My Girlfriend's Mom Has Alzheimer's: How We Cope
By Matthew Erickson. Posted on .
His girlfriend's mother had Alzheimer's; visiting her allowed him to comfort them both.
These visits with Roxie showed me firsthand how gently and evenly Anne dealt with adversity, in this case the lingering tragedy of her mother's illness. Being present while someone deals with the impending death of a loved one is an intimate, uncomfortable position. I wanted to be a comfort to Anne while she comforted her mother. Eventually I realized that showing patient kindness to Roxie, assuming the role of brother Dale and letting Roxie comb my hair to the other side of my head made me a part of Anne's relationship with her mother, both of us gently escorting a dying woman through her fading memories.
