14th April 2008
Very familiar.
Aricept is a medication given to Dementia victims. It supposedly holds off the fast progress of the disease, but does not cure it or prevent eventual worsening.
If someone prescribed Aricept, he already has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. If your mother doesn't seem to understand this, she is either in denial or is having problems herself.
Saying inappropriate things to women (or anybody) is very common in Alzheimer's. You see, we all have certain thoughts which we do not express out loud - but the AD patient has lost the inhibitions that prevented him from saying them. Now he says whatever comes to mind. Having been a minister makes it more embarrassing, but he cannot help it at all. Going outside to complete a task and not remembering what he was supposed to do (thus saying "I'm finished" ) is also typical. By the time he got out there, he had no idea what the task was, both times.
Your nearby family memers are desperately trying to shrug it off or blame the caregiver -this is more than typical. It also happened to me. It was MY fault that Mom was getting lost, forgetting to bathe, and 2000 other things. The person who thinks your mother is exaggerating to get attention should take your Dad for 30 days just to see how much HE 'exaggerates' after that! He will be first in line to admit him to a nursing home. It is easy to criticise, hard to find a real solution.
You may have to go to your parents home and see for yourself. Your mother feels overwhelmed, scared, and at her wits end. Your Dad needs constant help. At the least, he should be in Day Care for adults for several hours a day to give her a break. You have no idea how frustrating and difficult it is to be alone with a person who has changed so radically. Sounds like she doesn't like him any more? She loves him, but she hates this disease which has already taken away much of what she used to love.
He needs help, she needs help. All the kids have to get together -even if it's by phone - and make out a plan. Get a specialist's opinion. This only gets worse. Intervene now before something bizarre happens. I hope he is not driving a car, for example, or fooling around with guns in the house? All that has to be taken out of his reach.
I sympathize with you, but someone has to stand up and 'be a hero' for your parents!
love,
Martha
Aricept is a medication given to Dementia victims. It supposedly holds off the fast progress of the disease, but does not cure it or prevent eventual worsening.
If someone prescribed Aricept, he already has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. If your mother doesn't seem to understand this, she is either in denial or is having problems herself.
Saying inappropriate things to women (or anybody) is very common in Alzheimer's. You see, we all have certain thoughts which we do not express out loud - but the AD patient has lost the inhibitions that prevented him from saying them. Now he says whatever comes to mind. Having been a minister makes it more embarrassing, but he cannot help it at all. Going outside to complete a task and not remembering what he was supposed to do (thus saying "I'm finished" ) is also typical. By the time he got out there, he had no idea what the task was, both times.
Your nearby family memers are desperately trying to shrug it off or blame the caregiver -this is more than typical. It also happened to me. It was MY fault that Mom was getting lost, forgetting to bathe, and 2000 other things. The person who thinks your mother is exaggerating to get attention should take your Dad for 30 days just to see how much HE 'exaggerates' after that! He will be first in line to admit him to a nursing home. It is easy to criticise, hard to find a real solution.
You may have to go to your parents home and see for yourself. Your mother feels overwhelmed, scared, and at her wits end. Your Dad needs constant help. At the least, he should be in Day Care for adults for several hours a day to give her a break. You have no idea how frustrating and difficult it is to be alone with a person who has changed so radically. Sounds like she doesn't like him any more? She loves him, but she hates this disease which has already taken away much of what she used to love.
He needs help, she needs help. All the kids have to get together -even if it's by phone - and make out a plan. Get a specialist's opinion. This only gets worse. Intervene now before something bizarre happens. I hope he is not driving a car, for example, or fooling around with guns in the house? All that has to be taken out of his reach.
I sympathize with you, but someone has to stand up and 'be a hero' for your parents!
love,
Martha