The other day I went to visit Dad in the care home. For the first half hour he was happy enough chatting away about nothing I understood as usual.... Suddenly he burst into tears (so unlike him) he was sobbing his heart out. It was really distressing.
I asked him what was the matter and he said 'It;s Bill' (his brother who died in the war after being shot). 'He went to Ireland and was shot today by the I.R.A' .
I didn't know how to console him but gently explained Bill died years ago, but he was so confused and didn;t believe me. Its so sad.
The next day i fetched him out and we walked his dog and went for half a guiness . He looked a bit lost in the pub so we didn't stay 2 long. I took him to Mums after and he told her he'd been to the pub and seemed quite happy.
Its still horrible taking him back 2 the home cos he's had a few days went he seems almost lucid and says things like 'thats enough of those homes now' and 'why can't I stay here, I'm retired now and I don't want to go to work' (mostly he thinks the home is work' Mums disabled and can't keep him home and we all work.
A couple of nights over the holidays we got his medication from the home and in total, even though he woke up a few times all in all he slept 12 hours each night!!! He looked so much better the next day and even seemed like his old self. We know in the home he only sleeps 3 to 4 hours a night, we were told this by the staff, and he always looks frail and exhausted. He seems to walk up and down the corridors the rest of the time(his room is always locked when I go to get him) He snoozes in the chairs on the lounge sometimes. The home say they lock the rooms 2 stop others entering and Dad won't go to it anyway. How can he get rest. I don't think he knows which ones his room cos he keeps taking his name of the door. I'm glad he comes home 2 days a week just so he can rest sometimes.
I HATE THIS BLOODY ILLNESS, AND I HATE TAKING HIM BACK TO THAT AWFUL HOME.
Maybe one day I'll win the lottery and could afford 24 hour care for him and mum in their own home !!! don't we all
Thanks for listening
Suzie
I asked him what was the matter and he said 'It;s Bill' (his brother who died in the war after being shot). 'He went to Ireland and was shot today by the I.R.A' .
I didn't know how to console him but gently explained Bill died years ago, but he was so confused and didn;t believe me. Its so sad.
The next day i fetched him out and we walked his dog and went for half a guiness . He looked a bit lost in the pub so we didn't stay 2 long. I took him to Mums after and he told her he'd been to the pub and seemed quite happy.
Its still horrible taking him back 2 the home cos he's had a few days went he seems almost lucid and says things like 'thats enough of those homes now' and 'why can't I stay here, I'm retired now and I don't want to go to work' (mostly he thinks the home is work' Mums disabled and can't keep him home and we all work.
A couple of nights over the holidays we got his medication from the home and in total, even though he woke up a few times all in all he slept 12 hours each night!!! He looked so much better the next day and even seemed like his old self. We know in the home he only sleeps 3 to 4 hours a night, we were told this by the staff, and he always looks frail and exhausted. He seems to walk up and down the corridors the rest of the time(his room is always locked when I go to get him) He snoozes in the chairs on the lounge sometimes. The home say they lock the rooms 2 stop others entering and Dad won't go to it anyway. How can he get rest. I don't think he knows which ones his room cos he keeps taking his name of the door. I'm glad he comes home 2 days a week just so he can rest sometimes.
I HATE THIS BLOODY ILLNESS, AND I HATE TAKING HIM BACK TO THAT AWFUL HOME.
Maybe one day I'll win the lottery and could afford 24 hour care for him and mum in their own home !!! don't we all
Thanks for listening
Suzie