Published: November 06, 2008 03:24 pm      

Treasured memories

Dealing with the effects of Alzheimer’s

By Ashley Norvell

Behind the blank stare and bouts of aggressive paranoia is 84-year-old Binnie Milton a meek, soft spoken woman who loves God, her family, friends and neighbors.

High above the TV out of her reach is a picture of a joy-filled Binnie dancing with her grandson at a family wedding, but her memories of that happy day have vanished in the fog that is Alzheimer’s Disease.

“It’s been one year since she recognized and called anyone by name,” says Dawn Allen, Binnie’s granddaughter.

But it’s been seven years since Alzheimer’s began its destruction of Binnie’s brain cells, disrupting her thinking and behavioral skills, erasing her fondest memories.

Prior to that, Binnie lived independently. She served as treasurer for her Sunday School class. She enjoyed gardening. She loved cooking for her family. Her specialty was tomato gravy and homemade biscuits.

Seven years ago, Binnie’s behavior became noticeably different to everyone who knew and loved her.

“She had always been a cautious driver,” explains Dawn. “Then we started getting phone calls that she was pulling out in front of people without looking. She drove from Williamsburg to Corbin and ran off the road so many times that she blew out two tires. We had to take her keys away and it was terrible.”

Her loss of driving skills wasn’t the only sign.

“She started telling us the same stories over and over again. Then she would lose her purse and become accusatory and agitated. She would say things to hurt people’s feelings and not even realize it,” adds Dawn.

Her condition slowly deteriorated. Her family exhausted every effort trying to take care of her.

“We took turns taking care of her. We did it until we were emotionally and physically drained,” Dawn says.

Then, Binnie’s family faced its toughest decision.

“The hardest thing I’ve ever done is put my grandmother in the nursing home, but we had no choice. Safety was an issue. She would get up all during the night and leave the stove on. She would wander off. She was falling down a lot. She had to have 24-hour a day care,” Dawn explains.

As Kyler, Binnie’s 12-year-old great-grandson pushes her wheelchair out to the garden area of the nursing home, he can’t decide if he wants to be in a picture with her or not.

“She doesn’t like me,” says Kyler with a sad look on his face.

Dawn says Binnie doesn’t like or want to be around men or boys.

“Probably because she’s always been very modest. Alzheimer’s may have taken her memory, but I believe that she holds onto that modesty,” she says. “She’s uncomfortable with people changing her clothes.”

Although Alzheimer’s has erased Binnie’s fondest memories, Dawn is quick to recall her own.

“I was 9 years old and some boys stole my bike,” she said. “Binnie put me in the car and tracked down those boys. When we found them they were already taking the stickers off my bike. She explained to them that the Lord says not to steal, opened her trunk and made them load my bicycle.”

Coping with Alzheimer’s can be especially challenging for family members.

Mallory Allen, Binnie’s nine-year-old great-granddaughter, has advice for other children in a similar situation.

“They are probably going to forget you, but you have to know they still love you,” says Mallory.

And Dawn’s advice, “Keep a sense of humor and treasure your memories.”

Altzeimer's Disease by the Numbers

5.2 Million - Number of people living with Alzheimer’s in the US

10 Million - Number of baby boomers that will develop Alzheimer’s in their lifetime

71 Seconds - Every 71 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer’s Disease

Sixth - Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in our nation

$148 Billion - Direct and indirect cost of Alzheimer’s each year

1906 - The year German physician Alois Alzheimer first described the disease