When I first saw this picture of a field of tulips, I felt happy. I instantly thought of Momma. Her favorite flower is the tulip, and I can’t wait to show her the picture.
These tulips are from the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in Woodburn, Oregon. A friend posted this picture on Facebook, and I knew a story was waiting to be told. For me, that story always has something to do with dementia or caregiving. Today it crosses both lines.
As I mentioned, Momma loves tulips. For Valentine’s Day, my sister and I gave her a vase of tulip bulbs in water that she enjoyed watching bloom. Everyday she would comment on how pretty they were. As a result, we make every effort to bring tulips to her whenever we can find them.
As Momma’s dementia progresses, we may not be able to bring live flowers to her. Many of my clients with advanced dementia would enjoy the beauty of these flowers, but they also might be intrigued as to how they might taste. This could bring about a host of problems. Tulips are poisonous, and their bulbs are even a bigger problem. To make the situation more dangerous, tulip bulbs look much like an onion, and this could spark an interest in tasting the “onion” that is actually a tulip bulb.
When the day arrives that real flowers are a problem for Momma, we will purchase silk flowers. Even though she may not remember the flowers from day to day, we will change them periodically. You never know when something new in her environment might spark a memory. The new flowers might bring a smile, and I believe that is the reason God made flowers.
Hope that gives you Something to Ponder.
- Dementia and Really Old Beauty - October 19, 2021
- Carol Howell Talks Dementia: Take Me Home! - October 5, 2020
- Carol Howell Talks Dementia: Get Me Out of Here! - November 3, 2018
