A couple of years ago, my husband and I began a discussion to move to the city from our rural home. I recently went about finding one. We have a large beautiful home in the rural area, but couldn't afford anything of this size in the city. I found one that is a small cape cod with some charm. I am worried about moving him as a month ago he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. His dementia has a diagnosis now. Our kids were here over Christmas and he asked me where he slept now. Most of the day, he is pretty rational. Memory loss is the biggest problem. How should I expect his to respond to living in a different dwelling? I've already bought the house. I wish I hadn't.
I have heard the downside of moving a dementia patient, but my cousin had significant dementia when I moved her to a Memory Care facility and she did just fine.
The progression will take place and there are issues and challenges, but that is true even when there is no relocation.
When we took Mom to a nursing room we had her room all set up with familiar chair, her own bedspread and family pictures on the wall. It helped. She's been there going on two years and sometimes she is confused about where she is. How is she going to get home from the dining room? But as soon as we open the door to her room she brightens up. What she recognizes first are the plants on her window sill.
Make sure your husband has some "grounding" items in each room -- some things he will instantly recognize as "home."
The move may cause more confusion, but he is going to become more confused as time goes by, even in the house he has lived in for all his adult life. That is the nature of dementia.
We remained in our home together throughout my husband's 10-year dementia journey. Sometimes he desperately wanted to "go home." Sometimes he couldn't remember where our bedroom was, or how to get to the dining room. Don't blame every new confusion on the move. It happens.
Sometimes a move is necessary. The person has to be in the hospital, or in a care facility, or in a motel. It sounds like this move is necessary and will ultimately be good for both of you. Doing it now is better than doing it later. You are thinking ahead, and you will make this work!
Come back and keep us informed about how this goes.
With family visiting, he may have become overwhelmed, a bit confused, thought he was at their house. Maybe it was a simple request to go to bed, buf he was lost...
Take care.
Minimize talking so much about the move, the unknown may be causing him anxiety.
Lighten it up a bit and answer with this when he asks where he will be sleeping: "Always with me honey", smile, pat his hand to reassure him.