could tell when she hadn't taken her meds. I had to hide the prescription bottles because she wanted to fill them back up to help me. She actually filled them okay, but I had no way of telling if she'd taken them or not.

I had to clean out her refrigerator often because I guess she lost her sense of smell as well. I was deathly afraid she would eat something that had gone bad, but God was watching over her when I couldn't be there.

She still wanted to do her own grocery shopping so I would take her (she gave up her driver's license years ago); it was obvious she'd been a child of the depression - what a hoarder! It was humorous but she was adamant that she needed 5 containers of Coffee mate. She has a sweet tooth like no other, and thankfully she doesn't have diabetes, so what's the harm?

I take her out to eat a few times a week, partly because I know she's eating a few decent meals a week and partly because I like to get her out. I've learned to take her to the same diner or she gets overwhelmed by the menu and asks me to order for her. She forgets what she likes.

It's difficult, to say the least, to juggle my own life and hers. She has three pets; a cockatiel, a cat and a dog that she adores. Mom's dog, Tilly, is the perfect dog for her. She's well behaved, loving and cute. Unfortunately, we found out last week that Tilly has a large brain tumor and doesn't have long to live. Losing Tilly is going to be devastating for mom. For the first week, mom kept telling me we had to take Tilly to the vet and I had to break the sad news to her over and over again.

This fall will be mom's last in her own home. I simply can't be there enough for her and I fear for her safety. She's number one on the list for a beautiful Alzheimer's care facility that is the best of the best and I feel comfortable about it, as do my brothers. I just hope I'm doing the right thing.

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