I have to watch everything very carefully. George eats everything he can find. Today I was defrosting some shrimps for tea (luckily cooked). I was out in the garden, came in to find him eating his way through them!! This happens all the time. I find that I have to hide things more and more (he goes through all sorts of places however).
He loves his Harakeke club and looks forward to going each week which is great. By the time I take him there and pick him up it does not give me a lot of time for myself but every little is appreciated. I also go to visit mum while he is there.
He still drinks quite a bit and because he was told about 'red wine' he doesn't understand that that actually means all alcohol. He therefore thinks it is OK to drink any other alcohol. He generally drinks about a bottle of white wine a day or 2 or three premixed gin and tonics.
Showing posts with label alcohol. Show all posts
Showing posts with label alcohol. Show all posts
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Friday, August 16, 2013
The future
Mum is now sleeping most of the time and is no longer mobile. She has little language left but still has lucid moments. It is really distressing watching someone deteriorate little by little. When I come home I am aware that this may be George's future.
Today when I came home he was sitting watching TV with his hat and gloves on - both of which he wears all the time (sometimes to bed). He had also pulled out DVDs and had them in little piles all over the lounge floor.
One morning recently I noticed a glass of coke on the bench. Something made me suspicious - rum and coke which he was drinking about 8 in the morning. He had some cans out in the garage....
Another woman from the Alzheimer's group was telling me her husband who is still pretty alert is spending money online like it is going out of style. He has obviously been the contoller in the relationship and he won't listen to her. He is spending 5000 each month!!
Today when I came home he was sitting watching TV with his hat and gloves on - both of which he wears all the time (sometimes to bed). He had also pulled out DVDs and had them in little piles all over the lounge floor.
One morning recently I noticed a glass of coke on the bench. Something made me suspicious - rum and coke which he was drinking about 8 in the morning. He had some cans out in the garage....
Another woman from the Alzheimer's group was telling me her husband who is still pretty alert is spending money online like it is going out of style. He has obviously been the contoller in the relationship and he won't listen to her. He is spending 5000 each month!!
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Alcohol
George was told by the hospital and later by our doctor that the red wine he was drinking would make his condition worse. He stopped drinking red wine but has replaced it with white wine and spirits. He keeps it in the garage and pours it into coffee mugs so I won't know. We had a guest staying recently who did the same thing. Luckily George does not get verbally of physically abusive with alcohol and in fact it is very rare to see him drunk - he holds his liquor well in that respect. Not so good for him medically however. Something however that does happen (as it did just now) is that he has more problems than usual going to the toilet necessitating me to clean the floor again.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Son's visit
George had a visit from his youngest son yesterday afternoon. They went out and looked around the container shops in town. He loves to see family and had not seen his son since September so he was really happy although a little tired when they got home.
He got his son to buy him some gin and tonic cans. He is no longer able to open cans himself thank goodness as he asked me to open one for him at 8 this morning...
The problem with alcohol is that he becomes more confused and is also more likely to have toilet problems. His doctor also told him that if he continued to drink the way he was it would kill him.
He got his son to buy him some gin and tonic cans. He is no longer able to open cans himself thank goodness as he asked me to open one for him at 8 this morning...
The problem with alcohol is that he becomes more confused and is also more likely to have toilet problems. His doctor also told him that if he continued to drink the way he was it would kill him.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Downward spiral
George is now at the stage where every morning I need to scrub the toilet and the floor in there. I leave lights on but he still does not get there in time and so there is urine on the floor and of course there is also all the washing resulting from this.
He is also drinking gin again although thankfully not too much; a glass a day (I think).
Yesterday he went to Brighton on the bus so it is great that he is still able to retain some independence. I am trying to clean out our house and of course George is no help and I find that when I get home to the flat he has pulled clothes out of the wardrobe and drawers so I have to then clean up here too.
I HATE HOUSEWORK AND CLEANING!!!
He has absolutely no idea of time and asks constantly throughout the day what day it is. Although his short term memory is fine in some ways he is not able to retain this information.
He is also drinking gin again although thankfully not too much; a glass a day (I think).
Yesterday he went to Brighton on the bus so it is great that he is still able to retain some independence. I am trying to clean out our house and of course George is no help and I find that when I get home to the flat he has pulled clothes out of the wardrobe and drawers so I have to then clean up here too.
I HATE HOUSEWORK AND CLEANING!!!
He has absolutely no idea of time and asks constantly throughout the day what day it is. Although his short term memory is fine in some ways he is not able to retain this information.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Drinking
George wanted to go on the bus on Friday while I was doing a bit more cleaning out in our old house. He bought himself some wine and while I was working up there he drank a bottle.
On Saturday I had to go to Mum so he drank another half bottle and finished it when I went to bed last night.
Result: he has done something to the toilet seat and I will need to fix it - it is no longer on straight and slips down to one side. Poo on the toilet floor again! I am finding I am having to scrub the toilet floor most mornings now; I am not sure what he does but he may drop the paper on the floor and then pick it up to put in the toilet.
On Saturday I had to go to Mum so he drank another half bottle and finished it when I went to bed last night.
Result: he has done something to the toilet seat and I will need to fix it - it is no longer on straight and slips down to one side. Poo on the toilet floor again! I am finding I am having to scrub the toilet floor most mornings now; I am not sure what he does but he may drop the paper on the floor and then pick it up to put in the toilet.
Friday, January 25, 2013
Back again
I have been rather slack lately with my blogs as so much has been going on.
George is coping quite well still in many areas although not in others. The other day he changed his clothes five times during the day. He gets very tired during the summer and has been going to have a sleep in the late afternoon.
When something is not going quite right for him he starts moaning which is rather disconcerting as you are never sure what the problem is. He just goes 'ah ah...' and has difficulty articulating what the problem is.
Last night we had friends round for a drink. I had bought a bottle of wine which George opened. At the same time he opened another one which I had been given as a Christmas gift. After the others had left he continued to have a few more wines. This morning he got up and went and got the paper. The only problem was it belonged to the neighbour. I got him to take it to their place. He came back and went back to bed and back to sleep. I found that he had poured himself three cups of coffee!!
George is coping quite well still in many areas although not in others. The other day he changed his clothes five times during the day. He gets very tired during the summer and has been going to have a sleep in the late afternoon.
When something is not going quite right for him he starts moaning which is rather disconcerting as you are never sure what the problem is. He just goes 'ah ah...' and has difficulty articulating what the problem is.
Last night we had friends round for a drink. I had bought a bottle of wine which George opened. At the same time he opened another one which I had been given as a Christmas gift. After the others had left he continued to have a few more wines. This morning he got up and went and got the paper. The only problem was it belonged to the neighbour. I got him to take it to their place. He came back and went back to bed and back to sleep. I found that he had poured himself three cups of coffee!!
Monday, December 31, 2012
Christmas season
This Christmas season has been rather busy as my mother's home has been shut for the last three weeks to visitors due to an outbreak of novo virus - visitors can go in but at their own risk. The other people who usually visit mum are not going in as they have children who they do not want to get the virus. I have therefore been going in every day.
As George has his own toileting issues the last thing he needs is to catch that so I have been going on my own. The other residents are not having visitors so I appear to be the only one in and out. Mum had a small amount of vomitting initially but has been fine ever since.
With me not being there all the time and without his club etc George has taken himself down to Brighton and bought wine for himself. Such a shame as he was doing so well.
His sister died in England on the 12 December which has been a real shock for him. We wrote a letter to be read at the funeral and I made a PowerPoint display as well. The funeral is not expected to be until 7 Jan which seems a long time.
All of George's sons contacted him on Christmas day so he was really excited about that and told me (many times) what they said.
I just hope to get things back to normal soon.
As George has his own toileting issues the last thing he needs is to catch that so I have been going on my own. The other residents are not having visitors so I appear to be the only one in and out. Mum had a small amount of vomitting initially but has been fine ever since.
With me not being there all the time and without his club etc George has taken himself down to Brighton and bought wine for himself. Such a shame as he was doing so well.
His sister died in England on the 12 December which has been a real shock for him. We wrote a letter to be read at the funeral and I made a PowerPoint display as well. The funeral is not expected to be until 7 Jan which seems a long time.
All of George's sons contacted him on Christmas day so he was really excited about that and told me (many times) what they said.
I just hope to get things back to normal soon.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Sunday
Most days I try to get George out. If I go out without him he has all sorts of stuff all over the place. He does not put any clothes away but leaves them in piles on the floor so I have to put them away. While we are both home he will either bring stuff such as photos out and go through them all and have piles everywhere or he will just sit on a chair and doze. He doesn't do any work and hasn't for a long time now. I am trying to get cooking done, gardening, change the bedding, doing cooking, housework etc while he watches. It can get rather frustrating at times especially with the mess he leaves.
Today when we went out he had on a pyjama top with a jersey on top (it is a hot day). This afternoon I am very busy trying to get things done while he just sits there. I was making a recipe which required rum. I bought rum as a present a while ago but found George had opened it and got into it. I then hid it but when I went to find it guess what? No rum. In addition there are a lot of empty bottles around the garage which I need to clear out. At least he has nearly finished everything we had and I am making sure no more is coming in and he has cut back and does not drink wine as there is no more here.
Today when we went out he had on a pyjama top with a jersey on top (it is a hot day). This afternoon I am very busy trying to get things done while he just sits there. I was making a recipe which required rum. I bought rum as a present a while ago but found George had opened it and got into it. I then hid it but when I went to find it guess what? No rum. In addition there are a lot of empty bottles around the garage which I need to clear out. At least he has nearly finished everything we had and I am making sure no more is coming in and he has cut back and does not drink wine as there is no more here.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Weekend
My sister has been here for the weekend and she has been taking mum out which mum has really loved. Each day she has taken her out for the morning, back to the home for lunch and out again for the afternoon. On both Saturday and Sunday George and I met them in Brighton for afternoon tea. Mum and George really enjoy doing that.
After Friday's problems with walking poo through the house George has had a good weekend with no further problems. I have found coffee mugs filled with red wine so need to watch that one, I am not sure where he keeps the bottles.
After Friday's problems with walking poo through the house George has had a good weekend with no further problems. I have found coffee mugs filled with red wine so need to watch that one, I am not sure where he keeps the bottles.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Doctor visit
Went to the doctor today who told George how much better his skin looked without as much alcohol. Unfortunately he has had a couple of slips but not too much, he has tried very hard. He is a lot less confused without it. Yesterday, while I was working, he went to Brighton on the bus and got himself a bottle of wine. By the time I got home he had drunk about 2/3 of the bottle. Last night he got himself a hot water bottle and filled it with black coffee!!! Luckily he did not soil himself as has happened at other times - fingers crossed that we can keep this up. He has memory clinic tomorrow morning which he enjoys.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
The wine again
George went out on Thursday while I was working. By the time I got home he had drunk half the bottle - result - more soiled pyjamas!! He got the message and poured out the rest of the bottle thank goodness but it takes a couple of days for things to come right again.
It is such an awful disease and it seems to be so random. This morning George came out with one slipper on and could not find the other one (it was by the bed where he left it) and kept going all around the place looking for it. I kept telling him where it was but that made no difference.
My brother-in-law came in last night to stay for a couple of nights. George loves having the company and they talked together last night after I went to bed. He is still able to hold a great conversation which is so good. The doctors told me that he probably would retain that ability for a long time as it is so deeply ingrained into his memory banks.
It is such an awful disease and it seems to be so random. This morning George came out with one slipper on and could not find the other one (it was by the bed where he left it) and kept going all around the place looking for it. I kept telling him where it was but that made no difference.
My brother-in-law came in last night to stay for a couple of nights. George loves having the company and they talked together last night after I went to bed. He is still able to hold a great conversation which is so good. The doctors told me that he probably would retain that ability for a long time as it is so deeply ingrained into his memory banks.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Wine
Found George drinking wine again yesterday. It is such a shame as he was doing well - nearly two weeks. I will need to keep an eye on this as his soiling at night had stopped and so it may start up again with this development.
At the end of last year George told me that his razor needed to be fixed. We took it to a shop who told us it could not be fixed. I bought him a new one which was not cheap but was the one he wanted. Today he told me it no longer worked (it is 4 months old). He had it plugged in upside down but when I put it in correctly that did not help. I pulled the top off and it was absolutely full of rubbish - George had never cleaned it. Not being a male I was unaware of it but certainly know now and also know that George is no longer capable of doing simple things like this. I need to check every little thing - this is one more thing in losing his independence. It does get very tiring. I am charging the razor at the moment as if I can't get it going I will need to get in somewhere tomorrow and hope to get it back by Thursday ready for the respite care....
At the end of last year George told me that his razor needed to be fixed. We took it to a shop who told us it could not be fixed. I bought him a new one which was not cheap but was the one he wanted. Today he told me it no longer worked (it is 4 months old). He had it plugged in upside down but when I put it in correctly that did not help. I pulled the top off and it was absolutely full of rubbish - George had never cleaned it. Not being a male I was unaware of it but certainly know now and also know that George is no longer capable of doing simple things like this. I need to check every little thing - this is one more thing in losing his independence. It does get very tiring. I am charging the razor at the moment as if I can't get it going I will need to get in somewhere tomorrow and hope to get it back by Thursday ready for the respite care....
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Clarifying doctor visit
Reading my quick post yesterday I realised that I had not explained the doctor visit very clearly. The doctor had taken a blood test to check blood/sugar levels and things like that. While some of the results were higher than they should be the doctor felt that they would come down through George not drinking. He also feels that the toilet issues are due to alcohol and not Alzheimer's.
It all gets pretty degrading.
It all gets pretty degrading.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Great news
The doctor was really thrilled with George for not having had a drink for 3 days. He said that it showed an improvement. He had got back the results from a blood test and told him that by continuing not to drink his levels should return to normal. That certainly would be a relief.
Memory clinic
Well believe it or not George has not had a drink since seeing the doctor on Monday. He is much better for it. He has been drinking coke and ginger beer. No more toilet issues thank God.
Today we went to the Memory Clinic which he really enjoys. When we got home he did tell me he had too much on his schedule! I wasn't sure what he was on about but he was worried as I can not take him one day and have organised for someone else to take him in so he was obviously concerned about that. At the moment he has been dressing himself as Mark is away. I noticed (when we got home) that he has his pyjamas on under his clothes...
Today we went to the Memory Clinic which he really enjoys. When we got home he did tell me he had too much on his schedule! I wasn't sure what he was on about but he was worried as I can not take him one day and have organised for someone else to take him in so he was obviously concerned about that. At the moment he has been dressing himself as Mark is away. I noticed (when we got home) that he has his pyjamas on under his clothes...
Monday, April 16, 2012
No wine
Well George is not drinking wine or gin so the doctor must have got through. He is drinking a lot of ginger beer and is enjoying that. It is great to see the improvement particularly in having no soiled clothes/sheets etc.
Took my grandchildren to see mum this morning. She does like to see them but I am not too sure that she really knows who they are although she does appear to sometimes. They have done a urine test but she does not have an infection so it looks as though the Alzheimer's is progressing. They rang me late this afternoon to say that mum had been found sitting on the floor in her bedroom so they were not sure how she got there, she seems OK but I am going back to the home on Thursday to see the doctor.
I took George to see a rest home this afternoon where he can go for respite care while he is still at this level. Tomorrow we have memory clinic. I sometimes feel as though I am going from pillar to post with all the things I need to do with regards to Alzheimer's.
Took my grandchildren to see mum this morning. She does like to see them but I am not too sure that she really knows who they are although she does appear to sometimes. They have done a urine test but she does not have an infection so it looks as though the Alzheimer's is progressing. They rang me late this afternoon to say that mum had been found sitting on the floor in her bedroom so they were not sure how she got there, she seems OK but I am going back to the home on Thursday to see the doctor.
I took George to see a rest home this afternoon where he can go for respite care while he is still at this level. Tomorrow we have memory clinic. I sometimes feel as though I am going from pillar to post with all the things I need to do with regards to Alzheimer's.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Visit to the doctor
Well an interesting visit to the doctor today. He has given me pills to give to George when he starts the 'runs' again. He also explained to George that this will be caused through his drinking and that at the rate he is going it is going to be difficult to see just what is going to kill him first!! I wasn't sure if George got the message but I took him for a coffee after that and we talked about it. As he said the doctor had made things very clear.
I am going to get some adult naps to use at nights when this happens in the future. It will be interesting to see if George modifies his drinking and whether the doctor has given him a good scare.
I am going to get some adult naps to use at nights when this happens in the future. It will be interesting to see if George modifies his drinking and whether the doctor has given him a good scare.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Coffee morning
Took mum out for coffee today. She is finding it more and more difficult to do things such as getting in and out of the car, sitting at a table etc. I took her to Brighton where we met George. Both of them enjoy this time even though mum makes little sense a lot of the time.
George went to the bank and also travelled home by bus - it is important that he keeps doing things like this independently so that he retains these abilities. When I arrived home he had drunk a bottle of wine! It is hard to keep him off it when I am not there and even then he puts it in coffee mugs.
George went to the bank and also travelled home by bus - it is important that he keeps doing things like this independently so that he retains these abilities. When I arrived home he had drunk a bottle of wine! It is hard to keep him off it when I am not there and even then he puts it in coffee mugs.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Starting early
This morning I got up early and then when I walked back into the bedroom at 7.30 here is George finishing his first red wine of the day. The next thing I knew he was in the kitchen and pouring another and taking it back to the bedroom. I quickly got him to bring it back and explained how early it was. He kept taking sips from it however whenever I was doing something (I just noticed that glass getting lower.... )
This is a real worry as alcohol is a real part of George's problem (as well as the Alzheimer's).
I took him out for brunch and got coffee and a huge all day breakfast for him. He enjoyed that. I seem to need to spend a lot of time with both him and mum - mum to keep her as happy as possible and George to try to divert him away from the wine.
This is a real worry as alcohol is a real part of George's problem (as well as the Alzheimer's).
I took him out for brunch and got coffee and a huge all day breakfast for him. He enjoyed that. I seem to need to spend a lot of time with both him and mum - mum to keep her as happy as possible and George to try to divert him away from the wine.
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