The Search

September 23, 2008

“Mr. Johnson has a severe case of Alzheimer’s. Not only do we not know where he may be going, or which way, but he doesn’t know either.”

How many times are words like that spoken all over the country? Wandering is a common and constant danger with Alzheimers patients. Sometimes the search has a happy ending, sometimes it is sad. And sometimes, it is hard to know whether the ending is happy or sad.

Lawdog has a post on his blog about searching for Mr. Johnson, who had a severe case of Alzheimers. It is a very touching story, and I suggest you read it. The story gives another meaning to the phrase, “You can’t go back again.” Sometimes you can, even if you can’t. And sometimes you can’t, even if you can.

Hat tip to the Ethereal Voice for bringing the excellent peice of writing to my attention.

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Note: This material originally appeared in a blog I wrote while caring for my grandfather as he journeyed through dementia. It ran 2006-2009 and ended at the time of his death. This blog was the incipient material for a book, “The Sea is Wide: A Memoir of Caregiving.” If you have appreciated this writing, please consider purchasing the book and sharing it with others.