My longterm partner with early-onset vascular dementia moved to assisted living after I could no longer take full-time care of him, which I did for years. After a few months at the new place, another resident who does not have dementia approached him repeatedly and offered help with making a phone call (something my partner can no longer do), etc. Long story short, they are now having a sexual relationship and I am very emotionally hurt. I still love my partner but I can’t stand the idea that another woman took advantage of his situation (he used to love and adore me and I never had to worry about him being unfaithful). He told me today that he prefers being with her and is OK with never seeing me again. Although part of me understands, I am still devastated. How do I get over this? Luckily he has a son who is willing to take over all responsibilities for him, so I am literally free to walk away forever, but I’m still so hurt. Any advice/thoughts? Thanks in advance.
Partner with dementia has new lover in assisted living
- Thread starter RER
- Start date
I can completely understand you feeling that.
You asked a very good question in your first post, "how do I get over this?" Spot on but I bet you hardly remember how to care for yourself, not your partner. Now that you are reassured he has the care he needs, it seems like a time when you need friends around you, and perhaps some counselling, to help you take the first steps towards prioritising your own wellbeing?
You’re correct that I have forgotten how to put myself first. Thank you for your good insight and suggestions. I’m hoping that I’ll be able to move forward with life once this devastating pain subsides and I learn what I need to from this experience. Thanks for being so kind.
Does your partner actually have capasity to go as far as that with a new relationship? - I know that doesnt mke it any easier but....
Should the hom really be allowing such 'activities' or people to getinvolved with eachother?
Please talk to the home about it- I'm not convinced its healthy ( The hurt aside)
Must be the hardest thing ever, thinking of you x
Should the hom really be allowing such 'activities' or people to getinvolved with eachother?
Please talk to the home about it- I'm not convinced its healthy ( The hurt aside)
Must be the hardest thing ever, thinking of you x
are you sure he can make decisions like that, that he understands what he is doing and reason out why hes doing this is this could be called abuse if he doesnt know. the other person could have taken advantage of the fact he cant way up the pros and cons and make a decision on that. i would be hurt as well but talk to the manager of where he is and ask about it and whether he has capacity
I'm also concerned about the motivation of the new partner - what is she up to?
You mention that he is your long term partner, not your husband. And that makes me wonder about money. Obviously I have no idea of your circumstances - what property you or he might own or rent, but I'd be very careful if I were you. What's to stop this other woman from persuading your partner to marry her? Then she would gain legal entitlement to half his assets. Where would that leave you? Do you currently have LPA for his finances?
It's a very difficult thing when someone has obviously lost capacity in some ways but maybe not other ways. And I'm afraid the law supports his right to make 'poor' decisions unless you can show that the new relationship is detrimental to his wellbeing.
If it was me, I would be speaking not only to the management of the Assisted Living place but also to this 'new woman'. Make sure she knows you are watching the situation very carefully...
You mention that he is your long term partner, not your husband. And that makes me wonder about money. Obviously I have no idea of your circumstances - what property you or he might own or rent, but I'd be very careful if I were you. What's to stop this other woman from persuading your partner to marry her? Then she would gain legal entitlement to half his assets. Where would that leave you? Do you currently have LPA for his finances?
It's a very difficult thing when someone has obviously lost capacity in some ways but maybe not other ways. And I'm afraid the law supports his right to make 'poor' decisions unless you can show that the new relationship is detrimental to his wellbeing.
If it was me, I would be speaking not only to the management of the Assisted Living place but also to this 'new woman'. Make sure she knows you are watching the situation very carefully...
The home says that as long as both people in the relationship are happy to be together, they do not do anything. If it’s a one-way situation and the other person doesn’t want the attention, the home will step in and stop it. Thanks for your kind thoughts.
I get the feeling that this is not her first time at the rodeo, so to speak. She probably will use him for sex until that also no longer works and then she’ll move on. If not, she’ll find that he has no control over finances since that was legally protected years ago when he was first diagnosed. At that time he knew he could someday make bad decisions because of his illness and insisted that all our individual and joint assets be transferred solely to me. Thanks for thinking of these practical issues, which often can be overlooked during highly emotional times.
