Ella was forgetful. Naomi, her daughter, witnessed times when Ella clearly repeated herself, forgot obvious events, and misplaced things she never did before.
Denial was easier than facing the fear that her mother may have Alzheimer’s. Naomi had known, first hand, the personal side of memory loss. When her friend from the grocery store revealed Ella’a declining cognition.
“The first time Ella didn’t have enough money to pay for her groceries, I was embarrassed for her. So I chipped in a couple of bucks. But the next time it was closer to ten dollars. Now, she owes me almost two hundred dollars. She thinks she doesn’t have to pay any more. I’m not sure why.”
The news got worse when Naomi heard, “Ella keeps asking where the milk is. We haven’t moved the coolers since the store opened. Why can’t she remember?”
How does a daughter look into her mother’s eyes and inquire about Alzheimer’s disease? Where does she even start?
“Don’t Forget Your Hat” details the journey of a family facing Alzheimer’s. Naomi’s choices, good and bad, demonstrate the complex challenges she experienced. The book is a valuable resource for any family walking the Alzheimer’s path. Support groups can find guidance for discussion from the issues portrayed in “Don’t Forget Your Hat.”
“Don’t Forget Your Hat” is available at Amazon and Barn & Noble. The answers you are searching for may be found with the “case of the missing dessert. You’ll be surprised where and when they found it.
