Hi, Have been looking at TP for a year or so but this is my first post. Mum(91 with Alzheimer's) has lived with us for 2 and a half years, and I gave up work in a local school to be her carer. Things aren't too bad generally - reading other posts makes me realise how much worse it could be.
Hubby & I are just about to have our 6-monthly break while Mum goes into a local authority home for respite. She's been there 3 times previously but has no recollection of it. Her short-term memory has gone completely. I tend not to tell her till the actual day that she is going 'on holiday', as she wouldn't remember. Even though her partly packed suitcase is in her room, she doesn't seem to realise that she'll be going away for a while.
After previous respite stays, I've found little notes in her bag that she's written saying 'I hate it here - no-one talks to me' and stuff like that. Trouble is, she's fairly anti-social now and rarely speaks to other people unless they start the conversation!
She spend lots of time doing wordsearch type puzzles - thank heaven for them otherwise she'd just sit & stare. Will occasionally play Scrabble or cards with me if in the right mood. I think she gets the hump because she's not going on holiday with us, even though I go through all the many reasons why she can't, the main one being that we need the break - she can't accept it.
Does anyone have any tips for preparing their relative for respite? Thanks in advance, Jan
Hubby & I are just about to have our 6-monthly break while Mum goes into a local authority home for respite. She's been there 3 times previously but has no recollection of it. Her short-term memory has gone completely. I tend not to tell her till the actual day that she is going 'on holiday', as she wouldn't remember. Even though her partly packed suitcase is in her room, she doesn't seem to realise that she'll be going away for a while.
After previous respite stays, I've found little notes in her bag that she's written saying 'I hate it here - no-one talks to me' and stuff like that. Trouble is, she's fairly anti-social now and rarely speaks to other people unless they start the conversation!
She spend lots of time doing wordsearch type puzzles - thank heaven for them otherwise she'd just sit & stare. Will occasionally play Scrabble or cards with me if in the right mood. I think she gets the hump because she's not going on holiday with us, even though I go through all the many reasons why she can't, the main one being that we need the break - she can't accept it.
Does anyone have any tips for preparing their relative for respite? Thanks in advance, Jan