Hi
This is my first post although I have been avidly reading and searching TP for information for a few months now and have found it really helpful. It helps to 'put me back in my box' when I get over tired and stressed and makes me realise how many others are sharing similar and often worse experiences. I'm doing my best to work through this ever changing world, but have some questions that keep running through my head... so I thought I'd ask them and see what happens.
Mum (86) was diagnosed with AZ and vascular dementia about 3 years ago. 4 months ago I gave up work to look after her full time hoping that we would be able to enjoy this summer whilst she was relatively stable... silly me. Whilst her physical condition has improved considerably, I cannot believe how her mental state has deteriorated so quickly. From being able to look after herself whilst I went to work and negotiate a 2 bus journey to a local club, she now has difficulty finding the loo or her bedroom and cannot finish or making coherent sentences at times.
She is severely deaf and I have to communicate by written messages which does not help and her ability to cope with these is also rapidly diminishing.
She has become totally dependent on me and cannot be left alone without becoming distressed. This occurs day or night and she frequently wakes shouting and shrieking for help. She has recently started creating problems when going to bed as she falls asleep on the sofa around 7.30pm but insists that bedtime is not until 10pm when everyone must go to bed. Unfortunately having had some sleep, she than goes through the fiasco of putting herself to bed only to decide she is not ready to sleep and starts shouting for help. We then play the game of going downstairs or upstairs until she finally falls asleep...she demands that I go wherever she does!
I have tried keeping her awake throughout the day, but it seems to make no difference. Is there some medication that could relax her somewhat and help her to sleep a bit better?
I spend my days trying to take her out in the car to distract her as much as possible from some of her worst behaviour, but I am increasingly running out of ideas. Unfortunately the local AZ drop in days clash with her day care day and whilst I become increasingly tired, she becomes increasingly bored, frustrated and agitated. Does anyone have any ideas on any alternative activities we could try?.
She has had me clear out every single cupboard, shed and wardrobe in the house saying there is 'too much stuff in there' and that we don't need it. Only the kitchen and my wardrobe have escaped, but I have had to put a lock on the wardrobe and put food on the top shelves to stop her throwing these away as well... I am running out of places to keep things! Is this usual and does it ever go away?
Mum only has 3 teeth and I now have to ensure her meals are mashed and soft. She blames the teeth, but she would frequently seem to gag before and I wonder whether she might be showing early signs of problems swallowing... mashing food seems to be working at present, but how would I know if the swallowing problems are starting/worsening?
Any thoughts or experiences on the above would be most welcome... and if someone can tell me which key on my laptop I keep pressing that changes the size of the view I will be eternally grateful. I keep doing it and can't figure it out!!!!
This is my first post although I have been avidly reading and searching TP for information for a few months now and have found it really helpful. It helps to 'put me back in my box' when I get over tired and stressed and makes me realise how many others are sharing similar and often worse experiences. I'm doing my best to work through this ever changing world, but have some questions that keep running through my head... so I thought I'd ask them and see what happens.
Mum (86) was diagnosed with AZ and vascular dementia about 3 years ago. 4 months ago I gave up work to look after her full time hoping that we would be able to enjoy this summer whilst she was relatively stable... silly me. Whilst her physical condition has improved considerably, I cannot believe how her mental state has deteriorated so quickly. From being able to look after herself whilst I went to work and negotiate a 2 bus journey to a local club, she now has difficulty finding the loo or her bedroom and cannot finish or making coherent sentences at times.
She is severely deaf and I have to communicate by written messages which does not help and her ability to cope with these is also rapidly diminishing.
She has become totally dependent on me and cannot be left alone without becoming distressed. This occurs day or night and she frequently wakes shouting and shrieking for help. She has recently started creating problems when going to bed as she falls asleep on the sofa around 7.30pm but insists that bedtime is not until 10pm when everyone must go to bed. Unfortunately having had some sleep, she than goes through the fiasco of putting herself to bed only to decide she is not ready to sleep and starts shouting for help. We then play the game of going downstairs or upstairs until she finally falls asleep...she demands that I go wherever she does!
I have tried keeping her awake throughout the day, but it seems to make no difference. Is there some medication that could relax her somewhat and help her to sleep a bit better?
I spend my days trying to take her out in the car to distract her as much as possible from some of her worst behaviour, but I am increasingly running out of ideas. Unfortunately the local AZ drop in days clash with her day care day and whilst I become increasingly tired, she becomes increasingly bored, frustrated and agitated. Does anyone have any ideas on any alternative activities we could try?.
She has had me clear out every single cupboard, shed and wardrobe in the house saying there is 'too much stuff in there' and that we don't need it. Only the kitchen and my wardrobe have escaped, but I have had to put a lock on the wardrobe and put food on the top shelves to stop her throwing these away as well... I am running out of places to keep things! Is this usual and does it ever go away?
Mum only has 3 teeth and I now have to ensure her meals are mashed and soft. She blames the teeth, but she would frequently seem to gag before and I wonder whether she might be showing early signs of problems swallowing... mashing food seems to be working at present, but how would I know if the swallowing problems are starting/worsening?
Any thoughts or experiences on the above would be most welcome... and if someone can tell me which key on my laptop I keep pressing that changes the size of the view I will be eternally grateful. I keep doing it and can't figure it out!!!!