Posted on January 16, 2012 - by Nurse Virginia

EARLY STAGE DEMENTIA – LOSS OF JUDGEMENT AND REASONING

Part I

“It’s an American Eskimo,” Ray said with a big smile as he showed his daughter the new puppy he had just bought. “I know Dad, that’s what Sugar was, the dog I had growing up, I know all about that dog.” Ray’s expression turned blank, as his daughter realized that Ray no longer remembered the family dog.

Ray had been giving signals to his wife that he was thinking of getting a dog. Beth had tried to have a conversation with Ray about the kind of dog he might want   Ray had been retired now for 11 years, since he was fifty-seven. Beth thought a dog would be a good idea for Ray and over the last months she had suggested several options.

Beth still worked full-time and thought a dog would be good company for Ray and give him a reason to get out of bed and take a walk every day. Beth looked into adopting a “war Dog.” She thought a mature dog who had served the country would be just perfect for the very patriotic Ray, who had never had the chance to serve himself. No, Ray said that’s not what he wanted. Ray started getting dog magazines and spent considerable time poring over these magazines.

Whenever Beth asked what kind of dog Ray was thinking of, Ray would shut her down with his usual, “It’s none of your business, and I’ll do what I want.” Now here he was with his impulse purchase because he went to a pet store and saw this dog that looked “just like a wolf.” He thought it would be great to have a dog that looked like a wolf, and even named it “wolf.” Completely forgetting that family dog, that also had “looked just like a wolf.”

Ray’s daughter reminded him that this was a very energetic dog. This was a dog for a young family with a lot of energy to match the dog’s needs. That this was the breed of dog that had been so hard to train that she became a junior dog trainer when she was just thirteen because of all the time she spent, working with this breed of dog. She told Ray that November was a bad time to buy a puppy in the Midwest, that this puppy would need regular trips outside during the winter months to housebreak.

Ray was no longer able to use reason or logic in this life changing purchase. All he could say was, how this dog looked just like a wolf, and that seemed to be enough for him.

Ray missed going to his daughter’s out of state for Thanksgiving a week later, because he had forgotten all about the trip, and how that daughter’s family had allergies and could not have pets.   He also missed going there several weeks later for the Christmas holiday

Ray is no longer able or interested in learning about his new pet. He is just in the moment, while he is trying to understand why the dog seems nervous and unable to sit still, always wanting to go somewhere, and now dragging Ray behind.

Virginia Garberding R.N.

Director of Education, The Wealshire, Lincolnshire, Illinois

Author: Please Get To Know Me – Aging with Dignity and Relevance

www.pleasegettoknowme.com