Toilet issues

As George has become more incontinent some of the issues I face are:

• He now wears continence pull ups which work great while they are on - the trick is keeping them on
• He will go to the toilet (and get urine all over the floor) and then come out to the lounge with he pants and pull ups in his hand - luckily this has not happened when we have had visitors
• He will bring toilet paper out of the toilet (I do not keep spare rolls in the toilet any more)
• At night he would get up and take his pants off and then wee all the way down the hall to the toilet - I have found a onesie on at night ensures that he can't get it off
• I find I need to clean the toilet floor a couple of times a day (as well as the toilet)

I know people wonder why we haven't gone away for a trip - this is why.

Night time antics

George woke up late this morning. I had slept through his prowling. He had been in the spare bedroom and been through the wardrobe, including the top cupboards. He had also been out to the garage.

When he got up he had on, over the top of the onesie, a pair of suit pants, a pair of pyjama pants, a shirt and a jersey. This something he will do for no particular reason. It does create a lot of washing.

Respite care

It is a long time since George has been in a Home to give me some respite care. I have booked him in for a week later this month. It is often difficult to find a Home which provides respite care. What will I do? Initially I thought I would go away but on looking at the price of airfares and accommodation I decided not to.

What is the purpose of this time for me? To give me a rest which is what I really need. I can do that just as well at home as anywhere else so that is what I have decided to. I will read books, have spas and hopefully get some sun!

Alive inside

A new movie, recently released and being shown in film festivals, is Alive Inside.it focuses on the power of music for those with Alzheimer's and the remarkable results the use of a headphones playing music that means something to that person. I have bought MP4 players and headphones and have been downloading free songs from the web to load up to the player. I am also doing a 'how to' page sheet for the home so the careers can put the headphones on and play the music for Mum. It will be interesting to see how it goes with each of them. In the movie a man who had not spoken for years started to talk again!

Best thing I have done since finding myself being here with Mum and George is to get the spa. I really look forward to having one each day, luxury.

What a mess

Today I got George two bowls of soup with toast for lunch. The next thing I found him at the table and he had obviously thought he needed more to eat. He had got himself a hunk of cheese, some marg, a spoon, a knife and was buttering a piece of paper to put the cheese on! I got him some cracker biscuits and then prepared them for him and cleaned up the mess. He thought he was being so good doing something on his own and retaining some independence.

Something George does is go to the toilet and come out holding his trousers and continence pants. Sometimes both are wet but not always. I just fix him up. Luckily no one has been here when this happens but the day may come...

Toilets

Something I think that is quite necessary to deal with an Alzheimer's person at home is two toilets. I am constantly cleaning our toilet but frankly George's needs come before my own and so many times I would like a toilet he did not use. I go in to use it and find I need to clean it first, not good if you are in a hurry!!

Down right embarrassing if a visitor wishes to use the toilet!!!

Television

I have never really seen why they do not have television on at my mother's home. I do now.

Last weekend we went out for breakfast at a lovely winery. Afterwards I asked George if he enjoyed it. He told me there was good and bad. I was slightly taken aback as it was a lovely meal in a lovely setting. I asked what was bad and he told me, in a forlorn voice, that he hadn't seen the horses. At first  I could not work out why he was saying that. Finally I worked out that we had watched a programme the night before about a herd of horses  being culled in the North Island. I explained to him that there were no horses and we had seen it on TV. That made little difference as he told someone else, the next day, the same thing.

George got up and was walking around and I asked him where he was going. He replied "to Townsville". I told him that was fine so he sat down again. There had been an ad on TV about Townsville. Another time, while watching the News, he got up to see the Prime Minister!

While none of these things were too significant I can now see how those with Alzheimer's find it difficult to distinguish between reality and fantasy.

Confusion

George has been very confused lately. I will see him heading outside and ask him where he is going. "To the toilet"

I then have to point out which door to go through. I remember mum being like this at times. I will also say, "come to the table for tea" and he will ask where the table is.

Today he went down to get the mail. He then took his pants off and peed all over them! Somehow he blamed everything being wet on the mail box. After I cleaned him up,put the next load of washing out I then made him a fresh ham sandwich. He then told me he couldn't eat it because it was wet. I explained that it wasn't but he just kept on bringing it to me saying it was wet. I said that it wasn't but he was sure it was because it came out of the box. I couldn't work out what box we were talking about for some time but finally worked out he was talking about the mailbox which,according to him,was where he got wet. Finally,in frustration, I got him over to the kitchen so he could watch me make another sandwich which he then ate.

My advice: don't try to work out what is going on in their minds and don't try to explain it to them, just do it in front of them and say what you are doing at the same time. I don't know if they understand any of it but it seems to work.

Up and down

Saturday was fine - I went to see Mum while George watched a DVD and I left out plenty of food. Sunday was really bad and I was left wondering how long he would be able to remain in the home situation however he is fine again today.

This morning, after the caregiver left, he described what he thought that the caregiver had done wrong - over and over!!! The best way to deal with this is ignore!! If I try to move away he just follows me so that one doesn't work.

We then went to the bank and shops so that diverted him and he has been fine. Got his nails cut again today. I must admit that while it is easy enough to cut my own I do not find it so easy to cut someone else's nails - the people who do this as a job do it well.

Eating

George eats normally with utensils for the most part but there are some things I have found:

1. Mandarins -  I peel them and segment them, he puts a segment in his mouth and chews and then spits out what is left (there are no pips in these ones) which leaves a big mess
2. Lamingtons - I gave him some creamed lamingtons (in halves) for dessert last night, he got himself a knife and fork to eat them - which indeed is what he did
3. Apples - I cored and cut into segments and he will just eat a bit out of each piece so I also need to peel them
4. Banana - I peel but he doesn't eat if there is any colour on them - cut that off then he is not aware

I do find food scraps in some very funny places and also his continence pants so these are things I need to keep an eye on.