OK, My Mom is 85 yrs old.. and in a locked ALZ Assisted Living facility-- In the last 2-3 weeks she has (Out of loneliness) allowed a man to become her 'friend' in her late stage confusion, she allows him in her room- many times a day as they roam up down halls- I have heard or found them sitting in her room w/ door locked.. Today I come in to sneak visit- he has his pull up off, lying on floor- but pants on.. and his toothbrush and a few otehr personal belongings in there as he is looking thru her closet.. Im upset that staff dosent try harder to 'redirect' and get them engaged in an activity or something.. (3) staff on floor- not really busy--just chatty around desk.. The Admin dosent seem too worried either- he says if she invites him in, then they cant really make it stop. Especially when the staff comes to ask him to leave she gets mad at them too- Gets territorial of her room w/ staff.. just slams door and locks it.. Many times staff cant even get IN the room- if med nurse w/ key not on floor or not available..Admin knows this-- I said he will HAVE TO have a key avail at all times.. *next time I hear no key.. Im reporting to Social Services and the Fire Dept. -- So, My Mom was a Minister for 40 years, married over 30- and before the late stages, happy to be single-- and sex free.. Now, she is so lonely-- and this man is all thats available- Her confusion wants to care for him.. and if it goes to that level-- I do NOT believe she is capable of making such a decision.. She has a servants heart-- and is always helping the other residents like a nurse.. and this allowing him in .. is just an extension of hospitality.. I think the staff should redirect and curtail the ALONE TIME in the room- but Admin, not behind me.. and I dont think it will be enforced.. I wish she was OUT! I have no options right now.. But God has to open up something and soon ! Any Advice would be great..
I understand where you're coming from. Take all the details out of the equation and it's probably a good idea for a NH to have a rule about spending time in other residents rooms. You're clearly not in agreement that it's ok where your mom is concerned and you're frustrated at the lack of action the NH is taking to prohibit this.
Having said that and having been a member on this forum for a long time I don't think anyone was deliberately being condescending. You ended your initial post with "Any advice would be great." But later you amended that to wanting advice from "like-minded individuals". I'm sorry we disappointed you but you seem like a woman of strong spiritual convictions who doesn't need reassurance that the actions you're taking are right. If you object to your mom being alone with this guy and you don't want her to be in a delicate situation that may enable her to behave in a way she wouldn't ordinarily behave if she didn't have dementia then you know what the right thing is and you're taking steps to ensure that your mom is not taken advantage of. My dad was in a nursing home and when we had a big problem I had to bang on a lot of doors and make a lot of noise to get any kind of a resolution. You may have to do the same.
From one Christian to another allow me to say that your mom may enjoy her friendship with this man. When our loved ones have dementia or ALZ we have to make all kinds of adjustments because their personality changes, sometimes daily. Trying to hold our loved ones to previously held beliefs and standards is a losing battle and in direct contradiction to the disease. Before her dementia set in maybe she loved chicken. Now that she has ALZ maybe she hates it. Just an example of how the personality of our loved ones changes. With dementia and ALZ everything we ever knew or believed about our loved one goes right out the window. This is the new normal. And if your mom finds contentment sharing company with this man why is that so wrong? I don't think spending time behind closed doors is a good idea in a NH just for this reason. You're her daughter and you object and your objection should be heard and respected but bigger picture? I don't see anything wrong with it.
If you need support because you are caring for your mom this is the place to be. You won't find better or more caring support anywhere on the internet. And if you don't care for the advice you can come to just vent. But if you just need people to agree with you then this probably isn't the best site since we all have our opinions and our experiences that we share with eachother without judgement or condemnation.
Now to your other issue. What is the worse thing that can happen other than him murdering her in her locked room. They may have sex. You would not be the first relative who has removed their loved one from a facility because they had found a new partner and were enjoying some happiness in their final otherwise bleak years. Some people even get married. Your mother is no longer married and may have said she was happily sex free but remember part of this disease is the loosing of inhibitions Being a minister has nothing to do with it, she enjoyed 30 years of marriage and must have had sex at least once to conceive you.
You and others may find my reply offensive and believe those old people must be prevented from sexual activity at all costs. That is your right but please consider the happiness of your loved one. Have you noticed that she has become more content with her lot since she began this friendship?
I will leave you with the information that Ruth Batter -Ginsberge the Supreme Court Justice (hope I spelt her name correctly) has a husband who is in the advanced stages of this dreadful disease and no longer recognizes her. He is cared for in a facility and has formed a relationship with another woman. This compassionate and wise woman has given her blessing to this friendship.
Your mom was a minister for 40 years. I was gungho into my new religion for 3 years. Your mom had 40 years of deeply ingrained beliefs in God and His principles. She not only preached about it, but lived her life accordingly.
I think you all are forgetting something. Even when my mom was 99.9% into her dementia and did not see us or recognize us, She Was Still Inside!!! If you all are observant and KNOW your parent, I bet you saw that Rare old personality. We all were there when mom had a very short few seconds in the HERE and NOW moment. She was staring at her favorite child - my oldest bro. We All saw her eyes resting on him with such intensity. You see, mom hasn't spoken or had an alert look in her eyes for years. That day, we all saw her looking at bro. Scared him silly. Then there was the times when father was physically or verbally abusing me, she became physically agitated. You see, while growing up, mom protected us from father. And sometimes, when I'm quietly talking to her, and she has this spaced out vacant look in her eyes, suddenly, tears will fall down. Towards the end of mom's life, she had tears falling down her eyes.
So, I just want to remind you all, that sometimes we may think that they're gone, but they could still be inside - the Old personality parent. So, if your mom has been a minister for 40 years, I wonder what she feels like being trapped inside her body and mind Seeing what is happening. Yes, her dementia is doing this to her, but I bet her old self is inside, trapped.
I wish you all could have read the poster here on AC who had dementia. He wrote from his perspective. He wrote how he could hear what people said about him but he could not respond because he was stuck inside, lost, trying to find his way out. So, Hvluv, go with your instincts. It's correct.
This is an issue of the moral fiber of my Mom, for the entire 50 years I have been her daughter, abstaining is what she would choose.then and now. Protecting that is what I am supposed to be doing.. while still allowing a friendship- Staff's job is to supervise to see this is accomplished. Debating God's morality and our content within that guideline isnt what I was looking for here in my post.. I am looking for (like-minded) individuals who have dealt with this and have found support or ideas/suggestions.. Mabe this is just not the forum to take it to?
I had a neighbor who had Alzheimer's. He went into a nursing home, fell in love with a woman and who knows what went on. His wife was fine with it. The man she knew and loved was long gone.
Other than safety issues, I would let it go if she is happy.
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