Hello everyone,
after a year of visiting and reading posts on this forum, though not commenting, I'd like to say hello.
Firstly, a quick intro. I am the main carer for my grandfather who, I believe, has dementia. I live in his house. Though he's never been diagnosed (his offspring will not take him to be diagnosed, ignoring my requests, they say it's "Old age only, it will happen to us all..") he shows the usual symptoms of not knowing what year it is, not remembering anything that happened that day, week, last minute, but FANTASTIC memory for events that happened 10 years plus ago, general hygiene neglect, over eating (a preference for junk if made available), and never leaving the house, generally not doing anything unless highly supervised, such as washing hands, taking tablets. Leaves fire on full blast with the windows open. Things amongst others. I think that's dementia, or am I wrong? Open to suggestion here!
I'd also like to say, this forum has been great for helping me realise I'm not alone in caring for someone with dementia. The times I've come on here after being told "It's old age" - well you've all helped me calm down and de-stress! Brick wall and head?! Thank you
OK, so this may sound like a petty and daft question, but... he's taken to cleaning his fingernails out with forks. Coming home after working and finding forks all over the house, when his nails are clean... what do I do? He was using biro pens to do this, but then I put those somewhere else, and made a fingernail scrubbing brush clearly available at the sinks, which he seems to refuse to use. He seems to be obsessed with using forks, and chucks out a sign in the drawer which says "Please don't use forks to clean your fingernails, there's a scrubbing brush" etc...
Like I say, I know it sounds petty, but any advice? Perhaps I shouldn't be concerned, the rest of his family aren't.
Once again, thanks!
after a year of visiting and reading posts on this forum, though not commenting, I'd like to say hello.
Firstly, a quick intro. I am the main carer for my grandfather who, I believe, has dementia. I live in his house. Though he's never been diagnosed (his offspring will not take him to be diagnosed, ignoring my requests, they say it's "Old age only, it will happen to us all..") he shows the usual symptoms of not knowing what year it is, not remembering anything that happened that day, week, last minute, but FANTASTIC memory for events that happened 10 years plus ago, general hygiene neglect, over eating (a preference for junk if made available), and never leaving the house, generally not doing anything unless highly supervised, such as washing hands, taking tablets. Leaves fire on full blast with the windows open. Things amongst others. I think that's dementia, or am I wrong? Open to suggestion here!
I'd also like to say, this forum has been great for helping me realise I'm not alone in caring for someone with dementia. The times I've come on here after being told "It's old age" - well you've all helped me calm down and de-stress! Brick wall and head?! Thank you
OK, so this may sound like a petty and daft question, but... he's taken to cleaning his fingernails out with forks. Coming home after working and finding forks all over the house, when his nails are clean... what do I do? He was using biro pens to do this, but then I put those somewhere else, and made a fingernail scrubbing brush clearly available at the sinks, which he seems to refuse to use. He seems to be obsessed with using forks, and chucks out a sign in the drawer which says "Please don't use forks to clean your fingernails, there's a scrubbing brush" etc...
Like I say, I know it sounds petty, but any advice? Perhaps I shouldn't be concerned, the rest of his family aren't.
Once again, thanks!