Going round in circles

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.

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.

Dog with a bone

George can be like a dog with a bone. Mum was the same. He has been on about a photo of Charlie Upham which he has been unable to find so every time he can he starts pulling stuff out - even the cutlery from the drawer - looking for it. Yesterday I printed off some photos for him (in desperation) on one A4 page. Before I knew it he was cutting it up and lost one of the photos! Searching then started all over again. I printed off another sheet and gave him a book to paste the pictures in. He then started to cut them out. By this time he had lost the book (still haven't found it). I tried to divert him and dished up tea. Every 5 minutes he would get up and start on the pictures again and I would have to suggest that he might like to finish his tea. This went on throughout the meal. It can be very frustrating - LEARN PATIENCE!!!

Follow through

One of the things that many people don't realise is the importance of following through on what you promise someone with Alzheimer's. It is a funny disease and you never know what they are going to remember and when they get something into their head they are like a dog with a bone.

Yesterday I went to see Mum and she was awake and alert. She is eating and drinking well but kept pulling at her trouser leg. Massaging helps to keep her calm and settled. I have also found some lovely crystal balls with a lavender smell as air fresheners. I have put a jar of these under her bed to help relax her at night. They have a lovely smell.

I had organised things for George before I left so that he would be OK (I always hope). He was; but the first thing he said to me was that his youngest son had not rung. We had not mentioned it that morning but he had rung the night before to say he would ring at 4. I explained that it was not 4 yet. This was repeated a lot during the afternoon. 4 came and went and I was having to keep going and trying to divert him. I was praying that the phone call would come. Eventually it did at 5 so I was able then to breathe a sigh of relief.

Mum was just the same.

I never tell George anything about where we are going or what is going to happen until not long before the event will take place otherwise he expects it NOW. If something is going to happen in several days time he will get ready for it every day until it happens.

I often think it is things that are really important to them.