And this is how it went:
It was such a nice day today that we opened up the doors to the locked units at work and brought some residents out for a walk in the sunshine. George and I had just walked out the door…
George: “Oh I wish I had my sunglasses”
Me: “Oh here, I have some, just use mine”
George: “Oh no, I couldn’t…”
Me: “No worries, just try them out, they are fine for a few minutes out here…”
George: “Ok”
A stroll around the patio a few times, a short simple conversation and we are ready to head inside again.
Me (grabbing for the glasses): “I’ll take my sunglasses back again”
George (backing up and holding tight to the glasses): “No way, these are mine!”
Me: “No, George, remember? I let you use mine when you didn’t have yours….”
George: “No, these are my sunglasses, they have been all along, I had them in my pocket”
Me: “Ok, nevermind…..you’re right, they are yours”
Ah, the joys of working with people with dementia! Good thing they were only cheapo sunglasses…..:)
