Tuesday, November 26, 2013

What do you put on your cornflakes?

Yesterday morning I put George's cornflakes out ready for him. Luckily I watched him. He got out a ready mix bottle of gin and tonic. I was able to stop him and he got out the milk when I told him to and put those on...

He went to his club for the day while I went to see Mum. She was asleep while she drank a chocolate milkshake and then she woke up and stayed pretty alert while I was there. I did her hair as she enjoys that and then massaged her hands. I have bought some lavender oil to do that. We chatted about the old days,looked at videos and I read nursery rhymes.

Sunday, November 24, 2013

The layered look

This morning George was up at 4.30 (before that as he woke me then). He had clothes on over his pyjamas. It is warm here. He had on long john, thermal underwear, under his pyjamas. Over the top of his pyjamas he had on one pair of pants and two shirts, including one flannelette one. I left it so that the caregiver could use some of the clothes when he had had a shower.

I put his cornflakes in a bowl. He poured hot water over them resulting in some awful looking stuff. I got him to get the milk out of the fridge and got him some more cornflakes.

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Demanding

Something I find is that people with Alzheimer's  are very demanding with regards to your attention. An example of this was today when George wanted to know the names of two old All Blacks who were in the 1972 tour with him.. At the time I was in the garden and he came and stood there until I left what I was doing to come inside and turn the Internet on. Once I looked the two names up he then got me to write down all the names for him.

Mum has always been like this too. I remember that she wanted a new dresser which we then went and got. I took it out of my car and put it in her garage. I said I would get my son to help me with it. He said he would help next weekend which I told mum. I then went down to bee her and she was getting all the bits out of the box. I had to revise what I had planned to do and build the dresser while mum watched offering advice as I did it.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Dressing

During the weekend George does not have any come in to help him dressing etc. this morning he woke up late and came out wearing his pyjama pants with a pair of shorts over the top! I had to go to see Mum so I got his breakfast, put on a DVD for him to watch while I was away.

George eats a lot all day. I also left him two plates of biscuits and cake as well as a large cake of chocolate. He had eaten all of it by the time I got home. I then got him lunch...

I have asked people who deal with those with Alzheimer's if they find the hot weather effects them more and they have all said that it certainly does so it is not just my imagination that George is more confused.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Confusion

At the moment George is very confused. Last night he wanted a movie on. I put one on which had some of his favourite stars including Audrey Hepburn. He could not recognise any of them.

We have received voting papers. George insisted on looking after these papers. Last night he went to get the papers and brought me back a piece of scrunched up toilet paper.

He woke at 4.30 am and told me that he wasn't putting up with this ant more - The Star was scooping The Press and he had to do something about it. I told him he could but he needed to go back to sleep just now. He was extremely agitated about The Star scooping their stories!

Sunday, November 17, 2013

The Little Green

Thank God for the Little Green!

Last night George got up to go to the toilet. I was asleep. This morning I found that he had piddled all the way down the hall and, of course all over the toilet floor.

Guess what my first job was this morning!

All I can think is that he took his pants off before going out of the bedroom.

He has been pretty confused most of the weekend although he had a long and lucid conversation with an old friend on the telephone and also followed a rugby game on T.V. with great clarity. You just never know what the next hour will bring.

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Fairies

There are fairies at our house...

This morning all the cutlery was mixed up in different drawers. Things regularly go missing and I need to hide things so George doesn't put them in with his stuff. Often I find my clothes in his wardrobe; one morning I found him trying to put on some of my jeans - he was able to get them up to his knees.

This weekend he has been very confused all weekend. I therefore took him out for coffee after I had visited Mum on Saturday and then again today. Every time I go out he wants to come and always expects me to take him for coffee and some food. In his own way he is very like Mum - they are both very demanding with attention. One night this week he woke me up to tell me about a film he had seen.  I cannot say that I was particularly interested but you have to concentrate on what they are saying.

Today he dressed himself. He had on pj pants with track pants over the top (inside out), a pj top and jersey over the top. I redressed him before we went out...

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Different cultures

Was talking to a friend recently and we were talking about the attitudes of different cult ures towards the elderly. In many cultures the elderly are respected and looked after within the family.

In our culture this is often not the case. Now many families are spread throughout the world and have their own lives to lead which can mean that many elderly people have to cope without family members. It is such a shame both for the elderly and many family members who often do not know these members of their family very well. Even those with Alzheimer's have things to offer their families. Don't forget to have patience and to spend time with other members of your family, it is through doing that that you may learn a lot about yourself.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Confused

Each day is different when you are dealing with someone with Alzheimer's.

Yesterday George was in a confused state most of the day. When he is like this I need to just accept that I am going to need to devote my whole attention to him.

Interestingly while we were driving we heard that an old rugby player had died. This was someone George knew and also interviewed but he told me he had never heard of him. George used to be known as the great rugby brain.

That night he was finally less confused and told me all about this person!

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Getting dressed

George has a caregiver to help him shower and dress each week day morning but often tries to dress himself first. This morning he had on a jersey - inside out and a pair of trouser - also inside out but with a belt around them. He changed the trousers for a second pair - right way on and then changed them again for a pair of pyjama pants...

The caregiver is wonderful and takes no notice and just takes him away to shower and dress.

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Signs of Alzheimer's

I have noticed that when George is showing more signs of confusion than usual it is when his bottom lip goes slack. I have noticed this on many of those with the disease. At times like this it is very difficult to leave them alone.

George has been like this most of the weekend. He often sits and goes through papers, pulling stuff out, cutting things out of magazines and papers to add to his piles of stuff. He also requires being fed at regular intervals; for example he needs at least half a dozen biscuits or several muffins for morning and afternoon tea as well as a proper lunch and tea. His arms and legs are extremely thin although his torso is not.

Today I was out mowing the lawn. After I put the mower away he went and got it out again for me to mow the lawns (helping me!!). He had left a pair of socks on the sofa in the lounge and I asked him if they were dirty and if so to put them in the washing machine for me. I then saw him stuffing one sock way down inside the other; why I am not too sure.

Mum is now very thin although she is still eating well. She is no longer able to walk or stand and sits in a chair all day. Often she stays asleep while I am there although she eats with her eyes closed. Other times she is awake and alert. At times she will have a lucid moment but these are few and far between; most of the time she garbles as she has lost most of the language. She appears to listen and likes me reading nursery rhymes to her. Some days her eyes are glazed but other days they are focused on what is happening and on you. Unfortunately when she is alert she also becomes anxious and grabs at things and at you.

Friday, November 1, 2013

Watch them...

Each morning I get George his coffee,put out his pills and put his cornflakes on a bowl.

Last night we had some friends around for drinks and nibbles.

This morning instead of milk George had put red wine on his cornflakes.