Jessica Chalk has been caring for her mom, who has dementia.
Courtesy of Jessica Chalk
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jessica Chalk from Sydney. It has been edited for length and clarity.I work with my mom for the business she founded, so I notice any little behavioral changes. The first was 10 years ago, and it was subtle.Mom also taught floristry at a college, and she'd forget her password to get into the classroom. We said this is normal; we all forget passwords, especially as we age. Then she started forgetting the content she'd been teaching for four years.We got her tested. The specialist asked her what day of the week it was. She answered perfectly.We kept going back for answersWe kept going back over two years; I kept saying, she might pass these questions, but there are 10 coffee cups around the house. Mom would start making herself a coffee, then forget she'd done it.The family business is called For Keeps. We preserve flowers and other heirlooms as permanent keepsakes by framing them or placing them in perspex boxes for display at home. I started noticing Mom's workflow change. She'd miss a key step, like setting and drying the flowers, which was unusual for Mom.
