Midlife’s A Trip

Mom, Dementia and Me; The Power of the Purse

Posted on 17. Dec, 2007 by Karen in Alzeimer's & Dementia, Misc

I went to visit my mom today in the memory care facility where she lives due to her dementia.  It’s always interesting to me that the ladies in the facility always walk the halls with their purses.  Most of them are very elderly and have severe dementia like Mom.  But the one thing they remember is that they’re supposed to carry a purse.  And so they do.

It seems that the ravages of the disease can’t wipe the imprint of years of carrying a purse.  Now from time to time, the ladies lose their purses or end up with someone else’s.  And sometimes there’s nothing in their purses but Kleenex and a piece of bread from the sandwich at lunch.  But dementia or not–the purse remains a sacred accessory.

So today Mom had her purse on her arm as we walked around the halls–one of her favorite activities.  As we strolled along I realized I had my purse with me too.  I had to laugh because this was a snapshot of my future.  Me thirty years from now still carrying my purse, still recognizing the power of this sacred accessory no matter what the state of my memory. 

Do you feel the power of the purse?

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