He knew who I was immediately, which was good as my parents had told me he was a bit confused, then during the visit he asked who I was?! His short term memory is poor, but then I have this problem at times and I'm only 56. His long term memory seems to be fine and we managed to find plenty to talk about, even though he still remembers my girls as being teenagers - they are 32 and 30.
Confusion reigned over where he has been living, insisting that my younger brother had just got rid of his house in Oxford Road, a home he lived in with his parents and brothers many many years ago, I decided it was easier just to agree with him.
A big thanks by the way to my younger brother who has shouldered the burden of keeping an eye on our uncle over recent years.
The nursing home was warm and inviting BUT it not home, all the "inmates" for want of a better word sit in their chairs with the door open to the corridor and there they sit from the time they get up til bedtime. Meals appear to be eaten in the room. I asked if there was a common room but my uncle said the people that went there were all gaga! He can no longer read, he has TV if he wants it, otherwise he just sits. He does have a window which looks out onto the garden and there is a bird feeder and he can see the passing traffic. I'm sure he is a bit depressed, he said that he thinks about how much longer he has, and that he thinks he is happy with how his life turned out - he never married so we are the only family he has left.
Depressed yet? I certainly am, so with that I will leave you with a photo of my favourite place
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| This is where I want to end my days - scattered on the beach |
