My first post ( well second attempt as i put this in blog first) we are not really sure how long mum has had Alzheimer's she has always been eccentric, disorganised , fiercely independent, capable, clever, interested in the environment, loved walking gardening, making jams, going to the WI and to people other than her close family she is the friendliest, most helpful accommodating person you could ask for.
What we feel was the start of the Alzheimer's was an increasing paranoia, hiding everything and losing bank cards and keys on a daily basis because she hid them so well. She could always cover up on memory probelms so well and presented so well to the doctor But finally we saw the consultant last summer and she was given aricept and anti depressants which have been the most important change that has improved her quality of life as she would threaten to kill herself when we tried to help her. A year on she does not know who we are, doesn't, remember ever having children but still feels that she can do everything herself. We have managed to get carers in every day and after a very difficult start she loves their visit but she will only let them do a minimum. Sorry for going on but I suppose I feel it is like leaving a toddler in a house unsupervised most of the time, provided there is food in the house she will find it and eat it but we cannot get her to eat a meal, luckily she lives in a bungalow and has a aga type cooker so no danger of leaving the gas on, she would hate it in a care home because she loves to be in the garden most of the time and respetitively pulls weeeds and feeds the birds. She cannot bear to be told what to do which is our problem we have to be so careful not to upset her so we are finding lost item,keys, cleaning, changing sheet, washing clothes by stealth. I could cope with the physical looking after but it is the emotional strain of trying to support someone to stay in their on home when every inch of the way she is making it so difficult. I feel angry, guilt, sadness worried about her being safe, sad, lonely. She has money but what other support is there other than the care that we are buying in that will support her staying in her home. Sorry to go on I suppose I want reassurance that the benefits she gains from being in her own home outway the risks
What we feel was the start of the Alzheimer's was an increasing paranoia, hiding everything and losing bank cards and keys on a daily basis because she hid them so well. She could always cover up on memory probelms so well and presented so well to the doctor But finally we saw the consultant last summer and she was given aricept and anti depressants which have been the most important change that has improved her quality of life as she would threaten to kill herself when we tried to help her. A year on she does not know who we are, doesn't, remember ever having children but still feels that she can do everything herself. We have managed to get carers in every day and after a very difficult start she loves their visit but she will only let them do a minimum. Sorry for going on but I suppose I feel it is like leaving a toddler in a house unsupervised most of the time, provided there is food in the house she will find it and eat it but we cannot get her to eat a meal, luckily she lives in a bungalow and has a aga type cooker so no danger of leaving the gas on, she would hate it in a care home because she loves to be in the garden most of the time and respetitively pulls weeeds and feeds the birds. She cannot bear to be told what to do which is our problem we have to be so careful not to upset her so we are finding lost item,keys, cleaning, changing sheet, washing clothes by stealth. I could cope with the physical looking after but it is the emotional strain of trying to support someone to stay in their on home when every inch of the way she is making it so difficult. I feel angry, guilt, sadness worried about her being safe, sad, lonely. She has money but what other support is there other than the care that we are buying in that will support her staying in her home. Sorry to go on I suppose I want reassurance that the benefits she gains from being in her own home outway the risks