Hi
My mum was diagnosed with mild Alzheimers a year ago; she lives alone and 100 miles away from me. I am her only family. I am in regular contact with social services and she has carers visiting twice a day. She has medication from a locked box but will not let the carers change the bed, do her washing (she has broken her washing machine repeatedly because she stores her continence pads in there) or supervise any personal washing. Her bedding can go for several weeks before it is changed. She is suspicious of the carers though generally nice to them but she doesn't think she needs help so will often try and cancel her calls. Her condition has deteriorated recently. She is able to use the buses and buy food but can't use a mobile phone or a bank card, and is losing things like her purse more often. Last week she said she'd had a day out with her friend - she did go out but that friend died a long time ago. My husband and I have visited a lot this year to help but we can't carry on like this. I had cancer 2 years ago and recently have been diagnosed with cancer again so I need to focus on my own health which she doesn't understand. She has also been identified as being a danger when crossing the road; she puts her hand out to stop oncoming traffic. She struggles to attend appointments alone now but resists attempts at having a chaperone other than me as she hates the idea of sending money eve though she has money.
I'm struggling to manage all the things she needs right now, and to cope with the stress of lots of phone calls whenever there is a problem. It feels as though the list is endless and whenever we sort one thing, many more appear. She won't discuss any options other than living in her home which is very frustrating. Any advice on what to do would be welcome.
My mum was diagnosed with mild Alzheimers a year ago; she lives alone and 100 miles away from me. I am her only family. I am in regular contact with social services and she has carers visiting twice a day. She has medication from a locked box but will not let the carers change the bed, do her washing (she has broken her washing machine repeatedly because she stores her continence pads in there) or supervise any personal washing. Her bedding can go for several weeks before it is changed. She is suspicious of the carers though generally nice to them but she doesn't think she needs help so will often try and cancel her calls. Her condition has deteriorated recently. She is able to use the buses and buy food but can't use a mobile phone or a bank card, and is losing things like her purse more often. Last week she said she'd had a day out with her friend - she did go out but that friend died a long time ago. My husband and I have visited a lot this year to help but we can't carry on like this. I had cancer 2 years ago and recently have been diagnosed with cancer again so I need to focus on my own health which she doesn't understand. She has also been identified as being a danger when crossing the road; she puts her hand out to stop oncoming traffic. She struggles to attend appointments alone now but resists attempts at having a chaperone other than me as she hates the idea of sending money eve though she has money.
I'm struggling to manage all the things she needs right now, and to cope with the stress of lots of phone calls whenever there is a problem. It feels as though the list is endless and whenever we sort one thing, many more appear. She won't discuss any options other than living in her home which is very frustrating. Any advice on what to do would be welcome.
