Mum went into a home last Thursday. It is a very nice place (an old house that has been extended) and the staff are very caring. She will have much better 24 hour care in a fit for purpose home. Better, more regular meals, a safer environment, people at her beck and call.
She didn't know she was going and wouldn't have remembered if we'd told her. She was sitting so peacefully in her conservatory and it was very upsetting to think that it will be for the last time. I started up the engine and waited in the car and her husband got her to the front door but she refused twice. I felt absolutely awful. She trusted me and I had to trick her to get her into the car. I managed to coax her out saying that she was going to see the nurse as she had not been well. Her husband led her out like a lamb going to slaughter. These images of her last moments in her own home and what I had to do will live with me until the day I die. It was the right thing to do for her own wellbeing, but that doesn't help the way I feel.
When she got there she was welcomed in and they were doing manicures so she had her nails painted shocking pink! She then had lunch with 2 puddings. She seemed to settle almost immediately except for some odd comments - whose idea was this.............. I am surprised my daughter isn't here .............. why did my daughter take me here. Very strange as she knew both me and her husband were there, but then that is what Alzheimer's is like. That evening she was wandering around looking for her home, but the next day she appeared to have forgotten about that. She spent quite a lot of time wandering around the following night which was unfortunate as she was asleep most of the time when the family visited on Sunday. I hope she settles in OK.
It is definitely the right thing to do. The disease had progressed so much that she wasn't taking an interest in much anymore. Last summer she was still going for walks, picking the roses in her garden and talking to her cockatiel. Not anymore. A horrible disease - for the family it is like being bereaved without there being a death. The person dies slowly. My bright, beautiful Mum has only a spark of the old person remaining. I can't believe that she has actually gone in at last.
I had been staying there since last Monday week and came home on Sunday. I felt so exhausted that I was worried about dozing off at the wheel while I drove the 160 miles home so had to stop an hour into the journey to have a coffee.
I can't believe it has really happened at last. How do you ever come to terms with this?
She didn't know she was going and wouldn't have remembered if we'd told her. She was sitting so peacefully in her conservatory and it was very upsetting to think that it will be for the last time. I started up the engine and waited in the car and her husband got her to the front door but she refused twice. I felt absolutely awful. She trusted me and I had to trick her to get her into the car. I managed to coax her out saying that she was going to see the nurse as she had not been well. Her husband led her out like a lamb going to slaughter. These images of her last moments in her own home and what I had to do will live with me until the day I die. It was the right thing to do for her own wellbeing, but that doesn't help the way I feel.
When she got there she was welcomed in and they were doing manicures so she had her nails painted shocking pink! She then had lunch with 2 puddings. She seemed to settle almost immediately except for some odd comments - whose idea was this.............. I am surprised my daughter isn't here .............. why did my daughter take me here. Very strange as she knew both me and her husband were there, but then that is what Alzheimer's is like. That evening she was wandering around looking for her home, but the next day she appeared to have forgotten about that. She spent quite a lot of time wandering around the following night which was unfortunate as she was asleep most of the time when the family visited on Sunday. I hope she settles in OK.
It is definitely the right thing to do. The disease had progressed so much that she wasn't taking an interest in much anymore. Last summer she was still going for walks, picking the roses in her garden and talking to her cockatiel. Not anymore. A horrible disease - for the family it is like being bereaved without there being a death. The person dies slowly. My bright, beautiful Mum has only a spark of the old person remaining. I can't believe that she has actually gone in at last.
I had been staying there since last Monday week and came home on Sunday. I felt so exhausted that I was worried about dozing off at the wheel while I drove the 160 miles home so had to stop an hour into the journey to have a coffee.
I can't believe it has really happened at last. How do you ever come to terms with this?
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