What do you do when you need help or have questions about raising a child? You could talk to another parent, find a book on the subject, or search the Internet, with the hope of finding helpful information. But what do you do when the "child" is your parent?

I am talking about raising a parent with dementia. Your own parent is slowly reverting back to childhood but remaining in a fully aged body. It's a whole new endeavor, taking full responsibility for someone who once raised you.

Many years ago, I had to place my mom in 24-hour assisted living care. She no longer recognized her surroundings. If she left her home, she could not find her way back. She could no longer remember to take her medications properly. She had even forgotten her own children. It was a very painful time in my life. Witnessing my mother losing her memories broke my heart. I began to journal through the pain. The blank page was a good place for my fears and frustrations. While I was writing not only did I sense a need to vent my emotions, but I began recognizing how many other people must be going through this same journey, and how painful it must be for them.

So here we are. I am hoping and praying that the words you are about to read will somehow brighten your day, warm your heart, and help you feel a little less alone in your journey of raising a parent with dementia.

What brings me to these pages of stories is that I continued to be taught about life by my mother. As she changed from the mother that I knew growing up, through the years of watching her slowly lose her memory while her body stayed strong, she still had lessons for me to learn.

My desire is to share those insights with you. I hope they will be a comfort.

Maureen Chap

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