JOAN’S BLOG – WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY, JANUARY 2/3, 2008 – ANCHORS AWEIGH – ALZHEIMER CRUISE BOUND

Although Sid and I have been on many cruises over the years, this is the first one we have taken in 17 years, and of course, the first one since he started showing Alzheimer symptoms 5 years ago. I am naturally a bit apprehensive, but I have taken the advice I gave in the “Traveling with an AD Spouse Blog”, which was to be prepared and plan ahead. Sid and I have discussed the arrangements and he agrees:

• Neither he nor any of the other AD husbands will go ashore without the wives. 

• If we go our separate ways to different activities on the ship, we will always have our walkie talkies with us; and I will give him a note to keep in his pocket that lists the time and place we are to meet.  

• If we do go ashore for a tour, and he is tired right afterward, I will escort him back to the ship, so he can rest. Adequate rest lessons agitation and the potential for outbursts.

• I absolutely promise not to try to talk him into going to an activity that does not interest him. Does he ever HATE shopping! BAD (Before Alzheimer’s Disease), we used to compromise  - He would come to an activity I liked, and I would reciprocate by going to one he liked. I have learned to let that one go.  

Since we are going as part of an Alzheimer’s Group, the social worker/travel agent has assured me that if needed, there will be someone to look out for our husbands when we “caregiver spouses” are at the caregiver activities.

Sid and the other AD husbands are so comfortable with each other that I do have high hopes that everything will go smoothly on this trip.

UH OH – BIGGEST CONCERN:  I must tell you that I am a terrible sailor. Yes, we have been on many cruises, and once I discovered the Transderm Patch, I was generally okay, sort of, for the most part, kind of, as long as there wasn’t a lot of wind and/or rain. I have lived in Florida now for 1 ½ years, and wouldn’t you know it? The day I leave for the cruise is supposed to be the coldest day here in YEARS – temperatures in the 30’s in the morning, and 50’s in the afternoon with 30 mile an hour winds. Then rain and clouds are predicted for the next 4 days - all the way to the Florida Keys and the Bahamas, which just happens to be where we are going.  So I am not sure I am going to be worrying about how my husband’s Alzheimer’s Disease is going to react on this trip; I am going to be worrying if my head will ever leave the pillow in the cabin. Thank goodness it is only a 4 night cruise.

My California son and technical advisor will be posting Blogs for me while I am away. Message Boards are always open for you, so keep on writing.

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