Hello all, I'd really welcome some advice. My Dad (80) was diagnosed with Alzheimer's a year ago last February. He is at home on his own with carers coming in every day. Sometimes he is strong and sometimes he is wobbly, and when he gets very anxious he can have falls. He gets easily confused and memory is getting worse, thinks he can do more than he really can, but still relatively independent. My brother lives nearby to Dad and I live about 250 miles away; we organise things between us and I go back to see Dad for a weekend every month.
The question is about how to deal with an event next spring: I am getting married, where I live! I would obviously love my Dad to be there, and he would expect to be there, but I am concerned that the anxiety and the people and the unfamiliar situation would just cause him too much anxiety. Last time he visited, about 20 months ago, he cried and was deeply anxious every night - and he has got much worse since then. My brother has offered to look after him but I think he is being unrealistic about how much stress it would cause for Dad and for everyone. I keep telling Dad about the wedding and he keeps forgetting!
What can I do? If he doesn't come to the wedding I will feel like I am betraying him / cutting him out of one of the most important days of my life; if he does come along I am worried that it will be too much for him.
Argh! advice or ideas? anyone else had to tackle this one? thanks in advance....
The question is about how to deal with an event next spring: I am getting married, where I live! I would obviously love my Dad to be there, and he would expect to be there, but I am concerned that the anxiety and the people and the unfamiliar situation would just cause him too much anxiety. Last time he visited, about 20 months ago, he cried and was deeply anxious every night - and he has got much worse since then. My brother has offered to look after him but I think he is being unrealistic about how much stress it would cause for Dad and for everyone. I keep telling Dad about the wedding and he keeps forgetting!
What can I do? If he doesn't come to the wedding I will feel like I am betraying him / cutting him out of one of the most important days of my life; if he does come along I am worried that it will be too much for him.
Argh! advice or ideas? anyone else had to tackle this one? thanks in advance....