Sometimes George wakes before me, like this morning. He had pulled all the clothes out of the wardrobe and there were piles in every room of the flat. Guess who had to put them away. He actually has no idea why he does some of these things and often doesn't think he has. When this sort of thing happens (and it does frequently) you are better just to say nothing and clean up after them. You often get the feeling that you are going round in circles.
This morning he was very restless (sundowning in the morning!). So after a shower and a nurse changing his catheter bag I took him out to a shopping mall. It is bitterly cold outside so thought that this would be a good option. We then walked from one end of the mall to the other - good exercise. By then he started to say he was tired. We had a cold drink and then walked back to the other end where I got him a cream freeze ice cream. He enjoyed all that and he seems more settled now.
At the moment our regular caregiver is on annual leave so we are having all sorts coming. Each one you need to explain exactly what to do, have everything ready for them and be on hand to help them. George finds it difficult to cope with a pile of different people in and out.
Luckily this all ends next week.
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Infections
When someone with Alzheimer's has an infection their confusion increases. Since Sunday this has been really noticeable with George. I have noticed that before he has the antibiotics each day he will be really confused but soon after taking his medication he is really good. With George it is easy to see when he has an infection due to the catheter whereas with mum the confusion would become more noticeable and then the infection would be diagnosed. When the person is incontinent this becomes difficult to manage and it is really important to make sure that they are regularly changed and that everything is clean. Unfortunately in homes it is not always possible for everyone to be showered every day and so often they are only given a wash.
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Carer support
To enable family to keep those with Alzheimer's in their own homes the hospital board assesses these peoplr and provides some help in order to achieve this. George has someone coming each day to help him shower and dress. This also helps to minimise the risk of a fall as well as helping them to be clean and dressed appropriately. George has lost many cognitive skills and no longer knows the parts of his body. For example when I asked him to put a sock on his foot - I handed him the sock. He pulled it on to his hand. As he is incontinent it is essential he has a shower every day. At the moment one of the carers is away on annual leave. HealthCare, who provide the carers, sometimes let me know but more often or not don't. This is really frustrating and I am frequently waiting for someone to appear.
Yesterday, having heard nothing, I rang to find out who was coming today, they were not able to find someone to do it but they hadn't bothered to let me know. This makes life very difficult. UnfortunAnglo these people are oot
Yesterday, having heard nothing, I rang to find out who was coming today, they were not able to find someone to do it but they hadn't bothered to let me know. This makes life very difficult. UnfortunAnglo these people are oot
Monday, April 6, 2015
Easter
George seems a bit better today but a bit confused. A nurse came round this morning and changed the catheter as well as the day bag. Afterwards I took him down to Brighton for coffe and a chicken and cranberry pie which is his favourite.
Last night I felt so blessed with the best Easter present ever. I was so lucky to have a visit from my Dad. This is the first time he has come back and was so special. Many years ago my grandfather came back, how lucky am I? Dad told me how proud of me he was, how much he loved me and how he approved of everything I have done since January 2001. He knew all I had done which astounded me and he fully supported all the things I have done. He said there was nothing he would change, that I had done the right things which gave me confidence as it can be difficult thinking how you could have done things differently; not a hint of a criticism. He told me that of course he expected nothing less from me - sounded so like the things he used to say to me. I have always felt that Dad and my grandfather are with me steering me in certain directions and Dad said that that was exactly right. I felt an incredible sense of wellbeing and so blessed. Strangely enough a nurse at the hospital that day told me I had angels watching over me...
Today I have been mulling over his visit and everything he said.
Last night I felt so blessed with the best Easter present ever. I was so lucky to have a visit from my Dad. This is the first time he has come back and was so special. Many years ago my grandfather came back, how lucky am I? Dad told me how proud of me he was, how much he loved me and how he approved of everything I have done since January 2001. He knew all I had done which astounded me and he fully supported all the things I have done. He said there was nothing he would change, that I had done the right things which gave me confidence as it can be difficult thinking how you could have done things differently; not a hint of a criticism. He told me that of course he expected nothing less from me - sounded so like the things he used to say to me. I have always felt that Dad and my grandfather are with me steering me in certain directions and Dad said that that was exactly right. I felt an incredible sense of wellbeing and so blessed. Strangely enough a nurse at the hospital that day told me I had angels watching over me...
Today I have been mulling over his visit and everything he said.
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Days just fly
Today is Easter Sunday.
George woke up and there was a lot of blood in his urine. I dressed him, gave him breakfast, made phone calls to stop the caregiver and took him off to the hospital.
After several hours George was seen. He was then left again for ages. Finally the decided to use a drip to put in some antibiotics and gave me a prescription for pills. He then had to rest to make sure he was OK before finally, we came home. He is quite happy but as you can imagine I haven't got much done.
Not long ago we were shaken by a sharp earthquake, it felt big but was only 3.8 but was 11 km deep, very unsettling.
No two days are ever the same.
George woke up and there was a lot of blood in his urine. I dressed him, gave him breakfast, made phone calls to stop the caregiver and took him off to the hospital.
After several hours George was seen. He was then left again for ages. Finally the decided to use a drip to put in some antibiotics and gave me a prescription for pills. He then had to rest to make sure he was OK before finally, we came home. He is quite happy but as you can imagine I haven't got much done.
Not long ago we were shaken by a sharp earthquake, it felt big but was only 3.8 but was 11 km deep, very unsettling.
No two days are ever the same.
Friday, April 3, 2015
Hide and seek
George thinks everything is his! Today he brought home a magazine the cafe ( where I took him for coffee ) has for patrons to read. I didn't realise until we got home. I will pop it back on Monday as it won't be open tomorrow being Easter Sunday.
I find that I have to try to hide so much if I want to be able to lay my hands on it again. Nothing is sacred. I tried putting stuff in boxes but he just takes things out if those. It is a real problem as I need him to wear particular stuff for different activities, for example he has special shoes for walking and although he has many pairs of shoes it is often difficult to actually find a pair. I find them all over the place - behind couches, TV, chair, in the bed, in the garage, just any random place. Unfortunately these are always singles and never a pair. You actually get to a point when you feel very triumphant when you find a pair. I have to get everything ready for each caregiver which also involves shoes! If I am not careful some things, if not all things go walkabout. I then find these things scattered around the place, sometimes I find them over several days. It also applies to my clothes - I have found George putting ( or trying to ) my clothes including jeans which he got up to his knees and then got stuck.
I find that I have to try to hide so much if I want to be able to lay my hands on it again. Nothing is sacred. I tried putting stuff in boxes but he just takes things out if those. It is a real problem as I need him to wear particular stuff for different activities, for example he has special shoes for walking and although he has many pairs of shoes it is often difficult to actually find a pair. I find them all over the place - behind couches, TV, chair, in the bed, in the garage, just any random place. Unfortunately these are always singles and never a pair. You actually get to a point when you feel very triumphant when you find a pair. I have to get everything ready for each caregiver which also involves shoes! If I am not careful some things, if not all things go walkabout. I then find these things scattered around the place, sometimes I find them over several days. It also applies to my clothes - I have found George putting ( or trying to ) my clothes including jeans which he got up to his knees and then got stuck.
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Heat
We have had a wonderful summer and now are experiencing an Indian summer, just great weather. However, unfortunately George seems to get worse with the heat.
Last night, as I was getting the evening meal George wandered off - he went to the bedroom. He came out with no clothes on at all including his diapers. I noticed that he was soiled so cleaned him up and put more diapers on. I then raced down to the bedroom to see what the damage down there was! Poo all over the duvet cover... Got that off and washed it straight away. Thank God for the beautiful weather to get it dry over night.
And people think I do nothing all the time.
George is still pretty confused today and needs precise instructions, for example handing him a biscuit to eat rather than having it on the plate. Another slack mouth day.
Last night, as I was getting the evening meal George wandered off - he went to the bedroom. He came out with no clothes on at all including his diapers. I noticed that he was soiled so cleaned him up and put more diapers on. I then raced down to the bedroom to see what the damage down there was! Poo all over the duvet cover... Got that off and washed it straight away. Thank God for the beautiful weather to get it dry over night.
And people think I do nothing all the time.
George is still pretty confused today and needs precise instructions, for example handing him a biscuit to eat rather than having it on the plate. Another slack mouth day.
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