Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Language

Listen carefully to a person with Alzheimer's as they lose language. Tonight George's caregiver was taking something through to the bedroom for him. George wanted to say 'are you carrying that in?' instead it came out 'Gunga Din'.

I often find I can work out what he is trying to say as I have a reasonable idea of what he would have said. The caregivers at Mum's home often used to ask me how I knew what she was saying. As I said to them I guessed the types of things she might say and if I didn't know I pretended I did and watched her body language for clues, I do the same with George.

Monday, July 6, 2015

Assessing

Here, people from the hospital come to the home to assess the people with Alzheimer's. This is only done when the carer gets the doctor to put in a request. I was worried as George was still assessed at rest home level care for respite care and I know he needs more than this.

Basically here the levels are
  • Rest home when skills are pretty good and they are able to do most things by themselves
  • Rest home hospital level when there are physical needs
  • Dementia unit which is secure and the dementia needs are prelevant
  • Dementia hospital level when there are challenging needs which require a higher level of care
George has been assessed at dementia unit level. As he was booked in at hospital level for my upcoming respite break we have had to get a new facility for this time. I now need to go and visit this place before I take him there. It is amazing just how much time all these things take.

Another wet bed last night even though the two bags were taped together - oh joy.

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Remember you are only human

Yesterday did not start well. George had taken the night bag off resulting in sodden sheets....

I took him to a cafe where we met some other people and one of the men engaged George in one on one conversation which he really enjoyed. Back home he was restless and although nothing outrageous just kept me doing things with him to keep him calm and of course I have other things to do. My patience was wearing thin.

Last night, while eating tea, he kept playing with it and moving it round and round the plate and then telling me he had finished. I kept saying he hadn't and to eat it up. He eats and lot of sweet rubbish food which is fine but I do try to keep a balanced diet for him for his three main meals. In the end I gave up but I was 'sharpish' with him.

He sat in lounge and was quite upset at 'being growled at'. I shouldn't have done it and I know better but...

Remember we as caregivers are only human sometimes


Luckily he is a bit better today but still not one of his better days.

Tomorrow he is being reassessed by the people from the hospital.