Before her condition got much worse and before COVID - maybe 18 months or two years ago - we took her to dinners, and concerts, and shows. I have been trying to plan nice events again and find myself getting very wrapped up in whether a family dinner went well or badly, whether she enjoyed the trip to the dog park or nail salon (we are all vaccinated). But a “good” evening can be followed by a terrible one, and I wonder if the “fun” days have any lasting impact at all. Is there any evidence that good and fun days can help create an overall better mood or wellbeing for Alzheimer’s patients over time — even if specific details aren’t remembered? Or are they as erased as if they never happened?
I liked taking him because I would use the store as his walking for the day. They had large carts that he would use for stability prior to his use with a walker. And after he started using a walker the carts are tall enough that they were actually more comfortable at times than a regular walker (Until I found a larger tall one)
BUT I stopped when it was no longer SAFE for him or me to get him into the car.
I would base the outings on safety.
If it is not safe to get her into the car or out of the car then stop.
Don't worry about a destination and "going" to a place. Make the outing a ride through a park, or a county road.
One thing I learned from my Husband is .... Live in the moment....
don't think about if she remembers the ride, the park, the dinner or who was there or what was served. Does that really matter? What matters is...Did she enjoy herself during that moment?
As long as you both are having a good time on these outings, I see no need to stop them. There will come a day soon enough when you will have no choice but to stop them, so enjoy them while you can. Wishing you many more fun outings with your mom.
My and my wife's experience with my Dad was that for several years, outings and even long-distance overnight trips required careful "what-if" planning and preparations, reduced expectations, lots of on-the-road flexibility, and a sense of humor. In spite of all the predictable mishaps, my Dad seemed to enjoy these frequent outings and road trips, although he didn't remember any parts of them, neither good nor bad, for more than an hour or two, certainly not for a full day. Then, at some point they became too hard on him, me and my wife, so we stopped doing them.
Kudos to you for taking your Mom on outings and best wishes for both of you as your routines have to change along with progression of the disease..
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