Cindy's Life Updates with Frontotemporal Dementia: August 2017

Our New Sign of Dementia - Refusing Medication

August 18, 2017

I never thought this day would come, but it has. My mom has refused to take her medication on several occasions.

We have received several calls that my mom will not take her medication. This has happened in the morning and evening times, so it's not just a morning or evening problem. It's a problem anytime of the day. There has been times where I have to go to the memory care place, just to get my mom to take her medication.

We have been told that my mom doesn't like to take her medication in front of other people. The memory care place has found that taking her medication to her room privately, has helped for the morning pill time.

My mom has told me at times that she doesn't know why she has to take her medication. I know my mom refusing to take her medication is because of confusion and not understanding the purpose of her medication.

This has been a new problem that has come up in the last few months. It is a new sign of dementia for us and we are trying to figure out something to help the situation.

Music

My Mom is Bruno Mars Biggest Fan with Dementia

August 16, 2017

Growing up, my mom was a fan of Celine Dion, Lionel Richie, Martina McBride, Neil Diamond, Enya, and Kenny G. Just to name a few.

My mom is NOW the BIGGEST FAN of Bruno Mars! She has liked Bruno Mars since her dementia days. She loves to sing to him, dance, and just laugh at what the songs say. She always tells me when she hears a Bruno Mars song that he's a good singer.

It is true that I have driven my mom around the block, a few times, just so she can listen to Bruno Mars in the car, and so she can sing, and laugh. It is true that has made my mom's day more than a few times. My mom is always fascinated when I replay a certain song over and over for her. She'll light up and say "it's on again?", as if it's a surprise that the song can play more than once in a row.

I know Bruno Mars has a lot of fans. Too many to count, but no matter what, my mom is going to be Bruno Mars' biggest fan ever with dementia!

Thank you, Bruno Mars for lighting up my mom's days when she hears your music!

My mom's favorite music for the last few years has been -

- The Best Day of My Life by American Authors (Hands down, her favorite song and life motto right now. It is also her and Jon's (my mom's son) song together. Jon introduced her to this song. She has loved it from that moment on.)

- Any Song of Bruno Mars

- Any Song of Adam Levine (She's not fully into Adam Levine anymore because I think she has forgotten who he is. )

Music lightens my mom right up! Music has been our lifesaver during this dementia time!