My Wife's parents are staying this week - my mother in law has been diagnosed with early stages of dementia, maybe not Alzeimers but very similar. She has been given several sets of medicine, which has patently been prescribed to help with symptoms. She has a slight heart condition that makes her breathless, exacerbated by long term breathing difficulties for which she has an inhaler. Other than getting tired easily, she is in reasonable health for her age (82).
Here is the problem....she should take the tablets on a regular basis, but either forgets or decides they are not working?! Dad, has tried to take charge ie. look after the dispensing, but gets shouted at for interfering and is told she can look after herself, which she patently cannot do. We, as a family, are prompting her to ensure she takes them, but then we get shouted at, which though we can cope with, makes mealtimes "real fun"! She has taken to trying to hide the fact that she has not taken the medication by removing pills from their box and putting them to one-side, for later? We have suggested a reminder system, but as she thinks they are not working she is not interested.
Can anyone suggest a way forward? We live an extended distance away from the both of them and they go home on Tuesday. At home, she is happy in her own space, but will still not take the medication, if she forgets or again decides they are not working.
Thank you for reading this post
Here is the problem....she should take the tablets on a regular basis, but either forgets or decides they are not working?! Dad, has tried to take charge ie. look after the dispensing, but gets shouted at for interfering and is told she can look after herself, which she patently cannot do. We, as a family, are prompting her to ensure she takes them, but then we get shouted at, which though we can cope with, makes mealtimes "real fun"! She has taken to trying to hide the fact that she has not taken the medication by removing pills from their box and putting them to one-side, for later? We have suggested a reminder system, but as she thinks they are not working she is not interested.
Can anyone suggest a way forward? We live an extended distance away from the both of them and they go home on Tuesday. At home, she is happy in her own space, but will still not take the medication, if she forgets or again decides they are not working.
Thank you for reading this post