Dear All,
A few more questions:
How can you tell if a person with dementia is deaf or blind or can you?
Hi Sophie, good to hear from you again. How are things going with you?
Your first question is a bit difficult. My husband doesn't talk, but I assume he can hear, because he sometimes responds. For example, if I ask if he would like a drink, but don't let him see the glass, he will open his mouth for it.
Also, when someone speaks to him, he will turn towards them.
On the other hand, if someone doesn't respond, it doesn't necessarily mean thay are deaf, it could be just that the illness has progressed so far that the brain cannot process what the ears are hearing.
I don't know about blindness, but I'd think it's the same. If someone responds to movement, then they can see. If they don't respond, then who knows?
Is there anything else I can do to help him (that I can do) in any way?
I've just tried to answer this on your dad's thread. Ithink just by going to visit, talking to your grandad, holding his hand, maybe giving him a hand massage are the best possible whings for you to do. It's so important to him to know that he is loved, and you can experss that through touch, as well as in words.
You are a lovely granddaughter, and I'm sure your grandad looks forward to seeing you.
Love,