Family Needs

I've written before on this blog that my dad has Alzheimer's. Of course, this disease, like many, really can't be totally diagnosed until after the person's death. There were things in his health that weren't quite adding up, so my sister took him last week to see a neurologist. He was re-diagnosed or better diagnosed with something called "progressive supra-nuclear palsy", for short PSP.

PSP is largely shown by the person falling down a lot and the ability of the eyes to move is diminished in time. This is the major way doctors often diagnose it--the patient has lost the ability to track anything with his/her eyes. Dementia is also a part of this. It is rare and so not well known.

Anyway, what does all this have to do with anything? Well, it explains why most people with Alzheimer's lose their mind, but my dad still knew so many things, but is losing his body quickly. It doesn't make things easier with him and it doesn't change my understanding of the slow degeneration of Alzheimer's and the difficulty in a family. Much of this has mirrored Alzheimer's, which is why the previous diagnosis was given. He still does have dementia. He can't add or subtract. He can't do so much of what he could do a few years ago. He has a hard time with conversation. And his body is so very unreliable.

So today I ask you to pray for my siblings who need to look into his care. My dad, since early January, has been in a Memory Care home. The women who care for him there are good and kind to him, but it is not the level of health care that he needs. Now my siblings need to make the decision to move him to a more skilled nursing home. This is hard for everyone. But his physical body needs skilled and individual care.

I have 2 brothers and 2 sisters in the area near my dad and it is tough for all of them. Please pray that God guides them and helps them and they can know that He is leading them and giving them peace as they make these decisions about dad's future care.

Thanks.