Senior Day in Knoxville

[DaddyChoc]

I think that her dementia is progressing maybe faster than she and everyone had hoped.. she looks lost on the sidelines, and her assistants are doing the bulk of the coaching.. I hope she relishes in the fact that she has had an absolutely amazing career, and can retire this year.. Cancer and dementia are two totally different diseases, and I think it'd be in Pat's best interest if this was her last season

I agree

 

[Icebear]

I think that her dementia is progressing maybe faster than she and everyone had hoped.. she looks lost on the sidelines, and her assistants are doing the bulk of the coaching.. I hope she relishes in the fact that she has had an absolutely amazing career, and can retire this year.. Cancer and dementia are two totally different diseases, and I think it'd be in Pat's best interest if this was her last season

Sadly the thing the horrid disease will do in the end is to rob Pat of the ability even remember those accomplishments let alone reflect on them. Many TN fans are in denial of the present reality of the situation and the changes in Pat are obvious to those with more distance.

 

[pinotbear]

I agree

In my personal experience, absolutely. My late wife died of cancer, and was pretty fully aware literally in the last hour of her life. My father was officially diagnosed with dementia just last spring, but, in hindsight, he'd been getting "quirkier" mentally for at least a couple of years. Cancer doesn't necessarily impede your mental process much. Dementia, by definition, does.

 

[stwainfan]

I think that her dementia is progressing maybe faster than she and everyone had hoped.. she looks lost on the sidelines, and her assistants are doing the bulk of the coaching.. I hope she relishes in the fact that she has had an absolutely amazing career, and can retire this year.. Cancer and dementia are two totally different diseases, and I think it'd be in Pat's best interest if this was her last season

I agree that she has had a amazing carrer. I agree that cancer and dementia are diffrent. Pat does puzzels and things everyday. How is she doing? Here is some recent comments from Chamique Holdsclaw's visit. How does she sound?

 

[Icebear]

Stwain, she does not sound very good if one knows what to be listening for. She essentially said nothing using base level social skills to cover her interaction and mimicking of the details interior to the social exchange. This is one thing one needs to be very aware of when evaluating dementia patient. I have one dementia parishioner who is a funeral director and a master at these skills professionally. He was able to hide his condition for a long time. One example of this is the particular way she cued off the interviewer's question about the book. She did not other any details about the materials only she read it and affirmed her pride in Holdsclaw. To truly evaluate a dementia patient one needs to ask them to bring up details from the past, such as, asking her to tell you details about an event involving Holdsclaw. Affirming relations and the emotions of an event are good masks that divert people off of the missing recall ability.

Doing puzzles is fine and good BUT how is she doing on those puzzles is more critical. If she wants to do the most helpful thing she can it is to learn a new language. None of this is unique to Pat, it is the battle every dementia patient wages. I presently have one member whose dementia is moving faster than Pat's and several whose in varying other stages. They range from a former engineer to teachers to blue collar workers and housewives. The causes of their dementia include old fashioned hardening of the arteries to Parkinson's to brain trauma to Alzheimer's. Whatever the cause it is a tremendously difficult disease to understand and deal with as a support member.

 

[stwainfan]

Yes she is proud of Holdsclaw. I admit I don't know much about dementia. What should one be looking for?

 

[Icebear]

Yes she is proud of Holdsclaw. I admit I don't know much about dementia. What should one be looking for?

Too often people think it is big things when in reality at this point it is about all the small things. It is not losing track of a word although that happens some times. It is about not being able to grasp and recall details and to put them into a meaningful context. It is about not being able to analyze things even things you have done your whole life like seeing and interpreting what is happening within a game. As I said earlier most of this is covered with social nicities, deferring to others in the guise of asking their opinion when one has been a Type A and Alpha personality in the past. It is repeating what others say and using simple forms of restatement to extend a conversation. All kinds of stuff like that. By the time it gets to the big things the process is all extended and has been occurring for some time in most cases. The more gifted a person isin social interaction the harder it can be to identify.

 

[Kait14]

Yes she is proud of Holdsclaw. I admit I don't know much about dementia. What should one be looking for?

I assume you're closer to the situation than us, so we can probably see things a little clearer from the outside looking in.. She was very motionless/emotionless on the sideline yesterday.. it's the first I've seen her since hearing she was diagnosed with Dementia and I immediately started to tear up.. Looking lost, confused, distant.. Eventually will forget everything she's accomplished.. She looked completely lost and distant yesterday.. You should read up on Dementia/Alzheimer's, you'll know more what's happening when you see her

 

[stwainfan]

I live about 2 hours away from Knoxville. All I go on is stuff from interviews, pat Summitt show. What others say like Maria on the Summitt said Pat is more involved than the camera shows.

 

[UcMiami]

The other thing that happens, and that I think points to why Pat is so 'passive' on the sideline, is that a person who understands they have early symptoms becomes distrustful of their emotions and perceptions. In private settings (practice, home) a 'mistaken' reaction is OK because everyone understands and the fall-out can be managed, but in a public situation the fear of making a 'mistake' takes over and the compensation is to become passive or as Icebear says, to fall back on formulas.
So I think Pat's actions in practice may be much more commanding than on the sideline. In that public environment she may not trust herself.

 

[UConnCat]

The other thing that happens, and that I think points to why Pat is so 'passive' on the sideline, is that a person who understands they have early symptoms becomes distrustful of their emotions and perceptions. In private settings (practice, home) a 'mistaken' reaction is OK because everyone understands and the fall-out can be managed, but in a public situation the fear of making a 'mistake' takes over and the compensation is to become passive or as Icebear says, to fall back on formulas.
So I think Pat's actions in practice may be much more commanding than on the sideline. In that public environment she may not trust herself.

That's a good point. I think her sideline demeanor during games is also (and perhaps largely) the result of a deliberate attempt to reduce her stress level. Research has shown that stress exacerbates alzheimer's and accelerates progression of the disease.

 

[Icebear]

That's a good point. I think her sideline demeanor during games is also (and perhaps largely) the result of a deliberate attempt to reduce her stress level. Research has shown that stress exacerbates alzheimer's and accelerates progression of the disease.

I am not sure that being passive reduces stress levels. In fact being passive can increase stress by a normally expressive personality type holding it in. The perception may be that it reduces stress but I see plenty of flaws in that belief.

 

[stwainfan]

The other coaches have taken on more. To help keep Pat's stress down. I think that's a good thing.

 

[Kait14]

The other coaches have taken on more. To help keep Pat's stress down. I think that's a
good thing.

I do too.. I just think it's so sad to see

 

[Icebear]

The other coaches have taken on more. To help keep Pat's stress down. I think that's a good thing.

Yes, they have by necessity. I don't think anyone would question them doing everything and anything they need to do to help Pat.

 

[stwainfan]

I understand that it's important for someone with this. To continue doing what they love to do.