| Alzheimer Granny's daughter Marian had been | | | | the cat with hot water, |
| worrying about her mother for some time. So finally | | | | "What are you doing, Mom?" |
| she decided that they should go to see her doctor and | | | | "He's so cold." |
| get some help from him. | | | | Once Timmy was safely removed and interred in the |
| Doctor Dolittle greeted Alzheimer Granny in his usual | | | | back yard, Marion offered to get her mother another |
| friendly manner. | | | | cat. Her mother looked at her in bewilderment. |
| "And how are you doing?" he said. | | | | "I have a cat already," she said. "I don't need two of |
| "Oh, I'm fine," she said, smiling at him. | | | | them." |
| "I'm worried about my mother," said Marion to Doctor | | | | Marion sighed. |
| Dolittle, who had been her mother's doctor for many | | | | "Yes," she said to Suzie, "I certainly do remember |
| years. "I think she's having memory problems." | | | | Timmy." |
| "Ah, said Dr Dolittle, turning to Alzheimer Granny, "So | | | | "Well, your mother regularly comes round to ask me if |
| how do you think your memory is?" | | | | I've seen him or if I've got him. Once or twice I |
| "It's fine, I've always had a great memory -- still do," | | | | reminded her that he'd died of old age, but then she'd |
| she said, as Marion rolled her eyes. | | | | get very upset -- as if she'd only just heard about it. I |
| "She's doing strange things when she shops," said | | | | knew there was something wrong." |
| Marion. "Last week, she bought twenty cans of beets. | | | | Marion told her about Doctor Dolittle. |
| She doesn't even like beets. Her refrigerator's always | | | | "Well, you know he's about the same age as your |
| empty." | | | | mother. Sometimes, it seems specially hard for older |
| "How's your social life?" Doctor Dolittle asked | | | | doctors to admit their older patients could really being |
| Alzheimer Granny. | | | | getting Alzheimer's, or whatever." |
| "It's fine, I go out to lunch with my friends every day | | | | Marion went cold. |
| and I play bingo three times a week." | | | | "Is that what you think Mom has?" she asked Suzie. |
| "My mother never goes out any more. She used to | | | | "I have no idea. You know, Marion, don't you, that |
| but now she says she doesn't like it. She says people | | | | there's a whole host of things that look the same as |
| talk too loud. She hasn't played bingo for over a year. | | | | our idea of Alzheimer's. Your Mom could just be |
| She told me they read the numbers too fast," Marion | | | | depressed. Your Dad died. Her cat died. Her other kids |
| put in desperately. | | | | live a long way from here. She might have other health |
| "She doesn't know anything. This is the first time I've | | | | conditions -- lots of health issues make a person look |
| seen her for month," said her mother angrily. | | | | as if she has dementia. And a lot of them can be fixed |
| "I take a meal over to her every evening," her | | | | or regulated in various ways. Even dementia can |
| daughter said. | | | | maybe be modified or helped." |
| "Well, none of us is getting any younger," said Doctor | | | | "So is there a better doctor I could get Mom to see?" |
| Dolittle. "You have to expect a little memory decline at | | | | "There's a really good gerontologist you could take |
| our age." | | | | your Mom to. That's really what she needs. She needs |
| "It's not a little," she said. "There's something really | | | | someone who could have your Mom go through the |
| wrong with my mother. She doesn't drive any more | | | | whole Alzheimer's workup." |
| because she kept getting lost." | | | | "What does that involve?" |
| "You know how they keep changing all the roads," said | | | | "Oh, it's very thorough. MRI, Cat scan, bloodwork, |
| Alzheimer Granny to her doctor. | | | | medication review, investigation of other health |
| He smiled and nodded. | | | | conditions which might affect her mental status, |
| "Well, let's just keep an eye on things," he said kindly to | | | | extensive interviewing by a social worker and so on. It |
| Marion. | | | | usually takes a couple of days to have everything |
| When Alzheimer Granny was settled into the | | | | done." |
| passenger seat of the car, she scowled at Marion. | | | | "It sounds expensive," Marion groaned. |
| "You always like to cause trouble," she said angrily. | | | | "All covered by Medicare, my dear." |
| "Ever since you were a little girl. You've always been a | | | | "That's something anyway." |
| nuisance." | | | | "Now, Marion, I hope you don't mind me suggesting this |
| Marion felt very hurt but she wasn't going to let things | | | | but I would NOT necessarily tell your mother in |
| drop. When she had set out her mother's dinner, she | | | | advance about the appointment. I'd just go and pick |
| went next door to talk to Suzie Robbins. Suzie was a | | | | her up like you would for any shopping expedition. |
| community nurse and a good friend of Alzheimer | | | | Then I'd drive her to the doctor's office and go in with |
| Granny. | | | | her. And you might usefully write down a list of the |
| "Come on in," said Suzie cheerfully. "Would you like a | | | | things you've noticed that have changed. Memory |
| coffee?" | | | | issues. Mood changes. Lifestyle issues. Make sure the |
| Over their coffee, she confided her worries about her | | | | doctor gets that at least a couple of days before you |
| mother. Suzie listened, nodding as if none of this was a | | | | see her. Doctor Patel, a very nice woman. Very smart |
| surprise to her. | | | | and friendly. Your Mom won't worry about her a bit." |
| "I should have talked to you earlier," Suzie said. "I've | | | | "I'm just terrified Mom's got Alzheimer's." |
| been worried about your mother. Remember when | | | | Suzie nodded. |
| Timmy died?" | | | | "I do understand, honey, but whatever it is, it's best we |
| Timmy had been Alzheimer Granny's gigantic orange | | | | know. Then we can all figure out what to do." |
| tomcat. After a long and troublesome career, Timmy | | | | "You hear so much about it -- how horrible it is." |
| had been found sleeping the sleep that has no end in | | | | "Frankly, there's many worse and more painful things |
| the bathtub. Finding her cat cold and stiff in the bath, | | | | than dementia, as a nurse I'll tell you that. I won't say |
| Alzheimer Granny had called Marion in a panic. | | | | don't worry, but I'm here and we'll all help each other |
| "It's his arthritis," she said confusedly. "He can't get up. | | | | the best way we can." |
| Do you have some medicine for that?" | | | | "Oh thank-you, Suzie!" |
| "Who?" asked Marion. "Whose arthritis?" | | | | Even so, walking back into her mother's house, Marion |
| "My -- the -- my friend," said her mother. "He's stuck in | | | | felt her heart sink. |
| the bathtub." | | | | "Hallo, dear," said Alzheimer Granny to her daughter, |
| "Stuck? You have someone in your bathtub, Mom?" | | | | "Did you see Timmy out there? I want to give him his |
| She rushed over to find her mother washing Timmy | | | | supper? |