I’ll go first. I’m Houston, Texas. It’s Saturday, September 4, 2021, 9:00 pm. I’m alternating between reading here on the forum and playing Free Cell and Spider Solitaire on my computer.
I’m doing okay, thanks to all of you. Your support and your inspiration helps me stay motivated. Today was better than a lot of previous days, it was a good day!
Thank you ALL for your supportive caring and sharing!
I’m glad I found this forum, don’t remember how that came about. My wife and I are just getting started (2 years) down the long road of this damned dementia disease. I’m learning a lot from you and others on here. You all, or most of you, have the experience of having been caregivers for quite some time, even years. So I am learning from you. The one thing that sticks out in my mind is “pick your battle”.
fuzzyknot, as I told you the other day, you have a talented way of writing that I find both inspirational and, at times, very humorous. Keep it up, please!!
Me? I'm going to bed, maybe, but only if I can un-glue myself from this forum.
Thank you for reading and especially for commenting. I appreciate that a lot.
Earlier today LO drove me bonkers with her lift chair, going from it to her rollator and back many, many times. Then she started tilting the chair forward, standing up and while standing, she would lower it and then sit down in it. This went on for half an hour. “Why are you doing that?” “I don’t know how the control for the chair works.” Only two buttons and her brain doesn’t always remember how the controller works. I remembered some brush out back that needed burned up. I put a movie on for her and out the door I went. I did come back in at medication times for her.
So I had about three hours relaxing out back.
Sorry! That was kinda long, huh? At least I feel better getting it off my chest.
It was a lovely evening here. Hoping the rest of the long weekend is lovely too because I am taking her to my brother's place for a few hours visit, and plan to escape on a little hike with a friend and maybe a bit of a patio sit. I love reading this forum, but have been a lurker more than a participant.
What I learned from your answer is this: I posted this for all of us to get to know each other better. Getting things off our chest is GOOD, I hope more people will do the same, just "Let it ALL out". Because it always feels good to get things OUT!
When you say, "Doctors are lovely to her, but not overly interested in what is going on cognitively". There's a reason for that, many times. I learned that one reason they are not interested in what is going on cognitively is because there is no hope for fixing it. There's not much they can do to make this better. So they concentrate on what they can treat and/or make better.
Thank you for visiting my post, that means a lot to me.
I did as she suggested, read the instructions first and then took my time assembling the table. It was relaxing! Then I made dinner and cut up and served her some watermelon. After that it was her bedtime. Now I’m going to take a look at CareBlazers (is that the right name?) on YouTube. See what I can learn about Sundowning.
Guess I’m tired and not paying attention.
There are some YouTube videos concerning caregiving for dementia/alz patients. Teepa Snow’s videos are good as well as Dementia Careblazers, both on YouTube.
I've gotten side-tracked and discombobulated . . . again . . . so I haven't been able to interact properly. This is THE reason I was hesitant to start participating again . . . distractions and discombobulation-ness!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for doing what you do.
I hope you’re doing better. I sensed you were going through a rough spot and hoped you would be back after you got through it. We need your inspiring messages on this forum.
No thanks necessary. I just know how I feel being welcomed to a group and wanted to say “welcome” any new-comers. I hope I didn’t scare them away.
Hope y’all have a peaceful, pleasant weekend. Maybe let us know how it goes/went, ok?
We’ve had the lift chair about two years now. The incident I mentioned the other day was the first time she’s done that. Some times she will tilt the chair all the way back and not remember how to tilt it to get herself up. “Help. I’m stuck!” It’s funny but it isn’t.
I’m fortunate that she and I can still talk every day stuff, within reason. I’ll ask her at times how she would cook something and then make it her way. We’re discussing moving to a AL facility with MC. She does well talking about that. As I said somewhere we’re newbies to this. Glad I found this forum.
OldArkie, keep in touch. Don’t be a stranger.
Definitely get an eldercare attorney to help you through all the legal stuff you will need to take care of and the sooner the better. You can look under Care Topics (at the top of this page) fir Elder Law info and discussions.
I know where you're coming from! My wife listens to every thing I say, wants to know who I am writing to and about what, and offers advice on problems that arise (however ridiculous they are). As I write, she is asking if I went to the doctor yesterday...I went to a cardiology appt. for 6 month checkup for my stents, and we discussed it all day yesterday and I repeated it numerous times. She doesn't remember I went. We are treating a eye infection she had and must put eye drops every 3 hours. I get up and drop them in; sit back down, and a couple minutes..."I need some eye drops". You near have to be a psychiatrist to care for them, and no one can appreciate your particular problems and difficulties because every AD patient is different!
I haven't learned, yet, how to navigate this forum. When I leave and come back, it is hard to locate the thread I was following or even my old posts!
I meant to ask... does your wife have problems staying warm? All summer I have suffered in sweltering heat (80 degrees and more) same in winter! Keeps furnace running constantly! My doctor says it is common in old folks. When he goes to nursing home, nurses are all sweating in heat. I am going to try getting her a sleeping bag and put in her chair to keep her warm. I could go on and on! Nice meeting you, a sympathetic soul! :-)
More...........
Do you ever find your situation overwhelming? I have had it for several progressingly regressive years! Transforming to full time caregiver, housekeeper, cook, maintenance man (carpet cleaning my specialty) laundry man, counselor...
So far, I can sorta' keep up but, but one little hitch, could screw up the works!
My wife hasn’t reached the “I’m cold” stage yet. I saw my parents go through that so I know what you mean.
I do get stressed out sometimes but not what I would call overwhelmed, at least not yet. Maybe it’s in my DNA to be a caregiver, maybe because I had been a respite caregiver for LO’s of terminally ill patients who were in hospice. I just seemed to fall right in to caring for my wife when she was first diagnosed. I’m sole caregiver, doing it all same as you.
I often ask God to take care of me so I can help Him take care of my wife. I also ask Him to handle the day for me because I can’t do it on my own. Prayer works!
Happy Saturday everyone, have a great weekend!
I HEAR YOU when you say "I often ask God to take care of me so I can help Him take care of my wife." That is what gets us through difficult times on this caregiving journey.
I hope all is well with you and your wife, best wishes to you both.
Happy Friday AgingCare Friends!
"Weekends are a bit like rainbows; they look good from a distance but disappear when you get up close to them." ~Quote~ John Shirley
Wishing you Joy & Peace and all the Love & Happiness your heart can stand.
Have a Great Weekend Everyone!
Have a beautiful weekend.
We are finally going to be in the 80s and we are spookier looking forward to it.
Great big warm hug for all who need one!