I'm an only child and have taken care of my mom who is totally blind and has dementia. I placed her in a nursing home this month. After 3 weeks she is barely eating and has lost 8 lbs. She is always calling for help because she thinks she is alone. It seems nursing homes don't have activities for the blind or sight impaired. They just sit around hoping someone will engage them in conversation. I'm running myself crazy trying to be there everyday and keep her company. Does anyone else have this issue? I'm stressed, crying and having continuous headaches. I feel guilty when I don't visit even if I'm sick. I feel hopeless 😩
If you have the funds, you might try hiring a companion for a few hours a day to keep her company. Is your mother bedridden? Perhaps the companion could take her for walks (using the wheelchair if needed) or read to her. What kinds of activities did she do at home?
When she could hear things around her better, she didn't feel so alone. I could reassure her from the other room that I was right there. Your mom may be able to experience the same reassurance if she can hear better, but I don't want to get your hopes up because it sounds like your mom is declining because losing weight like that isn't good for elders. :-/ I want her to have as much comfort as she can, though, and there are a few things that you can try.
There are things called "fidget mats," for people who can't see, to play with in their laps. I've never seen one in person, but it seems like something my grandmother would have liked.
Can you ask the staff that whenever they go by mom's room, that they give her a piece of her favorite hard candy? At this stage, it won't hurt her any, and my grandmother loved it. Keeping a big candy bowl full in her room, asking staff to give her a piece... it could help to give her a moment of fun in her day.
Those are my thoughts at the moment. I hope AC group can come up with more ideas for you. :)
He does love his old country music though!!!
Be there for her during the evening hours, or late afternoons consistently, talk to her, read books to her, say goodnight, say when you will be back.
Ask someone to answer her when she is calling out for help. You can prepare a script and post it so an aide can reassure her when you are not there.
When I visited a patient in a nursing home, she was repetively calling out
"I'm hungry". I looked over around the curtain, and said I will go get someone to help you. Someone will be coming shortly.
She stopped calling out. I told a nurse on the way out who explained that is common, but they will check in on her.
The patient that I was visiting motioned no, shhhh, don't speak to her. What was wrong with giving her neighbor a moment's peace from calling out, I just don't understand. I speak to strangers in need. So sue me.