Ways that my boyfriend helps and supports me

Yesterday, I was thinking how very important it is for someone who is diagnosed with a memory impairment to surround themselves with people who can support them while on this journey. This can't just be anyone! The people who you need for support are those who can be patient, understanding and nonjudgmental. You don't need someone in your life who is critical, impatient and not understanding.

Sometimes what would normally have been common sense for me, is no longer that easy. Sometimes, my boyfriend and I will be watching tv together and I will be coughing a little, then he might hear some wheezing. He will ask me if I hear the wheezing and I say, not really. Sometimes my response will be yes, that I’ve heard it. He will suggest that I use my inhaler for my asthma. Before I was diagnosed with a memory impairment, this was something that I could figure out on my own, without much thought, now not so much.

He will also hear me say that I am in pain, such as my right shoulder, which I have bursitis in. It will not even dawn on me to take something for the pain or to put ice on it. If he is with me, he will remind me to do something. Last night while I was doing some laundry, I started feeling some pain in my right shoulder. I was alone and I hoped that by the time I was done with the laundry that I would remember to do something about the pain. I also have a high tolerance to pain, which isn’t always a good thing. Surprisingly, I did remember to put the ice pack on my shoulder. Most of the time, I won’t think to do that.