My husband has Alzheimer's, luckily his progression has been gradual. He is about 68 now and been diagnosed for 10 years. He doesn't make much conversation or join in with conversations. At least he is calmer than he was but on a lot of medication but at least I can still cope with him being at home. Seems to understand what is being said but short term memory quite bad now. He is sometimes urine incontinent but definitely at night time. Sometimes he starts laughing about things that are not funny and does this in his throat which makes him cough. Its annoying that he has mild COPD and very sensitive skin. He has red blotches on his face and neck at the moment a reaction from antibiotics (annoying) also suffers from Psoriasis.
Every day I feel sad about him being ill and still find it hard all this time to stop hoping he could be ok. He walks very slowly and eats slowly too. I am dreading him deteriorating more, I guess his stage is the moderate one. I do wish I could have a rest and a change ie a pleasant holiday but now there is the virus worry that's out of the question at the moment at least this year.
In the past my daughter has stayed and looked after my husband for 4 nights but its a lot for her to cope with as has two children, a job and husband, I would also rather my home wasn't taken over. It would be good if my husband could go into a care home for a week instead but never has and I would feel so sad about that. I would also worry if it would cause him to change at all and if appropriate good care. It would also feel like I'm rejecting him. It seems that it would be easier to just stay at home and manage but I am 8 years younger and feel that already I haven't had enough breaks and things get a bit same(y)! I don't feel bitter just wish things could be better/different, don't we all!
I'm frustrated about the virus like everyone. At least he had day centres to go to and seemed to enjoy going to them so was ok for me to go out for a day now and again. Know there is no point in me wishing but the virus has really put the dampers on our lives. It would be great if he was still attending his day centres as one of them was the highlight of his week. We had a good system in place. I wish I could have more understanding from the outside world too ie from family and friends about what its like to be more limited in life and its not me that's ill!
Life's so complicated because I know if I lost him I would feel devastated and more lonely even though I would gain my freedom! My emotions can be so up and down. Think my main problem is coping with the sadness of it all, feel the way forward is to have full acceptance and just be down to earth about it but that's hard and perhaps impossible, may be selfish! My life isn't at all balanced with having a husband with Alzheimer's!
Reds
Every day I feel sad about him being ill and still find it hard all this time to stop hoping he could be ok. He walks very slowly and eats slowly too. I am dreading him deteriorating more, I guess his stage is the moderate one. I do wish I could have a rest and a change ie a pleasant holiday but now there is the virus worry that's out of the question at the moment at least this year.
In the past my daughter has stayed and looked after my husband for 4 nights but its a lot for her to cope with as has two children, a job and husband, I would also rather my home wasn't taken over. It would be good if my husband could go into a care home for a week instead but never has and I would feel so sad about that. I would also worry if it would cause him to change at all and if appropriate good care. It would also feel like I'm rejecting him. It seems that it would be easier to just stay at home and manage but I am 8 years younger and feel that already I haven't had enough breaks and things get a bit same(y)! I don't feel bitter just wish things could be better/different, don't we all!
I'm frustrated about the virus like everyone. At least he had day centres to go to and seemed to enjoy going to them so was ok for me to go out for a day now and again. Know there is no point in me wishing but the virus has really put the dampers on our lives. It would be great if he was still attending his day centres as one of them was the highlight of his week. We had a good system in place. I wish I could have more understanding from the outside world too ie from family and friends about what its like to be more limited in life and its not me that's ill!
Life's so complicated because I know if I lost him I would feel devastated and more lonely even though I would gain my freedom! My emotions can be so up and down. Think my main problem is coping with the sadness of it all, feel the way forward is to have full acceptance and just be down to earth about it but that's hard and perhaps impossible, may be selfish! My life isn't at all balanced with having a husband with Alzheimer's!
Reds