Love finds a way . . . even through the tangled thoughts of dementia.
By Guest Contributor
I received this story from Trevor Stewart, Executive Director for Creekside Inn Memory Care Community. It is one of those stories guaranteed to give you waterworks.
Don and Rosemary met at an independent living community. They both were in the early stages of dementia. They quickly became best friends, even calling each other husband and wife. For the next three years, they spent every day together, holding hands and helping each other to remember where to go or what to do next.
Then, at nearly the same time, both Don and Rosemary experienced a rapid decline in their cognitive abilities. Rosemary’s family made the decision to move her to memory care at Creekside Inn, a Koelsch community. Don’s family had a couple of instances of elopement and his family moved him to a small assisted living community. Both practical decisions made in the best interest of the residents.
Except that . . .
What Don’s family and Rosemary’s family discovered was that both of them were mourning the loss of the other.
Don couldn’t remember Rosemary’s name, but knew that he was missing “his lady friend.” Rosemary would ask the care staff on an almost daily basis when Don was coming.
Then Don ended up in the hospital. It was then that his family made the decision that his relationship with Rosemary was critical and decided to move him into Creekside where Rosemary was living. Don’s sister said the morning we were planning on moving Don to Creekside, he was lying on his hospital bed, curled up, saying that nobody loved him anymore. Little did he know that in just a couple of hours, he would be DANCING down the Creekside hallway, holding Rosemary’s hand again.
This video captures the moment they are reunited. Although neither one can remember the other’s name, they do remember how they FEEL about each other.
They spend their days together once again and have regained that sense of purpose & love. It is truly heartwarming how love can find its way through the tangled thoughts of someone with dementia.
