My husband of 92 was diagnosed with vascular dementia 4 years ago and until now has had mainly a memory problem with which has worsened over time. A couple of weeks ago there were episodes of a new behaviour.
I) He said he felt like he was on holiday and was thinking about what a long journey home.
2) He was watching a pub scene in a TV film and said he felt like he was there in the bar with the other blokes having a drink.
Of course I followed all the techniques I've learned on Tipping Point and he was ok.
Today I returned home from a 10day stay in hospital during which I found he was better for him if I phoned him regularly to reassure him. He stayed at home, with our 3 adult children sharing his care on a rota. They coped very well with him and their own commitments but last night he was unsure of where he lived and told my daughter J this house is exactly like his own house.
Today he said the house we went to yesterday was exactly like this one. I said I didn't go and he must have gone with J but that all houses look the same anyway. He seemed Ok with that but then later he said, 'Isnt if funny when you look out the window and you feel right unsettled? ' I said, 'It's Ok. It's cos I've been away for a few days but I'm home now and you'll be ok.'
Then he asked, 'So is this our house then? Are we going to live here all the time?' I said yes, forever and ever amen and he was ok after that.
I know it's not all about me, but I feels so upset and guilty for being away from him and causing this insecurity and feeling of being lost. We have 3 wonderful kids who adore him but I know it must have been confusing , maybe scary, fr him to not know who was doing his breakfast, lunch and tea or see him safely to bed from one day to another. His routine has been complety different.
Can anybody advice me. Is this the start of a behaviour of might he settle down now I'm home?
Thanks
I) He said he felt like he was on holiday and was thinking about what a long journey home.
2) He was watching a pub scene in a TV film and said he felt like he was there in the bar with the other blokes having a drink.
Of course I followed all the techniques I've learned on Tipping Point and he was ok.
Today I returned home from a 10day stay in hospital during which I found he was better for him if I phoned him regularly to reassure him. He stayed at home, with our 3 adult children sharing his care on a rota. They coped very well with him and their own commitments but last night he was unsure of where he lived and told my daughter J this house is exactly like his own house.
Today he said the house we went to yesterday was exactly like this one. I said I didn't go and he must have gone with J but that all houses look the same anyway. He seemed Ok with that but then later he said, 'Isnt if funny when you look out the window and you feel right unsettled? ' I said, 'It's Ok. It's cos I've been away for a few days but I'm home now and you'll be ok.'
Then he asked, 'So is this our house then? Are we going to live here all the time?' I said yes, forever and ever amen and he was ok after that.
I know it's not all about me, but I feels so upset and guilty for being away from him and causing this insecurity and feeling of being lost. We have 3 wonderful kids who adore him but I know it must have been confusing , maybe scary, fr him to not know who was doing his breakfast, lunch and tea or see him safely to bed from one day to another. His routine has been complety different.
Can anybody advice me. Is this the start of a behaviour of might he settle down now I'm home?
Thanks