So the phone rings at 5:00am. I hate it when the phone rings an hour before the alarm clock hoes off. It's her and she is in near hysteria because she doesn't have a car and doesn't know how she's getting to her dr. appointment. She hasn't had a car for almost three years AND yesterday we talked about the plan for her appointment. So I tell her her appointment isn't for 5 1/2 hours - that it's 5am and re explain how she's getting to it. She's not listening - just repeating the car thing and edging herself closer to hysteria. Finally I tell her again that it's 5am and that she needs to go back to bed and I hang up. Hubby who could hear her rant says "urinary track infection?" I say "probably". He goes back to sleep - I get up and start the coffee. What amazes me is how she made it to the phone and managed to dial my number - two things she has need total assist with for over two months now.
So sorry you are starting the downhill journey with your Mother. It is amazing how they can have brief moments of clarity and then sink back down to their own world. I had to learn to laugh at their ironic situations, and then act as the grownup like you did.
Good luck, and I hope you can keep your sense of humor. Your husband will be your rock through this journey like mine was.
One phone call Dad told me a nurse said that Mom walked 20 minutes and he thinks he can bring her home the end of that week. I am thinking Mom hasn't eaten in two months and is terrified to stand up. This didn't make sense. Turns out it was Mom who told Dad she walked 20 minutes.
Today's phone call, Dad said Mom ate her whole lunch by herself, he was so excited. Maybe Dad caught Mom in a moment of clarity, but I think he is seeing what he wants to see. I will need to go to the nursing home at lunch or dinner time and see what really happens.
'It's 3:00, Mom. Go back to bed."
"I need one of those little white pills. Please... please..." She won't let up until I get up and get her one. Darn those little white pills.
And thank goodness majority of fax machines have been replaced by scans on e-mails. How I hated being awaken by someone on the other side of the country faxing using a miss-dialed telephone number.... I use to yell into the receiver that this isn't a fax machine because it would still try again and again hoping to get a fax tone.
But I do hate it when others are mean, just because they have dementia and cannot help it. Is there real help for them?
she would call every 15 minutes forever.