Cris, I share your views. I've not watched the programme as I felt I'd been there, also it was too late for me. That may surprise some, but by the time I've got through my daily chores from 04.50am I'm too tired. I'm sure you'll understand.
Our daughter however did watch it, when asked: "What did you think?" Her reply: "You've been there Dad, it was like going back in time watching Mom slowly fade."
I'd met her at the supermarket as usual, when we got home she discussed it futher.
"There were differences, he didn't keep wanting to go home, and was violent, but like Mom he mumbled his speech. Like Mom they gave him medication without her permission. In the end he was the same as Mom in the hospital just a guant figure on a drip and oxygen mask. You remember they used swabs to moisten her mouth, you did the same when you took her home. The big difference was he could not take food or liquid it just came out of her mouth. Though you forced food into Mom's mouth against GP's advice, I also though you were wrong. I'd expected her to die in hospital and was surprised when you insisted on taking her home to die."
That day four years ago I'd taken her into the wet room on the commode ready to wash. As I wiped her bottom I received a handful of blood and she was in great pain. Rushed to A&E the doctor checked her out and X-rayed her, saying he could find nothing. He'd normally operate but she'd not survive the anaesthetic and there was nothing could be done for her. They'd hoped to place her in the Geriatric Ward. I was granted my wish to take her home to die, the rest is history.
She had to have morphine for a long period for the pain from infections from pressure sores and oral infections. It took me up to two and a half hours to get food into to her at a session. Now she can polish a much larger meal in half an hour, of course it's all mashed up.
Cris, I'm not expecting any of our grandchildren to offer help if they've seen the programme.
I've long known this is Monty Python country, hence I accept the silly things that happen.
Our grandson is home on ten days leave, seen a friend killed, just a day or so before leaving Afghanistan. He's due back this Tuesday, two of his days are spent travelling! his Mom, our daughter is married to an ex Regiment man, I'm ex RAF, two of our grand daughters' partners are Regiment men serving away 'some where' at present.
Our daughter was refused a passport, why? because I was Irish at the time of her birth at a British Military Hospital in Germany. Now she's both Irish and German with an Irish passport! Could this be because her Mom's a Geordie!
I'm still trying to solve this Alzheimer's puzzle, the road though long is less painful since I'm a sole carer, not for every one but maybe this programme will help to show SS, LAs etc the stress they cause carers by having to fight in addition to caring. Padraig