I went to see Mum and Dad this morning as I always do on a Saturday. I also go during the week to cook and clean, but I bake for them on a Saturday. Mum is on medication and she seems to be quite settled. But this morning I was totally shocked by her behaviour and wondered if this has happened to you and maybe you could advise.
She is increasingly relying on food for comfort as she goes to the cupboard a lot for a cake here and there or she may get through a packet of biscuits. She will even get up after she's gone to bed and go to the kitchen and snack. But that is not the worry. (She has had various scans and although she is very light, she is healthy.) Mum looked in the tin I put on the side and was quite excited to see the raspberry buns I'd made. She wanted one and Dad said no. This is because she will snack on cakes etc and not want a proper meal later for her evening meal. As Dad was putting the lid back on she attacked him. She clenched her fists and thumped him just like a cornered boxer would, first one fist then the other, right in his stomach, half a dozen times. She was furious and her face was white. Dad just stood there and took it. It was an awful moment. She was fuming and walked away said ''I have lived here all my life and you do not tell me what to do!''
She has said this a few times, especially when care workers arrived and she didn't want them in her house but we no longer have them and she has been so much better since I have been caring for her. I know just what to say to her and how to say it.
But I wanted to know the best way to deal with this. I can't have her assaulting Dad like this but I don't think she understands the seriousness of what she has done. He is in his 80s, they both are. He must be bruised after that. I don't know if she's done this before and he hasn't told me. It's obviously frustration and she won't be told what to do. Any ideas?
She is increasingly relying on food for comfort as she goes to the cupboard a lot for a cake here and there or she may get through a packet of biscuits. She will even get up after she's gone to bed and go to the kitchen and snack. But that is not the worry. (She has had various scans and although she is very light, she is healthy.) Mum looked in the tin I put on the side and was quite excited to see the raspberry buns I'd made. She wanted one and Dad said no. This is because she will snack on cakes etc and not want a proper meal later for her evening meal. As Dad was putting the lid back on she attacked him. She clenched her fists and thumped him just like a cornered boxer would, first one fist then the other, right in his stomach, half a dozen times. She was furious and her face was white. Dad just stood there and took it. It was an awful moment. She was fuming and walked away said ''I have lived here all my life and you do not tell me what to do!''
She has said this a few times, especially when care workers arrived and she didn't want them in her house but we no longer have them and she has been so much better since I have been caring for her. I know just what to say to her and how to say it.
But I wanted to know the best way to deal with this. I can't have her assaulting Dad like this but I don't think she understands the seriousness of what she has done. He is in his 80s, they both are. He must be bruised after that. I don't know if she's done this before and he hasn't told me. It's obviously frustration and she won't be told what to do. Any ideas?