Winning a fight with an Alzheimer's patient . . .
April 23rd 2009 17:35
. . . can't be done, ever, never and yes, that's a mighty long time. Even the simple things can feel like a battle, (Me at first) THOSE are pajamas, not an outfit, please wear this, not that, yes, they're really pajamas, yes, I gave them to you for your birthday, but they're still pajamas, please change your clothes. (Me Now) NICE outfit.
Strive for sanity saving (yours) simplicity.
Going back to the experience at the foot doctor on Tuesday, (at least I think it was Tuesday, is this stuff catching?) in the waiting room, listening to the woman yellling at her mother who apparently suffers from dementia. YES MOM! We've been here before! We've been coming here every three months for the past two years! We talked about it before we left, we talked about it in the car AND I've told you 4 times since we've been sitting here! Please, read your magazine and let me read my book!!!!
I felt bad for both of them, and after the third time the daughter repeated herself, (excepting the fact that she was a much larger and fitter looking woman than myself) I kinda wanted to drag her outside by her hair and give her a good shake.
My newest strategy seems to work (most of the time). Keep it simple, or agree, AND then distract. Big explainations don't work, getting frustrated may be impossible to avoid, but try hard not to show that your last nerve has been boxed to death.
When Gram asked me "Where are we going?" I said, "The doctor." She said, "Which doctor?" I said, "The cute guy that rubs your feet." She was more than willing to arrive at the office on time and didn't have any major issues until she heard the bleating frustrations from the daughter across the room.
Should I have offered advice? Perhaps, but I do remember my first few years of caring for Gram. I was in denial of her condition and actually did tell a couple of people to stick their advice up their poop-shoot. Some days and sometimes, you just need to learn things on your own, or ask for help. -HELP!!!!!
Strive for sanity saving (yours) simplicity.
Going back to the experience at the foot doctor on Tuesday, (at least I think it was Tuesday, is this stuff catching?) in the waiting room, listening to the woman yellling at her mother who apparently suffers from dementia. YES MOM! We've been here before! We've been coming here every three months for the past two years! We talked about it before we left, we talked about it in the car AND I've told you 4 times since we've been sitting here! Please, read your magazine and let me read my book!!!!
My newest strategy seems to work (most of the time). Keep it simple, or agree, AND then distract. Big explainations don't work, getting frustrated may be impossible to avoid, but try hard not to show that your last nerve has been boxed to death.
When Gram asked me "Where are we going?" I said, "The doctor." She said, "Which doctor?" I said, "The cute guy that rubs your feet." She was more than willing to arrive at the office on time and didn't have any major issues until she heard the bleating frustrations from the daughter across the room.
Should I have offered advice? Perhaps, but I do remember my first few years of caring for Gram. I was in denial of her condition and actually did tell a couple of people to stick their advice up their poop-shoot. Some days and sometimes, you just need to learn things on your own, or ask for help. -HELP!!!!!
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