Hello out there. What a strange feeling, to be writing my thoughts, airing my concerns
and (hopefully) little triumphs. Mum in law, 87, the best Mum in law you could wish for,
diagnosed with Alzheimer's after what I now understand to be common symptoms, hiding stuff, accusing family of taking money, treasured possessions etc. The consultant said that in view of her age, it's likely the disease will progress very slowly.
Luckily her two sons, daughters in law, 3 grown grandchildren all live in the same village.
All work, except me, (I'm 64 and 3quarters).
Right, I thought. Google Alzheimers and see what comes up. Aaaaarrrggghh. So here I am, at last, having come up for air, so to speak. It's taken me 2 years and a nasty chest infection to actually sit down and work out this forum thing.
Mum still lives in her own bungalow with her elderly cat, Jenny. Basically she still can laugh at herself, see the funny side of things, watch TV for 5 minutes before falling asleep. On good days we are great mates again, though really these times are just windows in her day now as most of the time she is a bit confused, disorientated and
Slightly frustrated, especially with her eldest son (my husband!) She recently caught a cold and a cough too (it started minutes after the Physiciatric Practitioner left the building
( typical) It was scary how quickly the Alzheimer's symptoms worsened. For 6 months or so she's been asking occasionally if she can go home. Her description of that home varied but often her parents or her sister (who is still living in the village at 95) Now since the cold it's every day, sun downing and sunupping and sometimes in between.
We've looked at care homes and have one favourite but they have no vacancies. Four days a week she goes to a wonderful (private) memory place. She calls it Happy Land.
I'm round there every day with bucket loads of encouragement but I just don't know how to answer her on the phone when she's pleading with me to take her back to her own home. Any ideas, anyone? Xx
and (hopefully) little triumphs. Mum in law, 87, the best Mum in law you could wish for,
diagnosed with Alzheimer's after what I now understand to be common symptoms, hiding stuff, accusing family of taking money, treasured possessions etc. The consultant said that in view of her age, it's likely the disease will progress very slowly.
Luckily her two sons, daughters in law, 3 grown grandchildren all live in the same village.
All work, except me, (I'm 64 and 3quarters).
Right, I thought. Google Alzheimers and see what comes up. Aaaaarrrggghh. So here I am, at last, having come up for air, so to speak. It's taken me 2 years and a nasty chest infection to actually sit down and work out this forum thing.
Mum still lives in her own bungalow with her elderly cat, Jenny. Basically she still can laugh at herself, see the funny side of things, watch TV for 5 minutes before falling asleep. On good days we are great mates again, though really these times are just windows in her day now as most of the time she is a bit confused, disorientated and
Slightly frustrated, especially with her eldest son (my husband!) She recently caught a cold and a cough too (it started minutes after the Physiciatric Practitioner left the building
( typical) It was scary how quickly the Alzheimer's symptoms worsened. For 6 months or so she's been asking occasionally if she can go home. Her description of that home varied but often her parents or her sister (who is still living in the village at 95) Now since the cold it's every day, sun downing and sunupping and sometimes in between.
We've looked at care homes and have one favourite but they have no vacancies. Four days a week she goes to a wonderful (private) memory place. She calls it Happy Land.
I'm round there every day with bucket loads of encouragement but I just don't know how to answer her on the phone when she's pleading with me to take her back to her own home. Any ideas, anyone? Xx