New Here caring for parent with Alzheimers
 

Anyone want to offer some suggestions....on how to have a full timed stressful job and care for a loved one who is mentally slipping away faster every day....
torn between wanting to be home more and wanting never to be home.....

Write a journal
 

I draw cartoons but maybe you could write a journal. Let it all out. Draw pictures. Crack jokes if you can think of any. Watch Masterpiece Theatre Reckless - there are some good suggestions on Alzheimers in there. If the patient can'r remember yesterday see what they can remember from further back. Get massages. Do Yoga. Breathe. Cry. Laugh. Break something. Mend something.

Is someone with them during the day?

Some will respond to music - like the old time stuff they listened to in younger days. calming and soothing is the main key.

What stage are they at now?
sometimes forget peoples names or who relatives are
forgetting how to do things
leaving burners on


My gramma was a gentle soul and just got more & more quiet and timid as hers progressed.
She started to not know she was in her own home ( with full time in home care person & family nearby) and would constantly ask "when can I go home?" Then started to be afraid of nearly everyone and had to be fed like a baby, was falling out of her bed, just becoming too much for the in home caregivers then family decided it was time for specialty care home.


my elderly aunt also had diabetes so it was a mix of blood sugar swings and Alz or senility.
She would get a stubborn streak, at least not mean but would say she ate or forget to and then the blood sugar dropped and she was found to be out of it quite a few times.
The apt she was in didn't allow for any extra person and she didn't want to more either..
Finally at the end she was moved to a care center , but we knew it wouldn't be long .
But sometimes people are ready to go anyway...

It's a tough decision. I too am caring for a parent with Alzhiemers and working a full time stressful job. Right now my husband stays with her during the day as she requires 24/7 care. Not for her health, but because she can't remember where she is. I'm working full time and caring for her when I get home. Truthfully...it's killing me. Physically I'm on a downhill slide that goes faster everyday. Emotionally I'm being ripped apart by my feelings of caring for her vs. working. There's no easy answer. Speaking from my own experience, don't try doing both for a long period of time. Caring for a parent is emotionally draining and you may find your energy level dropping rapidly. I can only suggest to pick one or the other and go with it. Dividing up time and energy like that could be more than you bargained for (believe me). Best of luck to all of us.:hug: