I found myself writing this in my diary this morning. My husband went into respite care two days ago:
‘How do you decide what is in the best interests of someone that doesn’t understand what is going on? Someone who is Stage 6 of the seven stages of Alzheimer’s model.
How do you decide whether respite is the best thing when you can’t visit, and haven’t been able to view the respite placement in advance because of COVID?
If you do decide on residential respite how do you decide how long for? Is it better that they are in for a short time so that they can make the transition back home reasonably easily? Or should they stay for longer to enable them to settle. What do you define as settled when the person you care for isn’t settled at home, doesn’t recognise his house as home, and doesn’t recognise me as his wife?
How do you, as a carer, find ‘peace’ and relax when they’re in a respite home?’
I’d love to hear your views. I’m really struggling with whether I’ve done the right thing. My husband hasn’t slept and hasn’t engaged with others yet. I fear I have exacerbated his confusion and anxiety, and wonder if I should just go and get him and bring him back home. He went into respite because my energy levels are depleted and he seems to need to be ‘entertained’ the entire time. I thought he’d enjoy having others around. I’m feeling more worried and ‘down’ now than I did before he went in.
‘How do you decide what is in the best interests of someone that doesn’t understand what is going on? Someone who is Stage 6 of the seven stages of Alzheimer’s model.
How do you decide whether respite is the best thing when you can’t visit, and haven’t been able to view the respite placement in advance because of COVID?
If you do decide on residential respite how do you decide how long for? Is it better that they are in for a short time so that they can make the transition back home reasonably easily? Or should they stay for longer to enable them to settle. What do you define as settled when the person you care for isn’t settled at home, doesn’t recognise his house as home, and doesn’t recognise me as his wife?
How do you, as a carer, find ‘peace’ and relax when they’re in a respite home?’
I’d love to hear your views. I’m really struggling with whether I’ve done the right thing. My husband hasn’t slept and hasn’t engaged with others yet. I fear I have exacerbated his confusion and anxiety, and wonder if I should just go and get him and bring him back home. He went into respite because my energy levels are depleted and he seems to need to be ‘entertained’ the entire time. I thought he’d enjoy having others around. I’m feeling more worried and ‘down’ now than I did before he went in.