Hey Purple,
Also on a different matter, just what do you find to talk about or do with someone with this disease. My mum can't read a book or magazine. She used to knit, but can't now. She can't play cards anymore either. When she does say something, more often than not it is rubbish and it is hard to know what to say to that. Also if you are lucky enough to have a decent conversation with her, she then seems to fixate on that subject and she goes over and over it.
All I can say is that you get better at it. The lack of things to do is overwhelming at first, its a bit like when the power goes out and you think, oh what can I do, I know I'll have a cup of tea...oh hang on I need electricity to boil a jug for that,...I'll wash the clothes, no I can't do that either, I'll just send some emails...no....ummm?
Eventually though if the power continues to stay off you do start to get quite good at coping without it. Who would have thought I'd miss Dad being able to spend all day watching the cricket on TV?! I will say appreciate the monotonous conversations as much you can however as I know I spend many a day teary eyed listening to the other inmates at Dad's home talk nonsense while Dad and I sit there together me just holding his hand because he can't talk back and I'm not sure of how much he takes in and don't want to frustrate him too much by prattling on. I WISH he would talk nonsense to me, I even like it when he mumbles away at me on bright days. I do realise however how taxing it can be because I've had a few 'conversations' with the other inmates and you spend the whole time hoping they won't realise you have no idea what they are talking about, or trying to come up with answers that won't upset them in the reality they perceive.
I have gotten very skilled at having a one person conversation, balancing it all carefully so that I don't exclude Dad's participation when he wants to show some signs of understanding or emotion. I used to avoid questions because that made life difficult for him being put on the spot, but then that also has the effect of not making him feel important if you just sit there and talk about yourself all day and then he got to a stage where the goings on in my life don't interest him at all...he's like a small child where he is his world and I think this is just a progression of the brain damage. He did not react at all when i told him I was getting married, nor that I was graduating from Uni soon, things that once upon a time would have been very important to him. So nowadays I tend to ask him questions but then carry the conversation on after the question if there is no response, like 'Hey Dad how are you today?...[give him a hug, squeeze his hand] Have you been walking around much or just sitting here with not much to do?...I hope you have been walking, its good for you you know,...I worry if you're not walking so much, I worry that your legs will not be so strong.....do you want to have some afternoon tea? I've got some biscuits....How about we go sit outside for that, its nice out there in the breeze, we'll go sit at our favourite spot, you know, where the chairs are....its such a lovely breeze out there, and we can look at the garden, watch the birds and stuff, how about we do that?' I visit him for an hour on most days, and so of course there are long silences but I use things like looking at the scenery, appreciating the weather, enjoying the breeze as an excuse for the silent times.
Probably most of this is not much use to you because you are dealing with your Mum all day and she can talk, but thought I'd post it anyway for others who might be in a similar situation and in case your Mum's speaking begins to fail.
On an up note, even though I told Dad about getting married months ago and didn't think it registered, the other day I asked him if he would mind if I came into the home in my wedding dress and we had some photos taken together, and you know...something in his eyes told me he was pleased, not just about the photos, but that he knew I was getting married and was happy for me. Won't I cause a stir walking into the home in my wedding dress!! Keith said the other day to me too, who's going to take the photos and I said 'You of course.' and he said but I'll be wearing my suit and will be in the photos too! How lovely!
Hope Dad is having a good day that day, but it is quite possible he won't even register again...I'm starting to think though that he does 'register' in a way, or at least the information goes in, so I'll take heart from that thought. Should delight some of the little old ladies too. Give them all something to talk about for once.