CAREGIVER NOTE:

Yesterday was a sad sort of day. He couldn’t tell me the reason for his sadness, but we knew. It was the anniversary of his wife’s death. By evening, he was doing much better and felt calm and peace as if he’d come to terms with the loss again — 8 years doesn’t make it any easier, that’s for sure.

CAREGIVER NOTE:

We had the “talk” last evening. He initiated it and was wondering if we had intentions of putting him into a nursing home if his memory issues got worse. We told him we were in for the long haul and he was here with us for the rest of his life. We talked about the living arrangements — his bedroom, the bathroom and time with family. He seemed very happy and relieved about that as he understood (for a little while, at least) that his former home has been sold and no longer belongs to him and he can’t go back there to live. We’ll see how today rolls out…. as it’s unlikely he will remember our visit last evening.

Image Credit: Inspiritivity

CAREGIVER NOTE:

He’s enjoyed having visitors this week. A son and grandson. While this was a “working” trip, they were still able to spend some time together and take care of some family business. Anxiety ran high one day while the son had to be away for most of the day… I’m not sure how he will handle things today as our guests have to fly out in a couple of hours and it’s likely they will miss seeing each other as it’s an early flight.

Memory issues continue to progress. Lots of repetition and reframing throughout the day and evening. He did get a new watch that now tells him the time with the push of a button — He does manage to push the wrong button on occasion and set an alarm or two or reset the time, but we’ve been able to get it back to rights and he’s happy again.

We found a bevy of photos buried in some files on his computer. Oh the memories they hold! We’ve transferred them to an external hard drive for safe keeping — he spent a couple of hours looking through the pictures and was very happy with those memories. We are blessed to have found those and I’m pretty sure he’ll enjoy looking through them again in a day or so.

CAREGIVER NOTE:

Still not wanting to try something “new.” We’d talked about doing a few different things, made a few plans, gathered the materials and made time in the day — but when it comes down to doing it, he’s not ready to try it. We’ll keep looking for that opening. Maybe this week….

… throughout every season.

CAREGIVER NOTE:

We’re up early again (3:30 am). He couldn’t remember why he needed to get up and turn on the light… but couldn’t find the light switch and got turned around in his room. He is tucked back in bed for the moment, but there are lights on everywhere and he doesn’t want them turned off. So I guess we’ll add a glow in the dark switch plate this week and see if that will help or if it’s not helpful, we’ll work at finding another solution that will support his need for light at night in his room. He doesn’t like a night light in his room — I find it turned off, or he’s hidden it in a drawer or under the bed some times. I’ve tried a lamp, but that seems to cause too many shadows and attracts the “visitors” to his room. Maybe the switch plate will be the answer. Fingers crossed.

Still trying to find some activities he would like to do — but not finding anything he wants to do or that holds his interest other than watching the news at the moment. He hasn’t wanted to go out — not even to get a haircut or a shave. His weekend outings are becoming a thing of the past and he doesn’t want to venture out the door much even to take a walk. I’m at a loss most days… Hoping to find something he would like to do and soon. Maybe he’ll join his great-grands and decorate a few Halloween cookies with them or enjoy some conversation with this grands… it’s family dinner at our house tonight.