Hi Everyone.
I thought I'd write on here and pick your brains as I've had some really helpful replies in the past.
I help to care for my Grandad who has AD. he moved 200 miles last spring to live nearer to us so we could help to look after him, and bought a beautiful bungalow, which he really likes. he lives on his own.
After a long battle to get him a psych referral once he moved here we eventually managed it and his CPN has been fab. Since she's seen him, he now has carers go in every morning to make sure he's up, washed (?), and dressed, and to give him his meds etc. between me and my dad we give him a cooked meal every day and he's just started going to a day centre.
The problem we're having at the moment is that he has now lost the ability to tell the time, and struggles to tell the difference between day and night. I'm sure this is a very common problem, and I do realise it's just another part of this hideous disease. The las few weeks though, we've sometimes rung him in the evening (8pm ish)and he's been in bed, been asleep, and is about to get up and start the day again. One day last week I went at lunchtime (12.00) and he was in bed fast asleep, pj's on, teeth out etc. The carers had only left at approx 10am. When I couldn't get in a I phoned him and he was convinced it was the next morning.
He's now started phoning my parents at anything between 1am, and 4am to say he's been up ages, the carers haven't turned up yet etc etc. My poor parents both work full time and my mum has suffered for a long time with depression and really needs her rest when she goes to bed. All these disturbances (probably about 3-4 times a week) are really having a knock on effect on her health, which is then causing my dad a lot of stress.
I just wondered if anyone out there had any ideas for how we can help grandad to see when its day or night? When he rings, Mum tells him what the time is, and asks him if he has seen that it's dark outside but he hasn't noticed.
As I said, he still lives on his own and is fiercely independent, as he doesn't see how much he struggles with every day things.
I'm really sorry this has been such a ramble. If you've made it this far, thanks for taking the time. Any ideas truly appreciated
Sal xxx
I thought I'd write on here and pick your brains as I've had some really helpful replies in the past.
I help to care for my Grandad who has AD. he moved 200 miles last spring to live nearer to us so we could help to look after him, and bought a beautiful bungalow, which he really likes. he lives on his own.
After a long battle to get him a psych referral once he moved here we eventually managed it and his CPN has been fab. Since she's seen him, he now has carers go in every morning to make sure he's up, washed (?), and dressed, and to give him his meds etc. between me and my dad we give him a cooked meal every day and he's just started going to a day centre.
The problem we're having at the moment is that he has now lost the ability to tell the time, and struggles to tell the difference between day and night. I'm sure this is a very common problem, and I do realise it's just another part of this hideous disease. The las few weeks though, we've sometimes rung him in the evening (8pm ish)and he's been in bed, been asleep, and is about to get up and start the day again. One day last week I went at lunchtime (12.00) and he was in bed fast asleep, pj's on, teeth out etc. The carers had only left at approx 10am. When I couldn't get in a I phoned him and he was convinced it was the next morning.
He's now started phoning my parents at anything between 1am, and 4am to say he's been up ages, the carers haven't turned up yet etc etc. My poor parents both work full time and my mum has suffered for a long time with depression and really needs her rest when she goes to bed. All these disturbances (probably about 3-4 times a week) are really having a knock on effect on her health, which is then causing my dad a lot of stress.
I just wondered if anyone out there had any ideas for how we can help grandad to see when its day or night? When he rings, Mum tells him what the time is, and asks him if he has seen that it's dark outside but he hasn't noticed.
As I said, he still lives on his own and is fiercely independent, as he doesn't see how much he struggles with every day things.
I'm really sorry this has been such a ramble. If you've made it this far, thanks for taking the time. Any ideas truly appreciated
Sal xxx