September, 2002

Over this past summer I had an answer to prayer happen in the meeting of Kathy Kilpatrick of Communication Connection. For some time now, my siblings and I have been wondering just what was going on with my mother who was apparently suffering more and more from short term memory loss and continuous repetition.

Since none of us lived near my mother, and my father has no knowledge whatsoever with the medical community, we were all just sitting on the sidelines watching my Mom deteriorate.

It was apparent to me that there was great tension in the household because of the memory loss and that my mother was becoming more and more dependent on my dad. But with my mother still driving, getting her hair done, going to church, the grocery store and numerous social engagements, we, or at least I, kept slipping into a sort of denial about the deterioration.

It is difficult to watch this, and I got a really good dose when I spent a two-week vacation with my folks and then several weeks with them after my mother broke a bone and had subsequent surgery and rehab.

Finally the time had come to speak to my siblings and dad, and quite frankly, every one of us was at a loss as to know what to do. That's when I met Kathy.

Kathy was able to provide me with lists of the stages of Alzheimer's as well as information on other forms of dementia. She gave me some advice including a suggestion to call the Alzheimer’s Association in my hometown as well as where my folks live. I have subsequently found a nurse/case manager who has been able to walk me through the process of either getting a neurologist or contacting an assessment center for the memory loss.

It's been the bigger picture, however, that Kathy really got us talking about--(first of all she helped me with words and attitudes to get my siblings, Dad and me all on the same page). She got us talking and thinking about the future, eventual better living conditions before any crisis occurs. i.e. assisted living planning. We talked about safety, day to day life with memory impaired people and the recording of family history. We even talked about support for the primary caregiver--my dad. She showed us that the people who suffer from memory problems still want their dignity, to be social and part of the world. Kathy even has some wonderful tools created just for communicating at many levels of Alzheimer stages.

In the meantime I have been able to call Kathy for individual counseling/consulting on many things including words to use to communicate with my siblings, doctors and my mother. Kathy is sensitive, wise, energetic and extremely passionate about her profession and the situation you might be in. I would highly recommend Kathy Kilpatrick of Communication Connection be the backbone of your research, communication and idea pool. She is worth every penny.

M.A.
Michigan