Hello Monday

Looking forward to a new week

Amazingly the calendar is empty of any appointments this week, but that doesn't mean it'll be a slow week, anything can change at a moment's notice when you're a caregiver to someone with dementia

Photo Description - A profile head shot facing to the right of a much younger Boris the Black Cocker Spaniel amongst the dead bracken out on the common. Boris is wearing the distinctive Help for Heroes collar which has three bands of colour, dark blue, red and light blue to represent the armed services. Photo Credit Fur & Fables

The anti anxiety meds dad's GP prescribed him appear to finally be working, last night was the first full night's sleep I've had in weeks without dad in distress and confusion because he's had a nightmare and is convinced it's real

I've been looking at day care for dad one or two days a week, he's so frail and his mobility has greatly reduced in the past couple of weeks, so he's not getting out and about and seeing people anymore, which hasn't helped as dad has always been so active

Dad has always been very gregarious and since his GP referred dad to the local dementia support network a couple of weeks ago, it's one of the main things they've suggested for dad so that he can spend time with others and make new friends

Dad isn't very keen on the idea at the moment, but I've booked us an appointment at The Hunter Centre in Haslemere for next week so that dad can have a look around and see what he thinks

The centre comes highly recommended by a friend whose mum used to attend and when I popped in the other day to make enquiries I immediately felt welcomed and that dad's happiness is important

I have mixed emotions about dad attending a day centre as it feels like I'm letting him down in some way, but I also hate seeing him so confused and lonely, but we'll give it a try and I'll be guided by dad's reaction, hopefully he'll like the idea once he's had a look around and met the staff

The advantage would be that if dad enjoys it there he could stay all day if he wanted too, which would free up some of my time to then do more things with mum

Whereas at the moment I have to stay with dad for any activities we do, which makes it really difficult spending as much time with mum who refuses point blank to leave the house unless it's hospital related

Mum also gets really narky if I spend more time with dad than I do with her, which often results in her getting so angry with me if she thinks she's been slighted in any way, she then starts screaming at me about all my faults like she used too before I left home at 15

I've tried explaining to mum about dad's decline and him needing more help on more than one occasion, but between her narcissistic personality and the start of vascular dementia she either forgets or doesn't care

Hopefully dad will want to attend the day centre at least once a week as I can then spend some of that time with mum. When I can persuade mum to go out she usually enjoys it once she's out, but crikey it's hard work persuading her once her mind is set on not to do something

Nothing in life prepares you to become the parent to your parents, I'm just muddling through as best I can

Dawn xxx 

 If you love online Jigsaw Puzzles check out our latest puzzle(s) of this weeks photo(s)

 

This Post is linked too

1) Comedy Plus - Aww Mondays 

2) Happy Tuesday 

Get new posts by email: