My husband has FTD, is unable to speak and has violent outbursts and rages. Periodically his medication needs to be tweaked as it ceases to be effective. His MH practitioner, who is incredibly good, has said he needs to do this now but that he no longer feels it is safe to do this at home & has recommended that he goes into a nursing home for 2-4 weeks whilst this is done. It will also give me some respite which after 3+ years of 24/7 caring is much needed.
However I still have very mixed feelings about him going. I’ve now been told that he will have to isolate in his room for 14 days. This is going to be horrendous for him as the highlights of his day are going for walks (at least two) & a visit to the pub or local cafe. He constantly wanders between the house & garden.
He still has a level of understanding & will know where he is. At the moment he knows nothing about these plans. He’s due to go in on Thursday. Do I just say we’re going to the doctor and drop
him off or should I prepare him in some way? I don’t know what to do for the best. I worry that if I tell him it will cause him a lot of anxiety & his behaviour will worsen but I’m also worried that he will feel abandoned if I just leave him there. I’m already feeling very tearful at the prospect of him going as I know it’s going to be very frightening for him but the reality is that if we can’t get his medication right it won’t be safe for either of us if he stays at home.
Can anybody offer practical advice? I’m speakIng to the nursing home manager on Monday so will ask her but trying to decide what to do for the best is making a difficult situation even harder.
However I still have very mixed feelings about him going. I’ve now been told that he will have to isolate in his room for 14 days. This is going to be horrendous for him as the highlights of his day are going for walks (at least two) & a visit to the pub or local cafe. He constantly wanders between the house & garden.
He still has a level of understanding & will know where he is. At the moment he knows nothing about these plans. He’s due to go in on Thursday. Do I just say we’re going to the doctor and drop
him off or should I prepare him in some way? I don’t know what to do for the best. I worry that if I tell him it will cause him a lot of anxiety & his behaviour will worsen but I’m also worried that he will feel abandoned if I just leave him there. I’m already feeling very tearful at the prospect of him going as I know it’s going to be very frightening for him but the reality is that if we can’t get his medication right it won’t be safe for either of us if he stays at home.
Can anybody offer practical advice? I’m speakIng to the nursing home manager on Monday so will ask her but trying to decide what to do for the best is making a difficult situation even harder.