Our Mum was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in mid 2021 following behaviours becoming obvious in lockdown when we were spending more time together. It took many phone calls and appointments to get that all important appointment with the memory clinic - the place where people carry out the test to determine what is wrong. We were not forewarned that we would get the result there and then - that was a shock but in hindsight I would say it's the best way, as there is no hanging around waiting for a letter or phone call which would cause more worry and stress than there was already.
And so the journey began. We bought books, read articles online, spoke to support networks, spoke to the council and got a social care worker, who visited to fit the house with helpful items (for our Dad also) and to discuss future needs. We (siblings) shared observations with one another and set up an interim care plan, with each child taking on specific weekly tasks such as shopping, visiting, taking out, housework & admin assistance. It's a challenging time ahead but if we all continue to pull together to make life as easy as possible for both of our parents I believe we can continue successfully as one seamless unit. We each have our strengths and we each have our weaknesses. We each have our own lives (something regularly stated by our parents) but we each have the same goal - to make life as easy, fun and safe as possible for our Mum and Dad. To support Dad in caring for her. To support each other in any way we can as we watch this disease change our Mum. Most important of all currently is to make good memories while we can, to give them as much fun, love and interaction as possible while her cognitive functions are still relatively ok.
The future is unknown - our dedication to our parents is not.
And so the journey began. We bought books, read articles online, spoke to support networks, spoke to the council and got a social care worker, who visited to fit the house with helpful items (for our Dad also) and to discuss future needs. We (siblings) shared observations with one another and set up an interim care plan, with each child taking on specific weekly tasks such as shopping, visiting, taking out, housework & admin assistance. It's a challenging time ahead but if we all continue to pull together to make life as easy as possible for both of our parents I believe we can continue successfully as one seamless unit. We each have our strengths and we each have our weaknesses. We each have our own lives (something regularly stated by our parents) but we each have the same goal - to make life as easy, fun and safe as possible for our Mum and Dad. To support Dad in caring for her. To support each other in any way we can as we watch this disease change our Mum. Most important of all currently is to make good memories while we can, to give them as much fun, love and interaction as possible while her cognitive functions are still relatively ok.
The future is unknown - our dedication to our parents is not.