Update on Denise Nickerson

That’s the same Denise Nickerson who starred in DARK SHADOWS and WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, for those non-fans who might not immediately have recognized her name. You may recall that Denise suffered a stroke some time back, and then a fall and a broken hip, and then a *second* broken hip. I have provided updates on her condition intermittently since. Unfortunately this week I have some sad news to convey, as Denise’s recovery seems to have reached a terminus.

The effects of the stroke on her mentality have seriously affected her behavior. Denise’s son and daughter-in-law have been keeping her at home, providing the care she needed, but Denise has deteriorated to the point that they can no longer do so. They didn’t want to have to put her in a home, but they have realized that it is simply beyond them to continue to care for her at home. She requires more care and attention than they can provide, and this is even after daughter-in-law Jasmine quit her job to stay at home with Denise. But neither Jasmine nor her husband Josh are medical professionals, and that is what Denise is in need of. I’m sure they feel guilty, but they shouldn’t. They should be praised for the effort they made to care for their loved one, and for realizing that there is a limit to what they can offer.

The next step, though, is to find the right place for Denise.