Yesterday was a case in point. When I arrived one of our kind neighbours and friend was visiting and had been reading to him. (This is something which I'd like to encourage others to do, if at all possible!). However Colin had fallen into a bit of a doze and so we left the room for a while. However after about 15 minutes Colin had 'awoken' again and was fully aware of what I read to him out of this week's New Scientist, to the extent that he was giving his opinion on some of the articles! And then the carers came to reposition him for eating his evening meal, and that was like throwing a switch - he became more tetchy and 'seeing things'. It's like if the brain gets tired of having to process lots of goings on - which includes lots of people talking and being moved - and then connections get a bit muddled, which makes him confused, and so on and so forth.....
This is likely what happened on Friday - Colin had had Physio, was taken into the bath and then was moved from one bed into another into the room next door. By the time I and a friend got there in the afternoon he was having none of it!!! He really was tired and wanted to sleep, and being woken for teeth cleaning, having a drink and then evening meal was more than he could cope with - and so didn't, in no uncertain terms!!
And so, taking all this variation 'as read' I would still like to encourage you to visit. WARNING: HE HAS MOVED ROOMS TO THE ONE FURTHER ALONG! It would be wonderful if those of you who knew Colin in the 70s/80s cycling/walking/YHA etc could make the effort to visit and regale stories of what you all used to get up to in those fun days!! Colin can remember all sorts of things from years ago and it would be great if he could be reminded of those good times and be made to laugh. The only proviso is to remember he can't see so it is important to orientate him when you arrive - saying who you are and how he knows you. And then to talk slowly, one at a time, and give him plenty of time to take it in and respond. And if you're lucky like I was yesterday afternoon, then you may be pleasantly surprised!
Jane.