Early on Mum's birthday she received some flowers from an old friends delivered to the home followed by a parcel in the post - she was really thrilled. My sister and her husband picked her up from the home to take her to a restaurant for lunch. George and I met them there. We had a lovely lunch and she really seemed to enjoy it. We had to get them to turn off the TV as it was very distracting for her.
We went back to the home. As we walked in her grandson (my son) walked in behind us. He was down from Auckland for work and had combined the two events without telling anyone. What a lovely surprise. Mum was quite tearful when she saw him. My other sister, who lives in Australia, was not able to come over due to work commitments but rang and spoke to mum when we got back - she was able to handle that pretty well with us there to help her. I think she felt really special with all the attention. We went into the lounge for a big birthday cake. She enjoyed all the fuss but when there are a lot of people around she tends to get overwhelmed trying to keep up with it all.She really enjoys having one or two people just concentrating on her all the time.
George enjoyed all the social interactions as well so that was good. My sister and her husband went home early this morning.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Visitors and needs assessment
My sister and her husband are visiting for four days. They went to visit mum yesterday and took her out so she was very thrilled to see them. They have gone on the TransAlpine train trip to Greymouth today. It is great for Mum to know that the family are all seeing her regularly so she feels loved by the family. Before she developed Alzheimer's she said to me that she can't have been a good mother if the family haven't come to see her so now she knows that she has been and can feel good about that which is important for her.
George had a person come out to the house for a needs assessment today. This means that I can access respite care when I need to. She is also trying to get him into a weekly club so that he can have social interaction. In addition she has put his name down so that someone can come and be a 'friend' and go for walks etc with him which is fantastic.
George had a person come out to the house for a needs assessment today. This means that I can access respite care when I need to. She is also trying to get him into a weekly club so that he can have social interaction. In addition she has put his name down so that someone can come and be a 'friend' and go for walks etc with him which is fantastic.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Tidying up
Today I took mum out to have a coffee, feed the ducks and then go to a vege place where they sell berry ice creams (which she loves). She is still continually telling me that she wants her own place which always makes me feel guilty even though I know she is in the only place that can cope with her needs. It is really hard.
When I got home I found that George had pulled all the books out of the book case so I had to put them all back again. This happens all the time and makes more work. I know that he tries to help but really he makes a lot of extra work. He does not alway look at the whiteboard and I need to remind him to do that.
I try to encourage George to have a lie down in the afternoons as he gets tired.
One of the reasons I started this blog was so that our families would be able to keep up to date with his progress and know what is happening. It is interesting to note who, in the family, looks at the blog.
Another reason I started it is that I know I have found it really helpful to know how other people manage and what they do to help the person with Alzheimer's as well as finding out how the Alzheimer's progresses in different people.
When I got home I found that George had pulled all the books out of the book case so I had to put them all back again. This happens all the time and makes more work. I know that he tries to help but really he makes a lot of extra work. He does not alway look at the whiteboard and I need to remind him to do that.
I try to encourage George to have a lie down in the afternoons as he gets tired.
One of the reasons I started this blog was so that our families would be able to keep up to date with his progress and know what is happening. It is interesting to note who, in the family, looks at the blog.
Another reason I started it is that I know I have found it really helpful to know how other people manage and what they do to help the person with Alzheimer's as well as finding out how the Alzheimer's progresses in different people.
Friday, February 24, 2012
going through stuff
I was doing the housework when George went over to our old home yesterday. Last night we went to our local bar for a meal as we hadn't done that for a long time and I thought that George might like to.
When we got home it started to rain and George went back up to our old home and returned with around 40 VCRs - he did this in several trips. We are now in a smaller and no longer have the room for things we can no longer use but George finds this hard to comprehend - he has always been a hoarder. Now he keeps going through stuff and leaving it in piles which I then have to put away - this is repeated a lot...
When we got home it started to rain and George went back up to our old home and returned with around 40 VCRs - he did this in several trips. We are now in a smaller and no longer have the room for things we can no longer use but George finds this hard to comprehend - he has always been a hoarder. Now he keeps going through stuff and leaving it in piles which I then have to put away - this is repeated a lot...
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Confusing objects
Got quite a shock tonight when George was looking at a book. He suddenly turned around and said 'is this a record?' I guess that is part of things but in most of those things George has been OK so it was a shock to hear that.
He had a big yarn with his son last night and told me all about last night and again this morning.
I find that he makes a lot of a mess and it takes a lot of my time going round cleaning up after him. He also tends to pull everything out of his drawers and leave it in piles on the bed or floor.
He had a big yarn with his son last night and told me all about last night and again this morning.
I find that he makes a lot of a mess and it takes a lot of my time going round cleaning up after him. He also tends to pull everything out of his drawers and leave it in piles on the bed or floor.
22 February
22 February is the one year anniversary of the earthquake that hit Christchurch, where we live, one year ago. We have had to move out of our home which George has found difficult and we still do not know what is going to happen to our home - will it be rebuilt or fixed.
We spent the day quietly at home and watched the anniversary on the TV. It was held in Hagley Park and many people attended.
George's son rang last night and they had a long chat. George loves that and he came in to tell me all about it after the phone call (I was asleep).
George is keeping his wine to two glasses a day most of the time but he also has gin out in the garage which he quietly sips away on as well.
We spent the day quietly at home and watched the anniversary on the TV. It was held in Hagley Park and many people attended.
George's son rang last night and they had a long chat. George loves that and he came in to tell me all about it after the phone call (I was asleep).
George is keeping his wine to two glasses a day most of the time but he also has gin out in the garage which he quietly sips away on as well.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Out and about
Went to the Home to get mum today and take her to Brighton for coffee which she enjoys. Imagine my horror to find out that mum had got out of the Home today and was luckily found by staff out in the foyer trying to get back in. Mum can be very quick when she wants to be and we think she ducked behind someone coming in or out and kept the door open to let herself out!!
Mark came in to help George this morning to get dressed and then I left to get mum. George got a bus and met us in Brighton for coffee. Mum was thrilled to see him so they had a great old chat both on their own conversations. George is still able to get the bus to and from Brighton although the time before didn't know where to get off and the bus driver found him at the end of the run. He brought him back and dropped him off!! People are really very good.
George loves going out for coffee so that we good. He is trying hard at the moment and is drinking under a bottle of wine a day but I need to keep an eye on it otherwise he will drink more which is when things become more confusing for him.
He is no longer able to put in a dvd and play it nor is he able to change the channel on the TV although he can still turn it on and off. He is able to cook toast and boil the jug but not use the microwave or stove. He does enjoy socialising. Yesterday at the Gardens someone asked him what club he belonged to - these are day clubs for those with Alzheimer's (I don't think he twigged to that bit). Anyway he is keen to join one and as I said to him his name is down to join one when a space becomes available.
Mark came in to help George this morning to get dressed and then I left to get mum. George got a bus and met us in Brighton for coffee. Mum was thrilled to see him so they had a great old chat both on their own conversations. George is still able to get the bus to and from Brighton although the time before didn't know where to get off and the bus driver found him at the end of the run. He brought him back and dropped him off!! People are really very good.
George loves going out for coffee so that we good. He is trying hard at the moment and is drinking under a bottle of wine a day but I need to keep an eye on it otherwise he will drink more which is when things become more confusing for him.
He is no longer able to put in a dvd and play it nor is he able to change the channel on the TV although he can still turn it on and off. He is able to cook toast and boil the jug but not use the microwave or stove. He does enjoy socialising. Yesterday at the Gardens someone asked him what club he belonged to - these are day clubs for those with Alzheimer's (I don't think he twigged to that bit). Anyway he is keen to join one and as I said to him his name is down to join one when a space becomes available.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Gardens for coffee
Mark was round to help George with dressing this morning. George tries to keep wearing his pyjamas under his other clothes so it is great when Mark is there to help him and guide him with his dressing.
Took George to the Gardens for coffee today with the Alzheimer's group. George really enjoys doing this and chats away to all the others, it is very sociable.
I am trying to get respite care for while I am away at a family wedding. I have told George about this but he is not too keen but I need him to get used to the idea that that is what is going to happen. I rang the hospital today to get onto someone to come up to do a needs assessment quickly. I explained my circumstances and they were extremely sympathetic and said that I certainly needed to get some respite. I will start ringing some of the homes tomorrow to see where he can go.
George has three children by a previous marriage and I am trying keep them informed about his progress as none of them live here. I think it is important that all members of the family are aware of what is happening and that families support each other as much as they can.
Took George to the Gardens for coffee today with the Alzheimer's group. George really enjoys doing this and chats away to all the others, it is very sociable.
I am trying to get respite care for while I am away at a family wedding. I have told George about this but he is not too keen but I need him to get used to the idea that that is what is going to happen. I rang the hospital today to get onto someone to come up to do a needs assessment quickly. I explained my circumstances and they were extremely sympathetic and said that I certainly needed to get some respite. I will start ringing some of the homes tomorrow to see where he can go.
George has three children by a previous marriage and I am trying keep them informed about his progress as none of them live here. I think it is important that all members of the family are aware of what is happening and that families support each other as much as they can.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Visit away
I have just got home from my visit away and nothing untoward appears to have happened. George was able to take his meal out of the fridge last night to eat it and a neighbour checked to make sure he was all right. However in the middle of the night he appeared to expect me home and could not find the phone number of the place where I was staying and therefore he woke the neighbours to see if they had the number. He apparently rang but must have got an answer phone.
He obviously felt insecure when I wasn't here - this is what he said. This is going to mean that I need alternatives if I want to go away.
I found that he had drunk 3 bottles of wine in the 36 hours I was away!!
An interesting view point regarding how families cope is in today's society is that people are now living in different places so the extended family are no longer there to help support each other. It is very scary to think about what will happen to me in the long term as my extended family are all gone. I guess each family is becoming very insular but at some point families do need to help and support each other - people need to be able to rely on each other. While friends are great and can help and support in many ways is nice to be able to think that each one of us does in fact matter to other members of the family. It is important too for the children to know their grandparents equally as each can play an important role in their lives.
He obviously felt insecure when I wasn't here - this is what he said. This is going to mean that I need alternatives if I want to go away.
I found that he had drunk 3 bottles of wine in the 36 hours I was away!!
An interesting view point regarding how families cope is in today's society is that people are now living in different places so the extended family are no longer there to help support each other. It is very scary to think about what will happen to me in the long term as my extended family are all gone. I guess each family is becoming very insular but at some point families do need to help and support each other - people need to be able to rely on each other. While friends are great and can help and support in many ways is nice to be able to think that each one of us does in fact matter to other members of the family. It is important too for the children to know their grandparents equally as each can play an important role in their lives.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Stressed!
I must be stressed myself, went to get on the plane this morning and found that I go at 9.40 tonight not 9.40 this morning. Serves me right for not reading the ticket correctly.
When I got home found George had taken a bus to the local liquor outlet and bought himself 3 bottles of wine!! We had a talk about it later in the day as he was back drinking from several different glasses at the same time - one in the lounge, one in the dining room and one in the kitchen. As I said to him he had been going so well and he doesn't need to undo all the good work... He certainly has fewer problems when he is not drinking.
When I got home found George had taken a bus to the local liquor outlet and bought himself 3 bottles of wine!! We had a talk about it later in the day as he was back drinking from several different glasses at the same time - one in the lounge, one in the dining room and one in the kitchen. As I said to him he had been going so well and he doesn't need to undo all the good work... He certainly has fewer problems when he is not drinking.
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