I say to her "No you are not stupid" but I wonder whether it would be better to empathize with her feelings and tell her I understand how upset and frightened she must feel. I was talking to her on the phone the other day and her partner was yelling at her in the background "NO YOU'RE NOT MIXED UP!" I wonder if we're both denying her reality by doing this. She called me yesterday and didn't even realize that she had done so. Parkinson's as you know, is a progressive disease and it is causing her partner a great deal of pain to have to live with her. He's being a champ, taking great care of her. I talk to her every day on the phone but the calls are extremely brief because she cuts me off after about 3-5 minutes. I'm throwing her a 100 birthday party in December. Thanks for listening.
Happy birthday!!!!!
I am relieved to hear that overall you think your Mom is having a good deal of care from her partner, but a bit concerned that your contact is by phone more than by visit. I hope they have support in their area. I am certain with this advanced age that they are.
Especially at 100 years old REALLY! Realize what this person has lived through! The roaring 20's, the depression of the 30's, WW2, Korean war, Vietnam war, the different presidents, JFK assassination, MLK assassination, riots, make love not war of the 60's, the crazy 70's, the shuttle challenger, the Berlin wall coming down, the Gulf war, the 21st century! And these are just a few of the changes she has lived through!
WOW!!! To have experienced all this and still be living! Blessings to her and you!
tell her what you have been saying that "you are not stupid" but add "it is because your brain is not working the way it should."
And I have to add this...Dam!!! at 100 she has every right to once in a while feel "mixed up" all the stuff that has been through her mind in almost 100 would be enough to boggle my mind.
Tell her to relax give herself a break.
Give her a "happy birthday" and a (((hug))) from me!