I'm mentally exhausted from today's events!
All started well enough, helped hubby get showered and dressed and had tea and toast with him before heading off to work. My adult son was at home to take charge of things during the day and everything was hunky dory.
Just after 11.15am I got a voicemail on my mobile phone from a care worker who had come across my husband who'd told her he was lost and couldn't find his way home or remember his address. Could I call her back immediately?
First I rang home to make sure my husband was indeed out and about (the care worker had referred to him by a similar name, but not his actual name).
My son confirmed that his dad had indeed taken a walk to the local high street (as he does most days). We agreed that son would go and meet hubby once we knew where he is.
The mobile signal at work is practically non-existent so I rang from the office phone instead but got a message saying that calls to that number were barred!
I ran around the building trying to find a good signal. Umpteen attempts only met with a constantly engaged signal. Eventually the carer called back but the call kept cutting out. I couldn't hear her directions. I ran back to the office and phoned the care company's head office and they set about trying to contact the carer for me.
Meanwhile my mobile phone goes off again. This time it is a kind member of the public who has come across my husband. After several calls cut short by the poor signal the chap managed to get my address and said he would take my husband back home and I thanked him profusely, confirming that someone was at home to look after hubby.
About 15 mins later son texted to say his dad was back home. The kind member of the public was very understanding and said he understood because his own father had dementia.
I felt so frustrated. It's only in the past 2-3 weeks that I have purchased a tracker for my husband - not because he was getting lost but because his behaviour was becoming more confused and I felt I needed to have something in place just in case. I always try my best to stay at least one step ahead.
Of course it was Murphy's Law that the charger developed a fault a few days ago and I had to return it. The replacement was due to arrive today - and it did come, but only once all the fun was over!
It's my husband's second visit to his day centre tomorrow. Last week, on his first day, I had to tell them he needed help with his clothing when visiting the loo (embarrassingly within a few days of telling them he was perfectly fine on his own - such are the sudden changes in this disease!)
I also assured them he was fine to walk there and back on his own as he made the journey alone most days anyway. Of course, after today, I will have to change those instructions too. I am sure they understand, they know how quickly things change, but I still feel like I am coming across as someone who has no clue what his needs are.
I knew it was coming, just not when!
Unfortunately, it does all seem to support the recent Memory Clinic assessment which arrived a couple of days ago, placing my husband into the moderate/severe category.
Both the Memory Clinic and myself had thought it possible that his downward spiral was the result not being his best on the day, but now it seems it is a true reading of the situation.
Amazing when you think that this time last year he was only just thought to be entering the moderate stage - now he is at the other end of the scale
All started well enough, helped hubby get showered and dressed and had tea and toast with him before heading off to work. My adult son was at home to take charge of things during the day and everything was hunky dory.
Just after 11.15am I got a voicemail on my mobile phone from a care worker who had come across my husband who'd told her he was lost and couldn't find his way home or remember his address. Could I call her back immediately?
First I rang home to make sure my husband was indeed out and about (the care worker had referred to him by a similar name, but not his actual name).
My son confirmed that his dad had indeed taken a walk to the local high street (as he does most days). We agreed that son would go and meet hubby once we knew where he is.
The mobile signal at work is practically non-existent so I rang from the office phone instead but got a message saying that calls to that number were barred!
I ran around the building trying to find a good signal. Umpteen attempts only met with a constantly engaged signal. Eventually the carer called back but the call kept cutting out. I couldn't hear her directions. I ran back to the office and phoned the care company's head office and they set about trying to contact the carer for me.
Meanwhile my mobile phone goes off again. This time it is a kind member of the public who has come across my husband. After several calls cut short by the poor signal the chap managed to get my address and said he would take my husband back home and I thanked him profusely, confirming that someone was at home to look after hubby.
About 15 mins later son texted to say his dad was back home. The kind member of the public was very understanding and said he understood because his own father had dementia.
I felt so frustrated. It's only in the past 2-3 weeks that I have purchased a tracker for my husband - not because he was getting lost but because his behaviour was becoming more confused and I felt I needed to have something in place just in case. I always try my best to stay at least one step ahead.
Of course it was Murphy's Law that the charger developed a fault a few days ago and I had to return it. The replacement was due to arrive today - and it did come, but only once all the fun was over!
It's my husband's second visit to his day centre tomorrow. Last week, on his first day, I had to tell them he needed help with his clothing when visiting the loo (embarrassingly within a few days of telling them he was perfectly fine on his own - such are the sudden changes in this disease!)
I also assured them he was fine to walk there and back on his own as he made the journey alone most days anyway. Of course, after today, I will have to change those instructions too. I am sure they understand, they know how quickly things change, but I still feel like I am coming across as someone who has no clue what his needs are.
I knew it was coming, just not when!
Unfortunately, it does all seem to support the recent Memory Clinic assessment which arrived a couple of days ago, placing my husband into the moderate/severe category.
Both the Memory Clinic and myself had thought it possible that his downward spiral was the result not being his best on the day, but now it seems it is a true reading of the situation.
Amazing when you think that this time last year he was only just thought to be entering the moderate stage - now he is at the other end of the scale