Hi all
New to the forum & looking for some advice.
My 76yr old dad was diagnosed with mixed dementia (AZ & vas) a couple of months ago. His decline has been rapid since Christmas - my mum persuaded him to see the GP in Feb, and following tests and scans, he finally saw the consultant in May who prescribed Mematine.
For the last couple of months, dad thinks he is living in a strange house (he's lived there 40+years), claims that his wife is missing and that the woman at the house (my mum & his wife) is someone employed to look after him. When we try to tell him the truth, he gets very agitated. However about 3 days ago he started to accuse her of stealing (she was dusting). She got very upset & left the house, ringing me to come and talk to him. Later that evening she had to lock herself in the bathroom as he tried to evict her from the house; again I had to go there to calm him down. And again tonight, mum called to get me to speak to him to tell him that she was allowed to stay in the house. He is also having delusions about people breaking into the house and a week or so ago came into my mum's bedroom holding a knife (although didn't threaten her).
My mum is at the end of her tether and so low, and I'm worried about her safety. But I just don't know what to do or who to speak to, although I've encouraged her to speak to the consultant about the increase in his delusions in relation to the drugs.
So I have a load of questions that maybe you guys will have some ideas about...
Could the increase in delusions be a progression of the disease or a side effect of the drugs?
Is there any point trying to tell dad that mum is his wife? Will he ever accept it?
At what point do we think about putting him into care? Physically, my dad is getting a bit frail and can't cook or shop for himself, but otherwise he has no caring needs.
Should we contact social care and what could they do to help?
If dad refuses to stay in the house with mum and refuses to leave, how do we get him sectioned?
Any suggestions would be gratefully received.
Thanks
New to the forum & looking for some advice.
My 76yr old dad was diagnosed with mixed dementia (AZ & vas) a couple of months ago. His decline has been rapid since Christmas - my mum persuaded him to see the GP in Feb, and following tests and scans, he finally saw the consultant in May who prescribed Mematine.
For the last couple of months, dad thinks he is living in a strange house (he's lived there 40+years), claims that his wife is missing and that the woman at the house (my mum & his wife) is someone employed to look after him. When we try to tell him the truth, he gets very agitated. However about 3 days ago he started to accuse her of stealing (she was dusting). She got very upset & left the house, ringing me to come and talk to him. Later that evening she had to lock herself in the bathroom as he tried to evict her from the house; again I had to go there to calm him down. And again tonight, mum called to get me to speak to him to tell him that she was allowed to stay in the house. He is also having delusions about people breaking into the house and a week or so ago came into my mum's bedroom holding a knife (although didn't threaten her).
My mum is at the end of her tether and so low, and I'm worried about her safety. But I just don't know what to do or who to speak to, although I've encouraged her to speak to the consultant about the increase in his delusions in relation to the drugs.
So I have a load of questions that maybe you guys will have some ideas about...
Could the increase in delusions be a progression of the disease or a side effect of the drugs?
Is there any point trying to tell dad that mum is his wife? Will he ever accept it?
At what point do we think about putting him into care? Physically, my dad is getting a bit frail and can't cook or shop for himself, but otherwise he has no caring needs.
Should we contact social care and what could they do to help?
If dad refuses to stay in the house with mum and refuses to leave, how do we get him sectioned?
Any suggestions would be gratefully received.
Thanks