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Dementia's Perils

Dedicated to Caregivers who endure lovingly the perils of dementia's grip on loved ones. Dementia's Peril Oh tongue of spiked nails, be still, be still! Bite not off the loving hands that tend you! Unfair thoughts revolve through the mind Silently taking it all, never voicing unkind Declarations from soothing voices should swim In tempestuous dementia’s waters of bewilderment Where uncertainty ensnares reasoning’s ability And constraints of life cascades into the abyss By: Debra Squyres 1-26-12

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Elizabeth Wesley

Date: 4/10/2012 7:04:00 AM

You almpst have to divorce yourself from the person they once were because they are a whole different entity now. Yes it is sad and you described the situation and pain so well.

Poet Destroyer A

Date: 1/26/2012 11:51:00 PM

a very wonderful poem... deep..... Enjoyed stopping by tonight, have yourself a wonderful Friday! ;-) always,..pd

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 1/26/2012 8:54:00 PM

Yes, you captured the peril of it, Debra. My stepdad suffered terribly from this, one of life's cruelest jokes of old age. Are you a caregiver?

Debra Squyres
Date: 1/27/2012 5:35:00 AM

Yes, I am a caregiver for my Dad. He suffers from Vascular Dementia, among other ailments. It's hard watching him transform to someone I no longer know, mentally.

Nette Onclaud

Date: 1/26/2012 7:35:00 PM

such poignant and tremendous imagery you spoil us with, debra... i sing with you on this one; so heartfelt! :) huggs!

Rhonda Johnson-Saunders

Date: 1/26/2012 2:13:00 PM

Thank you for writing this! It captures the caregiver's struggles perfectly. My grandfather suffered with alzheimer's disease for years finally succumbing in 2005. Terrible to watch a loved one go through it while having to endure the thankless job of caregiving and feeling like a victim, too. My grandfather had a sharp tongue to say the least! Sweet as sugar one minute, screaming the next. We had to place him in assisted living so then had to deal with the guilt of that decision as well. Lots of love to all of the caregivers out there! Blessings, Rhonda

Debra Squyres
Date: 1/26/2012 3:23:00 PM

It's heartbreaking and hard to take abuse from someone who you know deep down loves you. Realizing they can't help themselves is a temporay soothing balm. Often a good cry away from everything releives stress. Assisted living is out of the question in our situation. Having someone releive you of the responsibilities for a few days helps tremendously.