I was moved by the poem copied below, from a local paper in North Carlina, on Kathy Hatfield’s blog. Ms Hatfield offers all sorts of information for caregivers dealing with patient’s with dementia. The poem:

DO NOT ASK ME TO REMEMBER.
DON’T TRY TO MAKE ME UNDERSTAND.
LET ME REST AND KNOW YOU’RE WITH ME.
KISS MY CHEEK AND HOLD MY HAND.

I’M SO CONFUSED BEYOND YOUR CONCEPT.
I AM SAD AND SICK AND LOST.
ALL I KNOW IS THAT I NEED YOU.
TO BE WITH ME AT ALL COST.

SO DO NOT LOSE YOUR PATIENCE WITH ME.
DO NOT SCOLD OR CURSE OR CRY.
I CAN’T HELP THE WAY I’M ACTING.
CAN’T BE DIFFERENT THOUGH I TRY.

JUST REMEMBER THAT I NEED YOU,
THAT THE BEST OF ME IS GONE.
PLEASE DON’T FAIL TO STAND BESIDE ME,
LOVE ME ‘TIL MY LIFE IS GONE