Dementia, Memory Care... and a new puppy

My experience taking my new 10 week old (golden doodle) puppy to see my parents in memory care... was amazing and heart warming. I had told my mom that I was planning to get this new puppy... and she usually forgets most everything from day to day or even from one hour to the next.. well.. she didn't forget about the puppy and kept asking me about it. When I did bring the puppy.. both my parents were outside in the yard at the memory care... and I let him go to run up to them.. the look on her face.. was sheer happiness.. I hadn't seen that from her in a long long time. She scooped up the puppy and held him. I hadn't seen her so alive in so long. Since I got the puppy. I have already taken him several times to visit and all the residents come alive when they see him as well. They smile, my mom smiles, even my Dad smiles. On Father's Day I went to visit and left the pup at home. My mom asked why I didn't bring him. It sounds like such a small thing, but mom rarely remembers from one hour or even minute to the next, much less something from the day before. I just thought it was such a sweet and rare moment... to see a ray of happiness from her, and for her to remember something from the day before. The pup will definitely be visiting more. :)