My dad and step mom had been married 31 years. They were very codependent!! She passed away 2 weeks ago and although my dad "seems" to have taken it well, he can't stand to be on his own (it's the reason my mom divorced him - super bad!). He lives at an assisted living facility but, due to Covid-19, is under restrictions (i.e. no family allowed). I'm allowed to see him an hour a day, Monday through Friday, because along with Alzheimer's he also has Stage 3 colon cancer - I am considered an " essential caregiver." I have companion care coming in twice a day, seven days a week to help him cope but it's expensive and I don't know when the facility will tell me it's not allowed. Any ideas on how to get/keep companionship for him? He's so lonely and moving in with me is not an option. I would say he's in stage 5 out of 7 of Alzheimer's.
I also read to her over the phone. She has macular degeneration along with dementia so changing channels and watching tv is difficult. We read about many celebrities that she remembers on Wikipedia and then from magazines like Life that are focused on one person’s life ie Lucille Ball and Betty White and many on Walt Disney her favorite. She has a few books that she read many times and likes to hear those.
We found a phone that has a large keypad but also buttons across the top that allow us to program several phone numbers in. All she needs to do is pick up the receiver and push #1 to call me. It dials all the numbers plus mine that are required for her to make a call. This has been great! agecomfort.com is the site
Good luck to all.
Are there things that your dad can still enjoy doing? Things he can do to keep busy? Puzzles, building things, putting things together, taking things apart? Organizing things? Sorting things? Gardening? What are his interests?
My mother loves flowers. So, I bought 4 plastic shallow vases with the floral foams inside, and a load of plastic flowers from the dollar store. I put the vases and flowers in 4 places in her room. She then arranges the flowers and really enjoys doing it. When she's not in her room, I undo the flower arrangements so that she can start again. This keeps her busy for a while. I also pile a bunch of clean clothes and hangers on her bed and I tell her I just washed them and ask her to hang and put them away. That keeps her busy too. Today I showed her an album of her pictures. Thought she might like to flip through, but not much interest. I'm still thinking of what else my mother can do on her own. She's at late stage Alzheimer's, similar to your dad.
You are very thoughtful to help your mom in her stage of life.
What a sweet posting. Very encouraging to others.
I think in general men feel the loss of their spouse more than women.
If my mom had died before my dad, my dad would have had a very rough time. Mom missed him terribly but she held it together fairly well.
Hoping that your dad will transition peacefully and will be at peace and join her in the afterlife.
I do believe we are reunited with loved ones when we leave this world.