Hi everyone,
My first post. My mum has Alzheimers and I believe she is around 8 years in. She is now approaching the more severe stage. She has been having issues with toileting for the last few months in that she has started to struggle to remember where to go at times and also what to do. Most distressing though is the distress that doing a poo now causes her. She feels like she is dirty and it's awful and is quite distressed each time she does one. She seems to think she is the only person who does poos.
I don't live with my Mum, my Dad is her carer, but he is still getting used to helping her with things like the toilet and she is often reluctant to accept his help. She has only had a couple of accidents so far and i think this is more related to not knowing where to go or being too embarassed to ask for help.
Is her anxiety and disgust/horror at doing a poo something anyone else has experienced with a loved one? If so, can anyone offer advice on how this can be approached and also whether this is a common phase of the Alzheimers condition that is likely to pass after some time? Could it also be an indicator that full incontinence is now approaching.
Thanks for any help that can be offered.
My first post. My mum has Alzheimers and I believe she is around 8 years in. She is now approaching the more severe stage. She has been having issues with toileting for the last few months in that she has started to struggle to remember where to go at times and also what to do. Most distressing though is the distress that doing a poo now causes her. She feels like she is dirty and it's awful and is quite distressed each time she does one. She seems to think she is the only person who does poos.
I don't live with my Mum, my Dad is her carer, but he is still getting used to helping her with things like the toilet and she is often reluctant to accept his help. She has only had a couple of accidents so far and i think this is more related to not knowing where to go or being too embarassed to ask for help.
Is her anxiety and disgust/horror at doing a poo something anyone else has experienced with a loved one? If so, can anyone offer advice on how this can be approached and also whether this is a common phase of the Alzheimers condition that is likely to pass after some time? Could it also be an indicator that full incontinence is now approaching.
Thanks for any help that can be offered.