For over a year, I have been receiving phone calls from an Alzheimer’s resident named Jenny Templeton in a Dallas Memory Care Center. She uses her cell phone to call me and her voicemails would tell me a bit of what she is struggling with. From Pablo not leaving her the right meds or she is seeking to make arrangements to see her daughter.
From what I gathered she thought she was dialing the director that handles resident concerns. Obviously, I am not and if I had more information I would have contacted the facility to manage her outgoing calls. Or at least help her with her call directory listing. I learned after writing this post that there are phone services for seniors living at home, in assisted living, and memory care communities that filters incoming and outgoing calls. It somehow stops the repeat dialing habits.
In the past, I remember listening to a church type of podcast tell a story about a preacher dialing a wrong number that saved a man from committing suicide. The preacher never knew until many years later when the overcomer shared his story with him. Once I received a call and the caller ID read, Mary the Son of Jesus Christ Church. The funny part of the story was that it happened after I finished praying specifically needing an answer from the Lord. I believe the Lord does work in mysterious ways, but He definitely has a sense of humor. Or maybe I see the humor in things. Surely, I am not the only one that thinks this way?
Maybe I’m Meant To Be The Wrong Number?
After the seventh repeat call from Ms. Templeton, I answered. I was forward and said, “Ms. Templeton, you have called my number for over a year now and it is the wrong number that you have dialed. This is not the director’s memory care phone line. Now, I don’t know if you are aware of that or not. From your voicemail it sounded like you are having some issues with your meds. I am willing to call the memory care center that you live at and I would be happy to call them to inform them so that you may hopefully receive immediate attention. Because dialing this number is not going to get your meds delivered. I’m sorry to be so direct, but you have called many times tonight.”
All I could hear was the sound of a television on. I thought, “Great! She is probably spooked! And doesn’t know what to say.” And then she called back and I answered again, “Ms. Templeton how may I help you this evening?” Still hearing the sound of a television and some light breathing. I had thoughts of this woman on the ground and there was nothing that I could possibly do for her.
She called again and I answered, “Ms. Templeton?” She immediately apologized for the late night repeat calls and that something is wrong with her. She sounded like she could not remember that she has Alzheimer’s. So I said it for her and continued, “Look, I’m sure you are very frustrated. You probably were a very independent woman and it’s a struggle. You have been calling this number for over a year now. And the only reason why I picked up is because you have made multiple calls in such a short time span and it sounded urgent enough that I would be willing to call the memory care center to let them know to come in and check on you. To give you the attention that you need. Can you tell me which memory center facility that you are currently living at?”
Of course, she told me she doesn’t know which memory care center she is at. I don’t know if I would be the last person she would speak to, but I figure to tell her something to ease her wandering mind. “Try to get some rest tonight. Close your eyes and think of some place where it just brought you joy and tomorrow wake up to address the staff to fix your medication. Have a blessed evening.”
She thanked me for trying to help her and she appreciated that I took her call. I know what I said is probably not the best thing to have said to her. I really hope Ms. Templeton finds her happy place and receives the care she needs. Now after that moment, I have been obsessing of all of these scenarios of what type of life that she had. Scenes from the Notebook or the Ya Ya Sisterhood come to mind. I also thought about well, what if she calls again…I could be the pen pal by phone? I could give her a greeting or maybe read to her.
I could go on an on, what would you have said if you received a call from an Alzheimer person that you have never met? Write me in the comments below.