Mum was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in October 2019 although had shown signs for a few years before. She is 89. Last week she was discharged from hospital after a week’s stay, following a fall. She has a 2 week care package in place with visits 3 times a day, but as I’m still administering her medication (Risperidone and Donepizil) twice a day I also prepare her meals when I call in and help her to bathe every other day, so the care visits are achieving little and, if I’m honest, I’m not impressed with what I’ve seen anyway. I’ve approached three local private agencies (mum would be self-funded) to hopefully get a new care package in place, as her ability to function on her own has been severely impacted by the stay in hospital.
However my real problem is my that relationship with her has taken a nose-dive. Quite honestly, she drives me insane - she’s so miserable/quiet/morose - I can’t even describe it properly. She doesn’t initiate conversation anymore, won’t watch TV, doesn’t want me to buy her a newspaper, doesn’t want to eat or drink, has no hobbies or interests anymore - so subsequ spends her day sat in a chair doing nothing! How can I stimulate that amount of apathy?? It’s SO different to how she was even 12 months ago and I’m struggling with it all and would love to hear if anyone else has also experienced this with a loved one? I have no siblings so feel very alone with all the arrangements etc, although my husband helps where he can.
However my real problem is my that relationship with her has taken a nose-dive. Quite honestly, she drives me insane - she’s so miserable/quiet/morose - I can’t even describe it properly. She doesn’t initiate conversation anymore, won’t watch TV, doesn’t want me to buy her a newspaper, doesn’t want to eat or drink, has no hobbies or interests anymore - so subsequ spends her day sat in a chair doing nothing! How can I stimulate that amount of apathy?? It’s SO different to how she was even 12 months ago and I’m struggling with it all and would love to hear if anyone else has also experienced this with a loved one? I have no siblings so feel very alone with all the arrangements etc, although my husband helps where he can.