It was just an off hand complaint when someone in our online group was venting. To paraphrase: She puts the toilet paper anywhere but in the toilet.

I chimed in that during the night, about one in three makes it into the commode.  Then came reply after reply.  I am not sure how many responded when that thread of emails came to an end. It was certainly a surprise to me that so many had exactly the same situation.  Some used grabbers to pick them up and get them in the right place.  Some found them in all sorts of places, often wastebaskets instead of the commode or toilet.

It was sort of comical to hear everyone pop up with their agreement that their Loved One did the same thing.  After a number of replies, one of the group brought some perspective into the stream of comments.  When we look back on this minor annoyance, it will be of little consequence.  Some in the group said they would love to be back at the stage during which their Loved Ones still had the ability to use the TP at all.

I wonder if Occupational Therapists have classes in how to improve the throwing arm of those who struggle with their aim?  I take for granted that one of my jobs is getting what has landed on the floor where it needs to be.  It is not even an issue (or is it tissue — sorry, couldn’t resist) for me.  It was just interesting to me when I noticed my own feelings after seeing all the replies from so many with exactly the same situation.

I felt comforted, sort of normal, on realizing that the Lewy Body Dementia had that same result in so many other households.  It seemed to remove any inclination to be bothered by something so common to others.  It reinforced that that particular habit is one that is a consequence of the Lewy Body Dementia.  Knowing that seems to help reduce the annoyance quotient of that particular behavior.

After last evening’s post, you can imagine how good it was to hear someone else caring for his wife say, “She doesn’t eat what I fix.”  It just makes a diffeence to hear that so many of us have the very same problems as we try to care for our Loved Ones.

None of us wants our Loved One to be debilitated by this disease.  None of us wants to have so many unpleasant tasks added to our daily activities.  As long as this is our life, somehow it helps to know that we are part of something outside of our control, something that is neither our fault nor is it the fault of our Loved Ones.  It is just a n consequence of the disease we are all dealing with.  It is normal – our version of normal, but normal.

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