To Read the complete Dementia Blog Chick here.

We’ve had a few successes as of late. The pills’ problem has been rectified and is working smoothly now. No problem usually in the morning, and the evening is working well with FaceTime with one of our sons. I take my pills at the same time Peg does in the morning, and that also helps. I assisted Peg in having a shower last week, and I also assist her in getting dressed now. A lot of the hesitancy comes from her confusion about what to do next and how to do it. Don’t assume anything. Peg gets confused about what to do next in the applicable order and how to do it. It’s not about her not wanting to; it’s about her forgetting how to actually do it. Recognizing that reality and then addressing it by assisting her goes a long way in getting rid of the anxiety that is associated with her sense of helplessness. And, I’m learning to not believe everything that she says. I had asked her if she needed assistance with the shower and getting dressed, and she repeatedly told me that she didn’t. That was not true. We’ve had a few high fives this last week or so. It is a good thing!

6 November Update

Everything has been going relatively well as of late, with a couple of small hiccups. The medications problem has been solved with me giving Peg her pills in the morning, which she very seldom objects to, and in the evening, she takes them with no problem via video encouragement by one of our sons. He takes his pills with her at the same time, so they do it together.

One day in the morning after I had already gotten up (Peg usually gets up later), I found Peg sitting on the bathroom floor. She said she didn’t fall, but I think that was part of it. No real damage was done other than a bruise that later appeared on her arm. I could not get her up by myself, so I requested one of our sons to come over and help me, which was successful. This is the first instance of anything like this happening. I am extra cautious about assisting her whenever she walks from one location to another (I hold her hand).

Another first was that Peg left the apartment quietly, went downstairs (eight floors on the elevator) to the underground parking in the basement, and I found her walking around in her jammies and slippers, pulling a grocery wagon that most of us have here, behind her. This all happened in the space of about ten minutes. No harm done, and I have since installed an electronic wireless door chime (relatively loud) that activates anytime the door is opened, which addresses her wandering somewhere outside of the apartment without me being aware of it. Sure, got the old heart rate going for a few minutes. All kinds of fun! We also have scheduled in-home assistance one a week now, just for one hour to get Peg used to it, to help with dressing, brushing her teeth, hair getting washed and dried and showering. We talked yesterday, and she told me that she is content and happy, which is what we are both aiming for. It’s still not easy, but it has definitely smoothed out somewhat, with unexpected stress. All good and God is so faithful!

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (Links that I found informative and helpful)

https://alzheimer.ca/en

https://www.youtube.com/@DementiaCareblazers  Free YouTube Videos (Very Informative)

https://go.careblazers.com/guide   Free Dementia Caregiver Survival Guides (Very Helpful)

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-changes-behavior-and-communication/alzheimers-caregiving-managing-personality-and

https://alzheimer.ca/en/help-support/im-caring-person-living-dementia

https://www.verywellmind.com/the-7-stages-of-dementia-symptoms-and-what-to-expect-6823696

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/in-depth/alzheimers-stages/art-20048448

https://www.verywellmind.com/caring-for-a-loved-one-with-alzheimer-s-disease-5208724

https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-not-to-do-to-people-with-alzheimers-disease-97967

https://alzheimer.ca/en/help-support/im-living-dementia/managing-changes-your-abilities/managing-emotions-stress-living

https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/i-will-not-forget-you

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/symptoms-and-diagnosis/symptoms/restlessness

More to follow.

Worthy is the Lamb! Blessings!

Bruce Cooper is a disciple of Jesus, married to Peggy, with 5 grown up children, 7 grandchildren. He is retired from the Canadian Armed Forces and resides in beautiful Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. a.k.a. “Papa.” To read more of Bruce’s work visit Reasoned Cases For Christ.  

Featured Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay