Hello everyone,
My lovely husband has had mild/moderate Alzheimers for 4 years now. I am his sole carer and have noticed lots of changes recently, there is no conversation he just watches me constantly and then smiles when I look at him which is heartbreaking. We have 3 children, a son who lives in Australia and 2 daughters here, one who is very supportive and the other who is not. My husband was recently diagnosed with penile cancer and has been in a cancer hospital to have a partial amputation. I was allowed to stay with him and had a "put you up bed" in his room. The staff were incredible they really couldn't do enough for us and all kinds of help was offered both practical and emotional. We are home now and are waiting to go back to the hospital for histology results. What a difference to when Jeff was diagnosed with Alzheimers, apart from twice yearly memory tests at the memory clinic we have been left to get on with things by ourselves. Now I really don't begrudge cancer patients any kind of help or support but why isn't there the same for people with Alzheimers ? Macmillan cancer nurses will go on home visits when needed, even if it is just to talk, are there similar nurses to visit Alzheimer patients and their families in their home environment ? It is such a lonely place to be in now and it would be such a help and a comfort to have someone to talk to face to face.
Thinking of everyone out there who has a loved one with this terrible illness.
regards pussycat
My lovely husband has had mild/moderate Alzheimers for 4 years now. I am his sole carer and have noticed lots of changes recently, there is no conversation he just watches me constantly and then smiles when I look at him which is heartbreaking. We have 3 children, a son who lives in Australia and 2 daughters here, one who is very supportive and the other who is not. My husband was recently diagnosed with penile cancer and has been in a cancer hospital to have a partial amputation. I was allowed to stay with him and had a "put you up bed" in his room. The staff were incredible they really couldn't do enough for us and all kinds of help was offered both practical and emotional. We are home now and are waiting to go back to the hospital for histology results. What a difference to when Jeff was diagnosed with Alzheimers, apart from twice yearly memory tests at the memory clinic we have been left to get on with things by ourselves. Now I really don't begrudge cancer patients any kind of help or support but why isn't there the same for people with Alzheimers ? Macmillan cancer nurses will go on home visits when needed, even if it is just to talk, are there similar nurses to visit Alzheimer patients and their families in their home environment ? It is such a lonely place to be in now and it would be such a help and a comfort to have someone to talk to face to face.
Thinking of everyone out there who has a loved one with this terrible illness.
regards pussycat