I just thought I'd create a thread where we can write about the 'adventures' we've had with our loved ones that have dementia. The thread can be useful for others who can use view it as tales of caution, and a stress relief for the others, because I don't know, I get a weird need to giggle when you have one of these 'adventures' and survive it unscathed!
Dad's London Subway Adventure:
Initially when Mum and Dad told us kids about Dad's diagnosis we got together and organised an 'around the world' holiday for them, that they could enjoy before things got too bad. Anyway organising the whole thing and actually getting them away on the holiday took a little while and so Dad's symptoms had progressed a little by the time that they managed to depart Australia, not so far that he couldn't enjoy it though and enjoy going back to Ireland where he was born. Anyway needless to say they had a wonderful time, but I did note that at the airport when they left Dad seemed to have a propensity to get lost and wander away and not know where he was, so I was a tad apprehensive....
Dad's London subway adventure happened when Mum and Dad were in the London phase of their holiday obviously. Planning to explore London, they decided to brave the London subway...where Mum and Dad come from their are no trains, let alone a subway so it was all quite daunting. They studied the routes, Mum of course taking more in than Dad and they set off one morning to explore. As they were about to get onto the train/subway, Mum hesitated at the last minute wondering if this was the one they actually wanted to catch. Dad was already standing inside the doors...
The doors shut, Dad inside Mum outside, Mum just stood there shocked into inaction and see-ya later Dad!! The last thing she saw was Dad standing there looking at her from behind the closed doors and then the subway/train was gone! Mum suddenly came to life, ran after the train, but it was way too late. Freaking out she wondered what to do. If she left that spot, she might lose him forever, at this stage of the disease her and Dad hadn't even thought about putting any identifying things in his pockets, any cards of explanation and to outsiders he seemed a mainly normal fellow, who stared a little bit more than most and didn't speak much. Anyway, right or wrong she decided to stay put as it was a round trip route with the same train returning to its origin eventually. So she waited and waited, bile in her throat, feeling ready to throw up and eventually the train came back. The doors opened and god love him, there was Dad, he hadn't moved an inch!
The moral of the story, don't put your loved one on any mode of transport and then step off!!!Not even for a second! Also, from this day forward Dad carried a card in his wallet that had all of his family's contact details in it!
Dad's London Subway Adventure:
Initially when Mum and Dad told us kids about Dad's diagnosis we got together and organised an 'around the world' holiday for them, that they could enjoy before things got too bad. Anyway organising the whole thing and actually getting them away on the holiday took a little while and so Dad's symptoms had progressed a little by the time that they managed to depart Australia, not so far that he couldn't enjoy it though and enjoy going back to Ireland where he was born. Anyway needless to say they had a wonderful time, but I did note that at the airport when they left Dad seemed to have a propensity to get lost and wander away and not know where he was, so I was a tad apprehensive....
Dad's London subway adventure happened when Mum and Dad were in the London phase of their holiday obviously. Planning to explore London, they decided to brave the London subway...where Mum and Dad come from their are no trains, let alone a subway so it was all quite daunting. They studied the routes, Mum of course taking more in than Dad and they set off one morning to explore. As they were about to get onto the train/subway, Mum hesitated at the last minute wondering if this was the one they actually wanted to catch. Dad was already standing inside the doors...
The doors shut, Dad inside Mum outside, Mum just stood there shocked into inaction and see-ya later Dad!! The last thing she saw was Dad standing there looking at her from behind the closed doors and then the subway/train was gone! Mum suddenly came to life, ran after the train, but it was way too late. Freaking out she wondered what to do. If she left that spot, she might lose him forever, at this stage of the disease her and Dad hadn't even thought about putting any identifying things in his pockets, any cards of explanation and to outsiders he seemed a mainly normal fellow, who stared a little bit more than most and didn't speak much. Anyway, right or wrong she decided to stay put as it was a round trip route with the same train returning to its origin eventually. So she waited and waited, bile in her throat, feeling ready to throw up and eventually the train came back. The doors opened and god love him, there was Dad, he hadn't moved an inch!
The moral of the story, don't put your loved one on any mode of transport and then step off!!!Not even for a second! Also, from this day forward Dad carried a card in his wallet that had all of his family's contact details in it!