ToughKenaMan’s son, Ken Keene, Jr. talks with The Caregiver’s Voice about caregiving for his father years before and after his diagnosis with frontotemporal lobe dementia. Listen to Ken tell the story of his father’s namesake. It has fast become a legend in his father’s own mind. The Caregiver’s Voice wonders if this is how stories were passed down through the millennia.
Growing Up with ToughKenaMan
Growing up, his relationship with his dad “could have been better.” “My father was not super affectionate. He was a hard man, hard-working too….”
The GIFT of Dementia
His dad has become “more human” since living with the symptoms of dementia. “I was seeing a whole different side… he was reaching out to me… he was trying to learn… it was so flattering. It felt great. It was a long-time coming.”
“It’s NOT About Me”
“I had to step up to the plate. I can’t be selfish. Life’s too short.”
Dementia is REAL
As dementia destroys more brain cells, people with dementia appear to act strangely and even in an unsafe manner.
The Keene family realized they had to deal with safety issues when Ken, Sr. repeatedly touched the hot burner on the stove. He no longer associated the red light with heat. In another instance, he couldn’t make sense of how to flush the toilet. He wanted his feces to disappear, yet there they remained in the toilet bowl. Flustered, he did what made sense to him. Watch the interview. ToughKenaMan would regularly go next door to the neighbor’s house. He’d pound on their windows or walk into their garage shouting demands.
ToughKenaMan, Jr. Reminds Me of Joey
When a military veteran, always in control of his life and environment, hugs a woman hesitatingly at first and then as she can’t hold back her tears, he holds her close… when ToughKenaMan kisses this woman, but does not remember her name… We can hear him say in this endearing episode, “I’ve never stopped loving you… You’re a beautiful lady.” He is not certain of his long-time wife’s name. This episode reminds me of Joey’s heartbreaking moment with his (late) mom, in Molly’s Movement.
Watch the interview with Ken Keene, Jr., ToughKenaMan’s son, below.
View Ken Keene, Jr.’s videos – The Journey with ToughKenaMan on YouTube.
