George was thrilled today to get a phone call from his eldest son for Father's Day. I have left Skype on in case one of them wants to Skype him. He really loves to hear from his sons and eagerly waits for any phone calls or Skypes from them. They may not realise it but it is so important to him.
On Friday I took him to see our friend who is recovering after major surgery. When we left the friend said he really looks forward to Friday when we go and visit so that is lovely and it also makes George feel as though he is able to do something.
On Friday he told me that he needed a hair cut so I told him that I would take him to Brighton on Saturday morning on my way to see mum. He was up and ready at 5.30 a.m.! It was actually quite difficult to keep him occupied until shops etc would be open - he kept making his way out to go and catch a bus! I had to keep explaining that the shops would not be open yet. I had to get him to take his pyjama top off and put on a shirt.
When I am working on housework or gardening George spends a lot of time sleeping. This is something mum does too. Both of them have developed really sweet tooths - something that neither of them had before. Mum now eats porridge - she would not have a bar of any milk products before...
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Stay one step ahead
I try but it is not always possible. If you are not supervising all the time all sorts of strange things happen.
George cannot open a milk bottle so I try to remember to do this before I put it in the fridge.
George's attempt to open the milk bottle.
He cannot open a can of drink using the tab. If I am not around I find all sorts of things on the bench afterwards where he has tried to spear it open (sometimes succeeding).
When I put new toilet rolls into the toilet area I need to start the roll before I put them into the container otherwise half the roll goes in his attempts to use it.
Last night he watched the rugby. This morning I found two new packets of cornflakes on the sofa (open). He thought that they were chips.
Today he has been rummaging through his wardrobe trying on trousers. He told me he had only one pair that fitted as he was too fat. He only 'had a pair of undies on under these ones'. I asked what else he needed on under them and he seemed to think he needed another pair of trousers.
George cannot open a milk bottle so I try to remember to do this before I put it in the fridge.
He cannot open a can of drink using the tab. If I am not around I find all sorts of things on the bench afterwards where he has tried to spear it open (sometimes succeeding).
When I put new toilet rolls into the toilet area I need to start the roll before I put them into the container otherwise half the roll goes in his attempts to use it.
Last night he watched the rugby. This morning I found two new packets of cornflakes on the sofa (open). He thought that they were chips.
Today he has been rummaging through his wardrobe trying on trousers. He told me he had only one pair that fitted as he was too fat. He only 'had a pair of undies on under these ones'. I asked what else he needed on under them and he seemed to think he needed another pair of trousers.
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!!
Monday, August 12, 2013
Busy
Things have been rather busy lately. I went to Auckland for a weekend to see family so George went to Beckenham Courts. They are being remodelled and so they put him in a serviced apartment which was lovely and he really liked that.
He has just started going to Harakeke club twice a week. He really enjoys the club but has only been once on the second day when there are other people. He wasn't so sure that he liked that day. He went today and had a really good day. Tonight he described what he had for lunch - which he said was nice. "Peas and orange things"
"Carrots"
"Yes, and a thing like this" He made a circle with his hands. It was some sort of meat but not sure what. I do a heck of a lot of guessing as he knows what he wants to say but can't find the words.
His eldest son, who he hasn't heard from for ages, rang on Sunday night and he talked about the phone call most of the day on Monday. I think with busy lives people forget how much those little things mean, like staying in touch.
He has just started going to Harakeke club twice a week. He really enjoys the club but has only been once on the second day when there are other people. He wasn't so sure that he liked that day. He went today and had a really good day. Tonight he described what he had for lunch - which he said was nice. "Peas and orange things"
"Carrots"
"Yes, and a thing like this" He made a circle with his hands. It was some sort of meat but not sure what. I do a heck of a lot of guessing as he knows what he wants to say but can't find the words.
His eldest son, who he hasn't heard from for ages, rang on Sunday night and he talked about the phone call most of the day on Monday. I think with busy lives people forget how much those little things mean, like staying in touch.
Friday, July 26, 2013
Confusion
Lost another jar of coffee by George filling it with water.
He often becomes confused with things. Tonight, as I am tidying up he was getting his clothes out ready to have a shower with his caregiver - he thought that it was morning!! He has no idea of days of the week or what is on each day. I have to tell him many times througout the day and I cannot tell him things in advance or he will consistently get ready each day until the event happens.
He often becomes confused with things. Tonight, as I am tidying up he was getting his clothes out ready to have a shower with his caregiver - he thought that it was morning!! He has no idea of days of the week or what is on each day. I have to tell him many times througout the day and I cannot tell him things in advance or he will consistently get ready each day until the event happens.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Socialisation
George loves having people around to socialise with which is why he enjoys the Harakeke club. Last night an old colleague from his newspaper popped in unexpectedly which was lovely. This man now lives on the Gold Coast and was checking on his property here in Christchurch. He and George had a long conversation going over old times which George loved. It was really lovely for George to see him.
Friday, July 19, 2013
Rest Home
I often feel as though I am running a rest home. George likes me to take him out as much as possible - to cafes etc. I also spend a lot of time cleaning after him, especially the marks on the carpet. When we are at home he sits (with a hat on - he wears a hat and gloves all the time) on the sofa and watches DVDs while I do the housework etc.
Luckily I got the lawns done this week but it has been bitterly cold for lawns and gardens.
When he is sitting watching DVDs or looking through books he waits for me to feed him - breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and then finally tea. Unfortunately he is inclined to make a mess.
Every time he gets a drink that is a new glass - I find glasses all over the place.
Today is one of the days I go to visit Mum. I don't want to take George with me as it is hard enough to deal with one of them. Today when I came home he had been attempting to make some toast - it had burnt black!!
When George goes to Memory Group an old friend of mum's attends the same group so I take her home and stop to take her to places she needs to go on the way. She tells me that her god-daughter lives close and also takes her. I am well aware that there will be no one to help me with any of these things and I will have to go into a home at a much earlier stage than either mum or George and even then there will be few people to come and visit me.
Luckily I got the lawns done this week but it has been bitterly cold for lawns and gardens.
When he is sitting watching DVDs or looking through books he waits for me to feed him - breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and then finally tea. Unfortunately he is inclined to make a mess.
Every time he gets a drink that is a new glass - I find glasses all over the place.
Today is one of the days I go to visit Mum. I don't want to take George with me as it is hard enough to deal with one of them. Today when I came home he had been attempting to make some toast - it had burnt black!!
When George goes to Memory Group an old friend of mum's attends the same group so I take her home and stop to take her to places she needs to go on the way. She tells me that her god-daughter lives close and also takes her. I am well aware that there will be no one to help me with any of these things and I will have to go into a home at a much earlier stage than either mum or George and even then there will be few people to come and visit me.
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Caregivers
My God I don't know what I would do without him. The person who comes to help George dress on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays is a fund of knowledge on so many things relating to people like George.
I told him this morning about the soiling problems over the weekend and he told me about this carpet steam cleaner which is for small areas or for upholstery. He has lent it to me and it is fantastic, I am absolutely amazed. It is called a Bissell.
Guess what I am going to buy????
I told him this morning about the soiling problems over the weekend and he told me about this carpet steam cleaner which is for small areas or for upholstery. He has lent it to me and it is fantastic, I am absolutely amazed. It is called a Bissell.
Guess what I am going to buy????
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Toilet issues
George now wears adult diapers at night and a pad during the day. Most of the time this works for the most part although I usually need to wash the toilet floor each morning and clean the toilet frequently.
On Friday night he went to the toilet after I had gone to bed (and was asleep). He didn't get there in time and so there was poo on the toilet floor which he then tried to clean up. He smeared it all over the floor and the carpet in the hall. This is extremely difficult to clean up and it is everywhere. I put him in a shower and of course the shower was also covered with poo and took some time to clean up.
I know that he is embarrassed by this and tries to clean it up but it makes it a thousand times worse. I have now told him that he is not to try to clean it up. Last night was fine.
I have ordered a steam mop for carpets and hope this will help me with the cleaning.
I can only cross my fingers that I can sort this out.
On Friday night he went to the toilet after I had gone to bed (and was asleep). He didn't get there in time and so there was poo on the toilet floor which he then tried to clean up. He smeared it all over the floor and the carpet in the hall. This is extremely difficult to clean up and it is everywhere. I put him in a shower and of course the shower was also covered with poo and took some time to clean up.
I know that he is embarrassed by this and tries to clean it up but it makes it a thousand times worse. I have now told him that he is not to try to clean it up. Last night was fine.
I have ordered a steam mop for carpets and hope this will help me with the cleaning.
I can only cross my fingers that I can sort this out.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Night time
There appear to be times when George gets up during the night and I don't wake. This morning I found that his shoes were inside his slippers so he was wearing the two at once. When he woke this morning that is what he puts on.
On Saturday, when I got home from visiting Mum, I found George in the garage waiting for me. He had been to Brighton and done some shopping. He thought that he had left his shopping somewhere. I asked if it was in the bus stop (thinking of the bus stop in Brighton). He kept talking about the bus stop but didn't really know. I got him into the car and started driving towards Brighton. A little bit down the road he said 'That's where it will be'. He was pointing to the bus shelter GOING to Brighton. I said that he would have been there when he was going to Brighton but he insisted on getting out and looking, nothing there. Got home and there in the pantry was his shopping bag!!
On Saturday, when I got home from visiting Mum, I found George in the garage waiting for me. He had been to Brighton and done some shopping. He thought that he had left his shopping somewhere. I asked if it was in the bus stop (thinking of the bus stop in Brighton). He kept talking about the bus stop but didn't really know. I got him into the car and started driving towards Brighton. A little bit down the road he said 'That's where it will be'. He was pointing to the bus shelter GOING to Brighton. I said that he would have been there when he was going to Brighton but he insisted on getting out and looking, nothing there. Got home and there in the pantry was his shopping bag!!
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