Hello. This is my first posting - please be gentle with me!
Just wanting some advice/opinions about an AD sufferer moving house - any particular problems / pitfalls we may come across, and how I can best help.
My Dad (75) has had AD for several years, my Mum (nearly 80) is his sole carer. Dad's condition took a nose-dive recently, when Mum was in hospital for 6 weeks following a stroke. His confusion and bewilderment was overshadowed by delusions and irrational thoughts. He couldn't differentiate between home and hospital, wasn't sure 'which old lady' we were visiting. He can't manage alone, so my brother and I took turns in staying with him, which probably added to the confusion. Mum made a good recovery, and was discharged 6 weeks later, but no longer fully mobile-she now uses a wheelchair. Dad, however, never went back to 'normal', despite his GP telling me that he would. Mum is struggleing to cope with her own health problems, and can no longer cope with my Dad alone.
My family and I live 100 miles away, and go down every weekend to do the shopping, washing, etc, but this is taking it's toll on us all. Mum cries when I leave, and so do I. When I mentioned to them that a bungalow had come up for sale very near to me, on a warden-controlled OAP complex, Mum couldn't have been more enthusiastic. Dad was pleased, too, although his enthusiasm seemed to centre on trivial things like whether there was a soap dish in the bathroom. Anyway, they've bought it, and will be moving next month.
How do you think this will affect my Dad? I've explained again and again that there will be no going back, and, in his more lucid moments, he understands perfectly. I am worried that he may suddenly demand to be taken back to his old home. He can get quite nasty and verbally abusive towards Mum. Whilst I have wanted this move for years and years, now it is almost a reality, I'm quite scared. I don't want to compound my Dads confusion, but there's Mum to consider also. I just want them to have some quality of life for whatever years remain.
Sorry if I've gone on a bit.
jks
Just wanting some advice/opinions about an AD sufferer moving house - any particular problems / pitfalls we may come across, and how I can best help.
My Dad (75) has had AD for several years, my Mum (nearly 80) is his sole carer. Dad's condition took a nose-dive recently, when Mum was in hospital for 6 weeks following a stroke. His confusion and bewilderment was overshadowed by delusions and irrational thoughts. He couldn't differentiate between home and hospital, wasn't sure 'which old lady' we were visiting. He can't manage alone, so my brother and I took turns in staying with him, which probably added to the confusion. Mum made a good recovery, and was discharged 6 weeks later, but no longer fully mobile-she now uses a wheelchair. Dad, however, never went back to 'normal', despite his GP telling me that he would. Mum is struggleing to cope with her own health problems, and can no longer cope with my Dad alone.
My family and I live 100 miles away, and go down every weekend to do the shopping, washing, etc, but this is taking it's toll on us all. Mum cries when I leave, and so do I. When I mentioned to them that a bungalow had come up for sale very near to me, on a warden-controlled OAP complex, Mum couldn't have been more enthusiastic. Dad was pleased, too, although his enthusiasm seemed to centre on trivial things like whether there was a soap dish in the bathroom. Anyway, they've bought it, and will be moving next month.
How do you think this will affect my Dad? I've explained again and again that there will be no going back, and, in his more lucid moments, he understands perfectly. I am worried that he may suddenly demand to be taken back to his old home. He can get quite nasty and verbally abusive towards Mum. Whilst I have wanted this move for years and years, now it is almost a reality, I'm quite scared. I don't want to compound my Dads confusion, but there's Mum to consider also. I just want them to have some quality of life for whatever years remain.
Sorry if I've gone on a bit.
jks