Hi,
I am new here, but so glad I found you. I have looked locally in Florida, USA, even before this mess and couldn't find any support groups! Unbelievable given our population. Anyway, I moved here almost 5 years ago, mostly to help out my almost (now) 93 year old Mother. She has had a heart attack, TIA and a myriad of other issues since I've been here. And before I came, I could tell her memory was starting to fail. I am a retired paramedic, so am familiar with medical issues. It has gotten worse in the last year, but she refuses to believe it or see someone. I am alone in my caring for her and we have always had a difficult relationship which makes it hard to 'force' her to go to a doctor about this all.
Now that this virus is rampant, I feel she is doing behaviors that could be dangerous to herself for sure. She always liked to walk, although I had finally gotten her to work out in the little gym in her apartment building. Oh, BTW, she still lives by herself not far from where I live. But they have closed that now. Now she has insisted on walking on a main road, which I feel is dangerous for many reasons, especially since they are advising people like her should be staying inside. No matter what I say, or how I say it, she doesn't seem to understand the dire consequences of this virus; especially to her population.
I do understand that it gives her pleasure to walk, but I also know that if she falls, or has another heart attack or even catches the virus; all these scenerios are probably going to have terrible outcomes.
Has anyone else had a hard time explaining the situation to their loved ones? Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Amy
I am new here, but so glad I found you. I have looked locally in Florida, USA, even before this mess and couldn't find any support groups! Unbelievable given our population. Anyway, I moved here almost 5 years ago, mostly to help out my almost (now) 93 year old Mother. She has had a heart attack, TIA and a myriad of other issues since I've been here. And before I came, I could tell her memory was starting to fail. I am a retired paramedic, so am familiar with medical issues. It has gotten worse in the last year, but she refuses to believe it or see someone. I am alone in my caring for her and we have always had a difficult relationship which makes it hard to 'force' her to go to a doctor about this all.
Now that this virus is rampant, I feel she is doing behaviors that could be dangerous to herself for sure. She always liked to walk, although I had finally gotten her to work out in the little gym in her apartment building. Oh, BTW, she still lives by herself not far from where I live. But they have closed that now. Now she has insisted on walking on a main road, which I feel is dangerous for many reasons, especially since they are advising people like her should be staying inside. No matter what I say, or how I say it, she doesn't seem to understand the dire consequences of this virus; especially to her population.
I do understand that it gives her pleasure to walk, but I also know that if she falls, or has another heart attack or even catches the virus; all these scenerios are probably going to have terrible outcomes.
Has anyone else had a hard time explaining the situation to their loved ones? Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Amy
Unfortunately, my mom isn't really in full dementia...and if she found a note like that in her pocket, she would flip out at me. I had convinced her to put a note in with her name and my phone number though! 
