My dad went to the drs today and had an initial test for memory loss. He scored very low (11) and has been referred for blood tests and to the memory clinic. What happens now? he has been advised not to drive. He seems to be accepting that there is something wrong. He knows the word he wants to say in his head but cant quite get it i.e. watch instead of clock etc. Can anyone give any suggestions that could help him in these early stages? I have been told to create a memory book from when he was born, any other suggestions would be gratefully received!
thank you
Ask him how he wants you to help him. I thought mum might get annoyed if I tried to guess the words, she wants the black and white things that taste nice. After Eights? No they come in a box together. Stumped. They are fruit. Ahhhh Grapes, purple and green, maybe she is seeing them on an old black and white television.
She says that if I fill in the blanks for the words she can't find she finds it a relief not an annoyance. So now I fill in the blanks.
Find places where he might like to go for entertainment - perhaps a lunch club, what are his interests? Encourage them if you can.
Call the council ask for a carers assessment, and an assessment for your Dad. They can supply things like whiteboards, talking books, very simple clocks with the day on it, to remind him what day it is.
Look to the future, get the fire brigade in to do a free safety assessment, they fit fire alarms for free and give safety advice.
See if there is a service like Crossroads Care so that while he is still active he has new people coming in to take him places or to talk to him, it might make it easier if you have to have carers in further down the road.
Get a health and welfare and financial Power of Attorney put in place while he still has capacity.
It's all a bit of a whirlwind in the beginning, well that's how I found it but am glad I did these things.