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My Grandfather lives independently on the North Pole and general does very well with the help of Grandma and about 100 diminutive aides. But every year on December 24th, he has what I can only call a "sundowning" episode. First, he has his aides load millions of toys on his homemade sleigh. Then he rounds up about 8 reindeer (9, if he can find the one with the weird red nose). He hitches them up to the sleigh and whistles and shouts and calls them by name, and off they go. We have no idea where he goes or why, but by morning he is back and the toys are all gone. I've tried to tell him that he's too old for this kind of thing and he shouldn't be driving, but he won't listen. It's making me crazy and I don't know what to do. Any suggestions?

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Time to pause for a new "clause" for Santa. LOL...
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He came home looking like he'd gotten stuck in a chimney, but couldn't remember, from what grandma said. She couldn't help but wonder if he'd eaten some of those cookies in Colorado...
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pargirl, I hope your Dad is okay. What is he being admitted for?

Thx for bringing levity to my Christmas with this thread.
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Newandtrying.....sitting here in the ER waiting for my dad to be admitted (again) and just now reading this with all the comments! Oh my gosh.....made my holiday!! You guys are the best!
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Grandma got run over by a reindeer
Walking home from our house Christmas eve
You can say there's no such thing as Santa
But as for me and grandpa we believe
She'd been drinking too much eggnog
And we begged her not to go
But she forgot her medication
And she staggered out the door into the snow
When we found her Christmas morning
At the scene of the attack
She had hoof-prints on her forehead
And incriminating Claus marks on her back
Grandma got run over by a reindeer
Walking home from our house Christmas eve
You can say there's no such thing as Santa
But as for me and grandpa we believe
Now we're all so proud of grandpa
He's been taking this so well
See him in there watching football
Drinking beer and playing cards with cousin Mel
It's not Christmas without Grandma
All the family's dressed in black
And we just can't help but wonder
Should we open up her gifts
Or send them back (send them back)
Grandma got run over by a reindeer
Walking home from our house Christmas eve
You can say there's no such thing as Santa
But as for me and grandpa we believe
Now the goose is on the table
And the pudding made of fig
And the blue and silver candles
That would just have matched the hair on grandma's wig
I've warned all my friends and neighbors
Better watch out for yourselves
They should never give a license
To a man who drives a sleigh
And plays with elves
Grandma got run over by a reindeer
Walking home from our house Christmas eve
You can say there's no such thing as Santa
But as for me and grandpa we believe
Singin' grandpa
Grandma got run over by a reindeer
Walking home from our house Christmas eve
You can say there's no such thing as Santa
But as for me and grandpa we believe
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Well, someone should take the reins from him.
Maybe a self-driving sleigh is the answer so he won't lose anymore reindeer.
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May be you could put a tracker on him? Also a 'door guard' so you know when he leaves.
Ooo How about a very very long lead from his wrist to Grand Ma's?
The aides could helps keep it straight.

But failing that you may need to get him a replacement/helper?
A Trainee for when needed.
By the way, I must be going a little bit more crazy. I swear I heard some sort of bells outside (when I was sundowning) lol
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I think I saw him kissing my sister underneath the mistletoe tonight too!
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Oh My! This is the last thing I am reading tonight. It doesn't get any better than this! I'm putting Christmas 2018 to bed. Thanks for this story and all the fun comments!
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I want to thank you for this. In a forum and thread so often full of such sadness, your post was such a bright and funny thought. Thank You for it. You have have lifted so many spirits. Thank you.
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I assume he’s back by now, probably sleeping off his sundowning adventure. I’m in grandpas corner on this one, hoping he can rest up, keep his help happy, and be around for a long while to come. Merry Christmas!
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Time to get a DPOA and contact an Elder Law Attorney, I think.

Merry Christmas to all!
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This reindeer got left behind!
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Hope an aide or two are tasked to keep Grandma out of harm's way when the sleigh comes home on Christmas Eve!
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Sendhelp Dec 2018
Everybody knows the sleigh won't be home til morning and Grandma will have breakfast ready, the elves will feed the reindeer....it is all good!
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Grandpa left with some new reindeer: "Tipsy, Buzzed, and tied to Blitzen".
He should not be driving this nite!
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I was just checking NORAD and they've spotted grandpa leaving the Falkland Islands and heading for Argentina... wish I had half his stamina 😆
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Sendhelp Dec 2018
Where is Grandpa now, CWillie?
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He says, "look, I still have my sleigh driving license so that means I can still drive"!
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NewandTrying, oh dear, so Grandpa wanders on Christmas Eve. I believe the reindeer know the route and have built in GPS so they can get Grandpa safely home. I would just let the jolly old fellow enjoy his night :)
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Moderating this Christmas Eve, and this might be the best thing I've read all year. Thank Grandma and the rest of Grandpa's care team for supporting him, and remind them he might need a little bit of extra sleep for the next few days. I'll keep a watch out for him here in Naples. If he needs some cookies and milk, he can pop in here at any time, we'll leave out a plate.
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My only advice is to keep him away from the eggnog and rum. But please feel free to enjoy one...and I’ll join you! 🥂
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Oh he does have a reindeer with a very shiny nose that you can even say it “glows”? Well maybe for just this night....
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