How to Handle those Awkward Dementia Conversations in Public
Going thru the checkout at the local HEB grocery store in Texas was much faster than the trip to the car with the gentleman carrying out the groceries. The carryout boy looked to be 18 or so. My father asked him if he was a student, to which he replied he was “thinking about it” That was just enough for a long monologue to begin about the importance of education and all the educational accolades my dad had accumulated over his lifetime.
It must have been 100 degrees as we were standing in that parking lot listening. I was struggling with how to free the carryout boy to return to work. Finally, I told my dad we needed to get going and started the car. He appeared a little annoyed as he still had more to say.
I embarrassed myself being rude and treating my father like a child.
I did not know what to do.
My father loves to go out to dinner at nice restaurants. It was raining and I dropped him at the door and went to park the car. I took a quick phone call and headed into the restaurant. My father was already seated with a tall glass of beer in front of him. He has not had a drink in 60 years. I asked to taste the beer and set it down in front of me. The waitress came back and asked him if he wanted a different drink. I was shocked to hear him order a shot of whiskey! I began waving my hands back and forth quickly as to motion “no, cancel that order”. My father turned and saw me and asked “what are you doing?”
I looked foolish trying to control the situation and heartsick that I humiliated my dad.
I did not know what to do.
I began to dread going out in public as I never knew what to expect and worse yet, how to handle those awkward conversations.
There just may be a simple solution:
Home2Home4Seniors has designed a card that is similar to a credit card. You simply hand the card to the waitress, cashier, carryout boy etc. They will read the card and hand it back to you.
The card reads as follows:
The person with me has
Dementia/Alzheimer’s Disease.
They may say or do things that are unexpected.
Thank you for understanding.
Don’t make the same mistake that I did with my dad. Spare a person’s dignity by keeping this card with you. Please fill out the form below to be mailed a card FREE of charge.
