Reminder

Ken is slow to change. He likes to evaluate and process most information, and he does it longer than most people. This has been a trait of his even before Parkinson’s slowed him more. One piece of information that we learned was that Ken’s Parkinson’s medication should be taken at the same time each day. We set a schedule but often Ken would ask “Have I taken my medicine?” or “Oh, I should have taken my medicine an hour ago.”

I suggested he set REMINDERS on his phone so that he didn’t have to think about it. “Noooo” was his response, “I don’t want to do that.” It sounds so simple to me, but it was one simple change in a world of big changes that he was processing.

Several weeks passed with many more late medication proclamations. Then, one day as we were sitting in the family room, I heard an alarm on his phone. I asked what it was for. He got the funniest grin on his face and said “Oh, it’s the REMINDER I set on my phone so I don’t forget to take my medication. I’m surprised you didn’t think about it.” And that was my REMINDER not to hurt him.