Audrey Mae SpencerSpencer Historical CemeteryHenry Straight / William Spencer Family Cemetery
Vaughn Historical CemeterySpencers of East Greenwich, RI
Conversations Sequel
10 December 2004

Email from Crystal to inform Heather that her mother has been moved from one home to another home:

“Today will be the fourth day Mom has been in her new home (Kent Regency Nursing Home) Mom sang happy birthday to me in front of the speech therapist. Mom talked more than I have heard her say at one time, since I talked with her on the phone November 10th.”

10 December 2004

Heather’s conversation with Speech Therapist, Doreen Tierney, at Kent Regency while Audrey was listening:

“Audrey has aphasia.  Audrey can’t get the words out”, said the Speech Therapist.

We will keep working with a resident as long as the therapist sees progress.  Because Audrey is educated and intelligent, she has a better chance of improving because of the benefit of her well developed, inquisitive mind. Singing songs, reciting poems  is “an automatic thing” and is easier to do then to see and/or hear and then have the brain receive and register the reaction and response and then have the related speech finish the thought, speaking process.  It is easier to recall, then to start from scratch and begin a sentence or answer a question said Doreen Tierney, Speech Therapist at Kent Regency.

[At this time Audrey was in her nineties and the medical profession could not be sure whether Audrey had had a stroke, a TIA or whether it was the early beginnings of dementia.  Rather than the descriptive term dementia, I  prefer to use the modern terminology of “imaginary thinking”.  Imaginary thinking does not have the negative connotation that the word dementia brings to mind.]

[Audrey’s mind had always been very keen, except for the one phone call I had with her at Alpine on 6-19-2004 that concerned me greatly.  My heart sank as I listened to this one sided conversation].

On June 19, 2004 Audrey’s imaginary thinking was as follows: “Edith, my sister, she’s living you know (Edith had died on 12-8-1991) and she’s getting married to Bill Capprell.  I told Edith he can’t dance.  He has a sore leg. (My aunt Edith was a great dancer as a coed.) The Campbells they hate the MacDonalds (Folklore in Scottish history but our next door neighbor, Jennie Campbell was Audrey’s wonderful older friend who was like a second mother to Audrey and helped Audrey with the babies.) (There was a) holiday special (here).  Four older lady singers and waltz dance.  There are five or six groups come and they are so cute. Oh, Heather being here (with the) two green scrapbooks and one red one. That’s so good to look at them.  I stayed up until 2 o’clock looking at the scrapbook. Oh, I got some news to tell you at Alpine.  I don’t think I’m coo-coo, but I go like a flash…Heather, I can walk out of this house and get in your car.  I can walk ever since. My feet still seem a little heavy (but) I go in the bathroom (without assistance). I always dream everything with the eyes open.  I dreamed something and hurried out of bed.  I’m walking. I’m walking.  When you look through books it takes forever. On the fourth of July, Mother made clam cakes and chowder. Uncle Ed helped.  We all went to Connecticut on July 4th.  June 2nd (is my wedding) anniversary.  Mr. Buecker (pastor at Knotty Oak Baptist Church) married us in (family home at 742 Washington Street in Coventry) the living room.  We walked out of Grandpa’s room into the parlor, in front of the couch and in front of shelf with clock.  This was (one of the) last home wedding made. Next (tradition changed to have) had wedding at Churches.  Everybody was there. Seven Mile Road house (Audrey and Milton’s first home which was built by Audrey’s father, a professional carpenter). We bought land from Aunt Jeannie [Jeannie Campbell] on East Greenwich Avenue. Oh yes, I’m full of life now and walking a bit. I remember Prince (the family horse when Audrey was a child on the farm).  I was scared of him.  Wouldn’t go near him.  I’m still scared of everything.  I wouldn’t go out to the mailbox in the dark if you paid me.”

(Heather: How did you learn to read?)

“She (Audrey’s mother, Mary Jane) was always reading.  I didn’t do much reading before I went to school. The Sunday paper would come and then I would draw from the paper. (I have a) new roommate.  She’s a tiny little thing, walks along and also reads all the newspaper.

[End of conversation with Audrey on 6-19-2004.  This conversation on 6-19-2004 concerned me greatly.  The prevailing thought was that this was just a temporary lapse of Audrey’s reality as Audrey was fine after this conversation on 6-19-2004 and did not appear confused after this one episode of confusion.  After the initial conversation of her talking about walking and talking about her sister as if her sister were still alive, Audrey’s mind came back to reality as it was for her before her 6-19-2004 one-sided- conversation.]

10 December 2004

While Heather and Kent Speech Therapist, Doreen Tierney, were talking and Audrey was listening, Audrey spoke loudly and clearly:

“I feel like talking all the time.”

8 January 2005

Douglas visiting and feeding Mother at Kent Regency Nursing Home:

“It doesn’t taste good.”

10 January 2005

Bree, the OT said they have done all they can do and they are releasing Mother until she improves to where she can do more for herself. Marilyn, the PT walked with Mother for about 10 feet. Marilyn asked Mother to tell her when she wanted to sit down.

“I want to sit down now.”

(Marilyn said they are working with Mother five days a week.)

15 January 2005

Douglas visiting Mother at Kent Regency Nursing Home and trying to feed Mother:

“Don’t put anymore of that stuff in my mouth.”

17 January 2005

Douglas visiting Mother at Kent Regency Nursing Home and feeding Mother a dish of yogurt:

“It is too sweet and bad for my sugar”.

18 January 2005

Douglas visiting Mother at Kent Regency Nursing Home:

(Doug tried reading the 50 states postcards and getting Mother to think about the capitols but she wasn’t really into it. This was unusual as Mother was always interested in studying and learning.)

24 January 2005

Douglas visiting Mother at Kent Regency Nursing Home:

“Why am I here?  I don’t want to be in this big house.  I don’t want to be in this crazy house.”

(Mother was very alert.  Doug and Mother, in her wheel chair, went for a stroll down to see Lisa, Audrey’s granddaughter, Lisa  in the Administrative office.  Lisa said she has not seen her this alert before.  Lisa explained to Mother as to why Mother was in the Nursing Home.

25 January 2005

Douglas visiting Mother and asking her if she slept well last night:

(Mother nodded her head “yes”.)