Hi, this is my first post and in fact the first time I will have 'spoken' to someone outside my family about my father's diagnosis. My father will be 71 in May and was prescribed Aricept just before Christmas 2006. He's pretty fit for his age and until recently has frequented the gym and played golf a couple of times a week. His golf has been curtailed since he surrendered his driving licence.
On the subject of his driving licence, this is something he seems to hold my brother and I responsible for. Basically, if we hadn't taken action over his memory problems then he woudln't have been referred to the memory clinic and wouldn't have been diagnosed with Alzhiemer's and so would still be able to drive. I got a railcard for him which he uses to visit a close friend every week but he seems fixated with getting his driving licence back. Is this likely? I feel like I should tell him it's not going to happen but it seems a bit brutal. I'm not even sure if he knows he's got Alzheimer's. He seems to think if he keeps taking the medication then things will improve to the point where he can drive again.
There are so many things I need to find out about - life expectancy, enduring power of attorney, home help. I'm not sure all of this is relevant right here right now but it would seem sensible to make provision for the future. It's difficult though, if he holds me responsible for him losing his driving licence then he's not going to thank me for sorting out power of attorney and home help when it's required.
Apologies for such an unstructured ramble, it's not what I had in mind when I sat down to write this. If there's any help or advice anyone can provide I'd be very grateful. If anyone has experience of my local support group (South Warwickshire) I'd be glad to hear from them and find out about the appropriate forum to attend with my dad to get some more help and information.
On the subject of his driving licence, this is something he seems to hold my brother and I responsible for. Basically, if we hadn't taken action over his memory problems then he woudln't have been referred to the memory clinic and wouldn't have been diagnosed with Alzhiemer's and so would still be able to drive. I got a railcard for him which he uses to visit a close friend every week but he seems fixated with getting his driving licence back. Is this likely? I feel like I should tell him it's not going to happen but it seems a bit brutal. I'm not even sure if he knows he's got Alzheimer's. He seems to think if he keeps taking the medication then things will improve to the point where he can drive again.
There are so many things I need to find out about - life expectancy, enduring power of attorney, home help. I'm not sure all of this is relevant right here right now but it would seem sensible to make provision for the future. It's difficult though, if he holds me responsible for him losing his driving licence then he's not going to thank me for sorting out power of attorney and home help when it's required.
Apologies for such an unstructured ramble, it's not what I had in mind when I sat down to write this. If there's any help or advice anyone can provide I'd be very grateful. If anyone has experience of my local support group (South Warwickshire) I'd be glad to hear from them and find out about the appropriate forum to attend with my dad to get some more help and information.