Hi All,
I'm hoping you can give me a little advice on this topic. Mum mum (73) is currently in the process of getting diagnosis after we noticed some signs of dementia. She has had her Memory Clinic appointment and a CT scan and we're waiting for the results.
She lives with my Dad (82), who throughout all of their 35 year marriage has been quite controlling. He used to work and live away for 6 month of the year but since Covid has been home full time.
I live in a different city, about an hour or so away so can't be there all the time but from what Mum tells me Dad has started to treat her as though she is in the late stages of dementia not the very early ones. Not letting her do things she used to, cooking, jobs around the house, insisting on driving her places, he even told the nurse when she went to donate her blood that she gets confused and disorientated (which isn't true) so she was unable to donate. This is causing Mum a lot of stress as she obviously wants to be as independent as possible.
I understand he probably thinks he's helping but this approach is very overbearing and distressing, especially as she used to be the one who ran the house while he was away.
I think we should let Mum be as independent as she can be for as long as possible. How do I tackle the issue with my Dad, and try to talk to him about his behaviour towards her?
I'm hoping you can give me a little advice on this topic. Mum mum (73) is currently in the process of getting diagnosis after we noticed some signs of dementia. She has had her Memory Clinic appointment and a CT scan and we're waiting for the results.
She lives with my Dad (82), who throughout all of their 35 year marriage has been quite controlling. He used to work and live away for 6 month of the year but since Covid has been home full time.
I live in a different city, about an hour or so away so can't be there all the time but from what Mum tells me Dad has started to treat her as though she is in the late stages of dementia not the very early ones. Not letting her do things she used to, cooking, jobs around the house, insisting on driving her places, he even told the nurse when she went to donate her blood that she gets confused and disorientated (which isn't true) so she was unable to donate. This is causing Mum a lot of stress as she obviously wants to be as independent as possible.
I understand he probably thinks he's helping but this approach is very overbearing and distressing, especially as she used to be the one who ran the house while he was away.
I think we should let Mum be as independent as she can be for as long as possible. How do I tackle the issue with my Dad, and try to talk to him about his behaviour towards her?