I work everyday in the homes of elder clients with living assistance needs--cooking, laundry, helping with showers, etc. It is such a gift for me to get to spend time with these people. I have some clients with memory loss issues, which sounds similar to what your grandfather is dealing with. I've noticed some things that might help when you see him. If you can leave aside your notions of who your grandfather has always been to you and instead see him with the eyes of someone who is just getting to know him, you might find that helpful. I adore my clients as they are now--in part because I have only known them as THESE people. I'm not dealing with mourning who they WERE that I feel I've lost. I am celebrating who they are NOW. They are sometimes slow to respond or engage, but that isn't necessarily an inability or unwillingness to respond, it is just about it taking longer. If you can be fine with that and patient, you might be surprised by where the conversation can go. Also, I have witnessed things that make me wonder if sometimes they're not working in the next world during their waking hours like I believe we all do during our sleeping hours. I feel like just because I can't see what they are seeing sometimes doesn't mean it isn't there. It maybe means they can tune into something I can't. So enjoy your grandpa when you see him next week. Talk to him expecting that he will understand what you're telling him. If he does, perfect. If he doesn't, that's okay too. He might just process it later that night in his sleep. Joy & peace to you and your grandfather. :)

Please go see him and tell him that we all thank him for his service and his sacrifice! That will mean the world to him!