Have only just joined the Talking Point and am wondering if anyone can throw some light on my father's very recent decline into what we assume is dementia (my mother cannot believe that this is the diagnosis and we are waiting for his referral to a specialist, who presumably will give his verdict, we hope this appointment wont be too long in coming.
He is 88 and has had a long and happy life including 28 years retirement with my mother; both who have been extremely fortunate enough not to have suffered any bad illnesses. Maybe a slight memory loss - peoples names etc but nothing more than the normal problems associated with old age and cerainly nothing to worry about. Still driving, socialising, travelling around and enjoying life - then came Christmas 2003. We picked them up and brought them the two hours to our house (too long a drive for dad) and enjoyed three or four good days. Both parents had flu jabs in December and by boxing day both had bad chesty colds and I think were glad to get home. I then had an alarming call from my mother in the New Year (28/29 Dec) saying that dad had got totally confused -didn't recognise her, disorientated and looking for her all the time - also seeing people not there etc.
This episode goes off and he recovers (mother called an ambulance because she was so frightened at the time) He has in the last few weeks repeated this type of episode and has at least been seen by the doc - blood and urine tests taken. Meanwhile I can hardly believe that someone can deteriorate so quickly over a period of about 10 weeks. My mother rings me constantly saying she can't cope, and when will he get better and also that dad is so sorry - he seems to know when this has happened and then promises not to be like it again - I feel so sad for her.
I work part time so can go down to be with them as often as I can but I still can't believe this can happen so quickly.
His dr. has given him Risperdal but we dont know what this does or how long to take effect. Funnily enough when I stay there I see very little of this behaviour - am going again today so will be there with my mother for a few days to give support and take them out in the car. She is desperately upset and I dont know how to make things better. Any words of wisdom will be great.
Sorry this is such a screed but it gives a potted version of the last few months. At first I hoped it was the infection that had triggered things but that looks extremely unlikely now. As my mother is 84 its hard for her to know what to do and so new to me that I want to be able to say and do the right things.
Bye for now, WendyW
(Have re-read the above and sorry for how disjointed it sounds but will hopefully improve!)
He is 88 and has had a long and happy life including 28 years retirement with my mother; both who have been extremely fortunate enough not to have suffered any bad illnesses. Maybe a slight memory loss - peoples names etc but nothing more than the normal problems associated with old age and cerainly nothing to worry about. Still driving, socialising, travelling around and enjoying life - then came Christmas 2003. We picked them up and brought them the two hours to our house (too long a drive for dad) and enjoyed three or four good days. Both parents had flu jabs in December and by boxing day both had bad chesty colds and I think were glad to get home. I then had an alarming call from my mother in the New Year (28/29 Dec) saying that dad had got totally confused -didn't recognise her, disorientated and looking for her all the time - also seeing people not there etc.
This episode goes off and he recovers (mother called an ambulance because she was so frightened at the time) He has in the last few weeks repeated this type of episode and has at least been seen by the doc - blood and urine tests taken. Meanwhile I can hardly believe that someone can deteriorate so quickly over a period of about 10 weeks. My mother rings me constantly saying she can't cope, and when will he get better and also that dad is so sorry - he seems to know when this has happened and then promises not to be like it again - I feel so sad for her.
I work part time so can go down to be with them as often as I can but I still can't believe this can happen so quickly.
His dr. has given him Risperdal but we dont know what this does or how long to take effect. Funnily enough when I stay there I see very little of this behaviour - am going again today so will be there with my mother for a few days to give support and take them out in the car. She is desperately upset and I dont know how to make things better. Any words of wisdom will be great.
Sorry this is such a screed but it gives a potted version of the last few months. At first I hoped it was the infection that had triggered things but that looks extremely unlikely now. As my mother is 84 its hard for her to know what to do and so new to me that I want to be able to say and do the right things.
Bye for now, WendyW
(Have re-read the above and sorry for how disjointed it sounds but will hopefully improve!)