SAPC Senior Services

MomD has dementia…
and I still asked her to help me make the bed.
Not because I expected it
but because I’ve learned something about this journey…
It’s unpredictable.
There have been plenty of times I’ve asked
and gotten no response…
or a “yes” with no follow-through.
But today?
She helped.
And that’s what caregiving teaches you—
✨ What didn’t work yesterday might work today
✨ What you thought was gone… may show up again
✨ You have to stay flexible and meet the moment
It requires patience.
It requires adjusting.
It requires trying again… even when you’re not sure.
But don’t lose hope.
Because sometimes…
in the most unexpected moments…
they show you they’re still in there

I’ll be honest…
when I first saw this, it made me smile.
It felt like one of those light, “aww” moments that people often share.
But then I paused.
And I really thought about it.
This is a woman looking into a mirror…
and not recognizing herself.
She says, “I should know this person…”
And then quietly asks, “What is your name?”
Let that sit for a moment.
This isn’t just confusion.
This is the reality of dementia.
A reality where:
Familiar faces become strangers
Names disappear
Even your own reflection can feel unfamiliar
And while I understand that families sometimes cope with hard moments through laughter…
we have to be mindful.
Because what feels light to us…
may feel frightening or disorienting to them.
In moments like this, our role shifts.
From observer…
to protector of their dignity.
From reacting…
to responding with care.
What could this moment look like instead?
A gentle voice saying,
“That’s you. You’re safe. I’m right here with you.”
A hand held.
A calm presence.
Reassurance over reaction.
Dementia care requires more than patience…
…it requires perspective.