Adventure on Fantasy Island

Well, although we were awake today, we had a very different reality.

It had taken four caregivers to help get him up this morning. A major problem is he becomes a deadweight and is also unable to help.

Since he was in isolation with the shingles he prefers to stay in his room all day. I am not sure that leaving them in their room all day like that is helpful. I understand the reasons but it was for 2 to 3 weeks. George got quite used to it and is content, at present, to stay there on his own and have people coming in and out.

It is hard to get him walking let alone to the lounge. I have explained to him that if anyone comes to visit him that we will not be able to take him out as we have done in the past. He has promised to practise but no luck today as he was sure he had a sore back.  Let's hope for some improvement.

When I talked about going to the lounge he told me 4 people  jumped on him and started to hit him. Later I asked him who I was. He told me I was a conspirator... I told him I have never jumped on him and hit me and he then said no it was his four wives! Talk about a vivid imagination but at least he was happy.

Time Frame

Often I am not sure what time frame we are in. You often feel like you are in the middle of a Dr Who episode.

From: https://wall.alphacoders.com/big.php?i=44447 

Today George was very excited to see me and tell me of the adventures that took place last night. A group of young men were suddenly told to do something - I was unable to fathom exactly what it was. They were then suddenly told to stop. Through questioning George told me he was one of the young men. I suspect it was when he was in the army reserves after the war. George wasn't too sure about that one. This conversation took over an hour and there was no way George was going to be side tracked. I just go with it. 

Yesterday he also had had night time adventures when a little man in my team had done something wrong. He wants me to explain things to the little man. Despite questioning I couldn't figure out who the little man but have promised to explain about appropriate behaviour to him.

Time runs out...

Something I find, as a carer, is that time runs out. It actually takes quite a bit of doing to look after someone like this. You need to make sure that everything is ready for people coming in and out to dress or change catheters or whatever else. As I have said before there is a lot of time spent waiting for these people and also keeping an eye on the person you are looking after. George needs a constant supply of food all day - breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and finally tea. I used to wonder about that in Mum's home as they do the same in there but they seem to need it.

This morning, when George got up he came out to the lounge and announced that he had been to the bank and they had given him 6 months which was good. I agreed that it was good but had no idea what he meant. He kept walking and I asked where he was going and he pointed to the window and told me the teller was there waiting for him and off he went to the window. He then turned around and smiled and said how good it was she had given him 12 months!!  Satisfied he then wandered down the hall while I got him a coffee and breakfast.

Things can be so strange, one minute he knows what is going on and the next he is in the fantasy worlds. Interestingly enough he still has a lot of short term memory and knows everyone.

He is 81 next Saturday.

Where am I going?

Last night George woke up in the middle of the night. I suggested he might need to go to the toilet so off he went. On his return he sat on the side of the bed. I told him it was the middle of the night and to come back into bed. He told me he needed to tell me where he was going first. Of course I asked where he was going.

'To England'.

'To England' I replied.

'Yes' said George. 'I need to get a taxi'.

I told him that there were no taxis as it was the middle of the night and he got back into bed and back to sleep.

This morning he said he was off to England.

Quickly I told him what was happening today and got him off the England idea. Originally I thought that it was him having dream but maybe not!!