Alzheimer's Disease Support Group
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia and characterized by progressive cognitive deterioration with declining activities of daily living and neuropsychiatric symptoms or behavioral changes. An early symptom is memory loss (amnesia), usually manifesting as minor forgetfulness that becomes pronounced with illness progression, with relative...
First I want to thank all of you for all that I have learned from you in the last few weeks. I've gained a perspective that I hadn't imagined. You make me think....
As to my subject..my 14 yr old and I are going out to visit my parents in a week for the winter break. We haven't seen them since they came here a year and a half ago for a few days when I had shoulder surgery .. this was before we know what was going on but now so much makes sense.
Today I was on the phone with my father, a rare occurance since he usually passes the phone to my mother like a hot potatoe, and I remember how affected he is. I also realized how inappropriate his conversation can be. In the middle of a discussion about his computer he started describing his bowel movements in detail. He is also known for years to make inappropriate sexual comments to just about everyone.
I guess I will have to have a conversation with my daughter next week about this. She's a great kid and very mature. It will be interesting to hear what she thinks. SHe is fully aware of his condition.
We will be there for a full week. My hope was to spend some quality time with my parents but to also have enough time to get an honest view of the whole situation. Anyone can look good for a few days but a week is hard to pretend. Any suggestions are appreciated.
As to my subject..my 14 yr old and I are going out to visit my parents in a week for the winter break. We haven't seen them since they came here a year and a half ago for a few days when I had shoulder surgery .. this was before we know what was going on but now so much makes sense.
Today I was on the phone with my father, a rare occurance since he usually passes the phone to my mother like a hot potatoe, and I remember how affected he is. I also realized how inappropriate his conversation can be. In the middle of a discussion about his computer he started describing his bowel movements in detail. He is also known for years to make inappropriate sexual comments to just about everyone.
I guess I will have to have a conversation with my daughter next week about this. She's a great kid and very mature. It will be interesting to hear what she thinks. SHe is fully aware of his condition.
We will be there for a full week. My hope was to spend some quality time with my parents but to also have enough time to get an honest view of the whole situation. Anyone can look good for a few days but a week is hard to pretend. Any suggestions are appreciated.
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I gave my 2 week notice last Friday 13th. Now to join you fine people in a life of leisure and nothing else to do but to look out for myself....is it just me or does that sound pretty boring? My goal was to live to retire and I guess having to take early retirement because of health reasons wasn't exactly the way I had planned things. I just can't stay in that building that is reeking mildew...
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I'm trying to exercise daily. I was doing fairly well until I sprained my ankle 2 weeks ago but now I'm getting back on the horse. Today I walked over a mile with my arm weights that are about 22lbs total. I was out of shape and it was hard on my arms. I also did my 30 situps. I'm also going to drink a lot of water and try to eat healthy. I do tend to have a sweet tooth but I'm cutting...
Journal: write your thoughts and feelings before you go and throughout the visit...
Video: do a lot of video...say whatever you need to but get it in the video...when things are 'calmer 'back home you can take a second and third look...
Audio recorder: try to get people there to talk about 'stuff' into a recorder...later you can parse this and see what it reveals
Pictures: take some and look at pictures there...everyone here says you can see the decline in the eyes....
Do you think maybe it would be helpful for your daughter to read a book suitable for her age on the topic prior to the trip?
Also, do you think she might keep a journal too? maybe a way for her to deal with her feelings...maybe you could share some of your journals together as a way to process what is sure to be a emotional experience in so many ways....
Wishing you very good luck with this special trip....
The only thing I suggest is to distract him when he gets on these topics.
Try to encourage him to talk about the past if he is still verbal. Take some close up photos that you can share with him. People with dementia cannot distinguish faces unless they are large and there is not much clutter in the picture.
Try to enjoy your week. Maybe take a few hours away with your daughter too.
One day they were out walking in the mountains and grandma was running away from her. She kept up with grandma but grandma was calling her every name she could think of. Our granddaughter said, "Grandma, I kep right on walking with her. There was no way I was going to let her get lost from me."
Our granddaughter dealt best with her grandmother's Alzheimer's through writing poems about the situation. She has promised I can have them to include in the book.
Our grandson, on the other hand, doesn't deal well at all with his beloved Grandpa's Alzheimer's. He doesn't come to visit except on holidays or birthdays. I wish there was a way to help him cope with the situation, but guess he has to figure this one out for himself.
Take care and hang in there you all
Mary
Good luck to you and let us know how it goes.