Hi everyone,
It’s nice to be here and have some people to talk to. My Dad was diagnosed with mixed dementia in 2020. Prior to that he’s been a bit forgetful. He’s been declining steadily over the last 2 years. He now has no short-term memory at all but his long-term memory is pretty good. I can still have a pretty good conversation with him, although he asks the same questions over and over.
Physically, he sleeps a lot - maybe 6 hours per day and still goes to bed early and sleeps. I think he’s been a poor eater since my brother died very suddenly a few years ago. He’s now extremely thin. I think my brother dying when he was young actually sped up the dementia, as my Dad was heartbroken .
My Dad was a tall strong man, who always had a solution to everything, and a keen mind. It’s been so sad seeing him literally fade. I know we have been lucky (so far), as he still recognises us and has not been aggressive or anything.
Yet the weight of it is still heavy. My Dad was the only person who made me feel that someone ‘saw me’ as a child. A world without him feels like a much lonelier place. Losing him gradually is so painful but I’m trying to see that it’s my turn to make sure he is ok.
I’ve posted a couple of times on here but, honestly, I’ve had my head in the sand, which is really unlike me. Normally I have no time to think but this is the first time in ages that I’ve been home alone and all the feelings are coming to the surface. I hardly ever cry, but the tears are streaming down my face as I write this. It’s just such a heavy weight.
I just wanted to start this to document my experiences and say thank to all of you who’ve been so welcoming and willing to share your experiences. I’m grateful for the company on this journey that we didn’t want to be on.
It’s nice to be here and have some people to talk to. My Dad was diagnosed with mixed dementia in 2020. Prior to that he’s been a bit forgetful. He’s been declining steadily over the last 2 years. He now has no short-term memory at all but his long-term memory is pretty good. I can still have a pretty good conversation with him, although he asks the same questions over and over.
Physically, he sleeps a lot - maybe 6 hours per day and still goes to bed early and sleeps. I think he’s been a poor eater since my brother died very suddenly a few years ago. He’s now extremely thin. I think my brother dying when he was young actually sped up the dementia, as my Dad was heartbroken .
My Dad was a tall strong man, who always had a solution to everything, and a keen mind. It’s been so sad seeing him literally fade. I know we have been lucky (so far), as he still recognises us and has not been aggressive or anything.
Yet the weight of it is still heavy. My Dad was the only person who made me feel that someone ‘saw me’ as a child. A world without him feels like a much lonelier place. Losing him gradually is so painful but I’m trying to see that it’s my turn to make sure he is ok.
I’ve posted a couple of times on here but, honestly, I’ve had my head in the sand, which is really unlike me. Normally I have no time to think but this is the first time in ages that I’ve been home alone and all the feelings are coming to the surface. I hardly ever cry, but the tears are streaming down my face as I write this. It’s just such a heavy weight.
I just wanted to start this to document my experiences and say thank to all of you who’ve been so welcoming and willing to share your experiences. I’m grateful for the company on this journey that we didn’t want to be on.