Month: December 2023

12.31.23

CAREGIVER NOTE:

As you show patience with others, give yourself some grace too. This can be a difficult time for everyone in the household. Something old, become something brand new yesterday – difficulty in understanding how it worked and what would happen if he did this or that, though he was familiar with it not 10 minutes before. Celebrate the small victories as some days, they are the biggest ones experienced throughout the day. 2024 will bring lots of challenges as the dementia grows — stay the course. Reach out for help if needed and remember that you’re not alone in the journey.  

Choose your pathway….

CAREGIVER NOTE:

We’re a step closer to having to set up the motion detector or foot pressure pad in his room after last night. He’ll notice the extra light in his room from the monitor, so I need to figure out a way to “hide” the light from his view but still get full use of the detector — he’s forgotten about the baby cam — but there’s no light associated with that — He’s been pretty stealthy getting out of bed and opening his bedroom door if it’s closed. Lately, however, he’s leaving his room door open, so there’s no door opening to warn us of movement that the monitor hasn’t been picking up. I’m not sure if opening the front door was part of a dream or what, but thankfully, the hotel latch sticks a bit and he wasn’t able to get outside into the freezing night and we were able to get him back into bed safely. I see a shopping trip today for a new monitor or two. 

12.29.23

CAREGIVER NOTE:

There are times i’m not sure that giving him the talking watch was the best answer… I lost count of the number of times he pushed the buttons after midnight. LOL He was having a difficult time sleeping as well – and when he did get up, it an additional hour after that before he was able to go back to sleep. Hoping for a better night tonight. 

Look forward.

CAREGIVER NOTE:

Another long and late night. More questions about his finances. He’s not able to wrap his head around things and keep track. He’s worried he doesn’t have enough or that he’s not helping enough. I hope we were able to allay his fears a bit and show him that he was doing okay. That there was sufficient for his needs each month and a buffer for unexpected things. Today is another day….. 

And leave a heart print or two wherever you go.

CAREGIVER NOTE:

Lots of memories all jumbled up. He spent another good portion of his day worried about something that had happened 60+ years ago and what we had explained to him a couple of days ago about the incident still didn’t sit right with him. Another son was able to come to the rescue and fill in some additional details that seemed to settle the memories a little more. We’ll see how things go today — as I’m pretty sure there are still a few questions that will pop up today. Questions about uncles long time passed and how they don’t seem to have aged at all as he’s grown older — and how could he be older than they are? Some things are just difficult to navigate as he anticipates their “next visit.”

12.22.23

CAREGIVER NOTE:

This dementia thing is a whole different ball of wax! Long term memory for him is also becoming muddied. After listening to his concerns about a situation that happened nearly 50 years ago and his needing to get the answers from those who were there – it was heartbreaking to have to tell him that we couldn’t call any of them. Grateful however, that there was someone in house who did know a good portion of the story and could hopefully help him process what had really happened and help him calm down. Praying for calmer day today.