Growing up, I was always close with my grandparents, and would do anything to help them. Over the past several years, my paternal grandmother has become increasingly overwhelmed with Alzheimer's. It has been equally frustrating for her to progress as it has been for me to watch her undergo such a difficult transition.
While I was visiting with my grandmother earlier this month, she picked up a picture of me and my sisters, her granddaughters, and became visibly upset because she couldn't determine who the people in the photo were. She tried tirelessly to figure out the names of my sisters, saying, "I know who these girls are. I know, I just can't remember right now." It pained me to see her struggle to remember her grandchildren, so I came up with an idea to help her.
A labeled picture of me as a baby that sits on my grandmother's nightstand
Together, my grandmother and I went around her entire house and labeled every family picture using post-it notes. She followed behind me, picking up each newly-labeled picture and reading the names off of the labels. As she began to place names with faces, she not only became excited, but she began to tell stories about the people in the pictures. To me, labeling the pictures seemed like such a simple act, but it was something that allowed my grandmother to recognize the people she loves and remember positive times that she has had with them. Seeing the smile on my grandmother's face as she picked up each picture warmed me in the way that only helping someone you love can do.
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