Hello everyone, this is my first post, I just joined today.
Have been engaged in chasing a diagnosis and help for my two parents since January this year. This month, we should have the diagnoses, and my parents are already having a carer come in once a day, for a half hour visit. Dad has MCI and it looks as if Mom has Alzheimers - she becomes very confused and disorientated at times. She is in the horrid stage where she knows her mind isn't working properly and is distressed by this. After a poorly spell her doctor has put my Mom's medication into a blister pack, to help everyone see whether she has had the medication or not - poorliness likely was caused by not taking enough meds.
Mom has got it into her mind that she is better off taking two doses a day rather than the prescribed one dose, and her first week with the blister pack isn't going well. My dad isn't able to help her much as he has often forgotten his own medication and is still learning to deal with his own blister pack (of a different shape and size to avoid confusion).
Would it be best to have a locked medicine cupboard or box, accessible only to carers, so they can get the blister packs out once per day and supervise to see the correct days' dose is taken? I don't think this will be popular with my Mom, and I've noticed just how long it takes to put in any sort of change. Seems to me that while they live in their own house together this system is going to be necessary in time to keep them safe, and it might be best we start now. What are other people's experiences, where there is no live in adult with their memory intact? My sister and I both live over 90 miles away and they have no relatives locally.
I appreciate your time and thoughts.
many many thanks!
Have been engaged in chasing a diagnosis and help for my two parents since January this year. This month, we should have the diagnoses, and my parents are already having a carer come in once a day, for a half hour visit. Dad has MCI and it looks as if Mom has Alzheimers - she becomes very confused and disorientated at times. She is in the horrid stage where she knows her mind isn't working properly and is distressed by this. After a poorly spell her doctor has put my Mom's medication into a blister pack, to help everyone see whether she has had the medication or not - poorliness likely was caused by not taking enough meds.
Mom has got it into her mind that she is better off taking two doses a day rather than the prescribed one dose, and her first week with the blister pack isn't going well. My dad isn't able to help her much as he has often forgotten his own medication and is still learning to deal with his own blister pack (of a different shape and size to avoid confusion).
Would it be best to have a locked medicine cupboard or box, accessible only to carers, so they can get the blister packs out once per day and supervise to see the correct days' dose is taken? I don't think this will be popular with my Mom, and I've noticed just how long it takes to put in any sort of change. Seems to me that while they live in their own house together this system is going to be necessary in time to keep them safe, and it might be best we start now. What are other people's experiences, where there is no live in adult with their memory intact? My sister and I both live over 90 miles away and they have no relatives locally.
I appreciate your time and thoughts.
many many thanks!