My OH is now in the moderate stage of AD, and I have given up work to care for him but as I am only 58 I still need some stimulation as I miss the cut and thrust of work.
I had hoped that I might be able to do some volunteer work for the CAB or have a part time job, but since being at home these last few months I now realise this is not really possible as I can't commit to the regularity this would require without employing someone to be with him, which is not a possibility. I intend to do some distance learning and have also joined the Alzheimers research network, so although I won't have the social stimulation, at least I can still have mental stimulation. That's assuming of course that he lets me get on with it without constant interruptions.
I am lucky that I can still leave him for a couple of hours, which enables me to meet friends and attend monthly Alzheimer's group meetings.
We have a shared birdwatching hobby and have always worked together in the garden, but both of these are now hardwork dealing with his frustration as his ability declines, but we will continue as they are the only thing that still interests him. However, he'll only do them with me ( I think he is embarrassed by his lack of ability now), and when indoors is constantly looking for reassurance and never gives me any peace if I leave the room. I find the lack of personal space really wearisome.
I have started introducing him to other activities that he wouldn't normally do like musicals and singing for the brain, which he appears to enjoy even though he moans about going. Obviously I also have to go to these with him, so I expect some of his enjoyment is because I am with him. I want to get him to a day centre at some time in the future which I know he will be resistant to, as I need to have some time at home when I can just get on with things. I thought I'd start taking him to some other Alzheimer's groups such as the memory group and then may be introduce him to a day centre as another club. I don't want to leave it too late when it is not possible to introduce something new to him, but equally I'm really not sure whether he will go at all as he still has a view on what he does and doesn't want to do.
I would love to hear how others have coped with this.
I had hoped that I might be able to do some volunteer work for the CAB or have a part time job, but since being at home these last few months I now realise this is not really possible as I can't commit to the regularity this would require without employing someone to be with him, which is not a possibility. I intend to do some distance learning and have also joined the Alzheimers research network, so although I won't have the social stimulation, at least I can still have mental stimulation. That's assuming of course that he lets me get on with it without constant interruptions.
I am lucky that I can still leave him for a couple of hours, which enables me to meet friends and attend monthly Alzheimer's group meetings.
We have a shared birdwatching hobby and have always worked together in the garden, but both of these are now hardwork dealing with his frustration as his ability declines, but we will continue as they are the only thing that still interests him. However, he'll only do them with me ( I think he is embarrassed by his lack of ability now), and when indoors is constantly looking for reassurance and never gives me any peace if I leave the room. I find the lack of personal space really wearisome.
I have started introducing him to other activities that he wouldn't normally do like musicals and singing for the brain, which he appears to enjoy even though he moans about going. Obviously I also have to go to these with him, so I expect some of his enjoyment is because I am with him. I want to get him to a day centre at some time in the future which I know he will be resistant to, as I need to have some time at home when I can just get on with things. I thought I'd start taking him to some other Alzheimer's groups such as the memory group and then may be introduce him to a day centre as another club. I don't want to leave it too late when it is not possible to introduce something new to him, but equally I'm really not sure whether he will go at all as he still has a view on what he does and doesn't want to do.
I would love to hear how others have coped with this.