Hello to all of you. I have been my 76 year young Mother's fulltime caretaker for 18 months when she moved into our home. Prior to that She just needed some support care. Someone to check in daily, make sure she ate and was just generally okay. Then in the matter of 3 days she took such a turn for the worse that she required 24//7 care. She became afraid, angry, aggressive, depressed, anxious, insomniac, and combative. Thankfully we have a great PCP and Psychiatrist that we where able to get her on medication to help calm most of those issue, but was a very rough 4 months. She was diagnosed with dementia, and aphasia in 2017, one year after having brain surgery for lots of small bleeds. She doesn't have just dementia going on in her brain, but a lot of different things that I just call it ABC Brain dementia. Mom remembers some basic things, but not the names to them. For instance rubs her body to tell me she wants to wash or take a shower. Doesn't recognize names, but once in a while a familiar face puts a smile on her face, I tell that person to cherish that moment for they mean something to her. She will say my name sometimes, but doesn't know who I am to her, except for being her security blanket. For the most part she does basic hygiene activities with prompting, and can fold a load of towels beautifully. Towels aren't always dirty, but she always has a basket full to be folded. She loves to sweep the floors, just throws the dirt away wherever. There is a few other things she does, but these two always put a smile on my face. She never wanted to be put into a nursing home as she new she wouldn't be able to stay active with them. She still loves to go for walks when weather is good. She doesn't watch TV, can't read anymore, not able to write or talk on the phone. She spends a lot of time pacing or petting the cat. We did volunteer at local humane society, but haven't been lately because she gets agitated on way or once there. She still doesn't sleep all night, might get up to 3 hour of sleep, up wandering for 30-60 minutes during night and up for breakfast between 6-7, sometimes 8. In last month she has started napping more during the day, with little change to night sleep. Has had lots of other changes mentally, but I know that this will be new norm until next set of changes comes along. Her changes are about every 4-6 months. Does anyone else notice this?
I am just thankfully to be having this time with her, the memories I will keep and to know that if she knew what was happening she would be happier with me. It is one of the most difficult things to be doing and I am extremely thankful for my husband with his smiles, support and jokes.
