Jerry L Turner Jr

Letters to My Father, Jerry L Turner Jr

In these pages are three years of faithful letter writing from a son to his father with dementia. The first three chapters convey the lessons learned in writing letters. These address the mechanics, theory, and art of letter writing learned over this three-year journey. I started writing Dad out of love and frustration. I was frustrated he was three thousand miles away and there was nothing I could do. About eight years earlier, I started including dementia as an area of professional study. This study led me to offer Continuing Education Units to Elder Care Administrators throughout Southern California. Little did I know my own father would develop dementia a few years later. When he was diagnosed, I knew all too well the prognosis. I knew the certainty of memory loss, paranoia, and eventually death. Chapter five through eight are the letters sent over three years without fail. Although these chapters read more like a journal of my life, you will see the care I took to stay positive; to provide him with certainty I was doing all right while not sounding too Pollyanna. These letters were not written for you, remember when reading, the only intended audience was Dad. However, I share them here to provide insight, motivation, techniques, and examples of how to write to a loved one whom you know is unable to respond. Chapter four is the last letter. Dad will never read or hear it. His passing ended this letter writing exploration. I hope, one day, to have this last letter bronzed and attached to Dad's grave marker for all to ponder. About the Author Dr. Jerry Turner is a licensed educational psychologist in California. He has a Master's degree in psychology, Master's degree in educational psychology, and Doctor of Philosophy degree in relational psychology.