My 93 year old father has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer's although he's not yet actually had a face-to-face meeting with a doctor, to tell him (he's had 2 appointments with Memory Nurses). He's due to be prescribed anti-depressants. He lives with my 83 year old mother and is making her life a misery. He's miserable and bad-tempered (but to be honest, has always been like this) and expects her to wait on him hand and foot. He will not be left alone at all now, so follows her to the bathroom and around shops. She has to help dry him after the shower, do his medications twice a day, she does all the shopping, cooking (that's another thing - he will barely eat anything and is afraid of choking) and takes him to all his medical appointments (sometimes 4 or 5 in a week). She has no life. No time even to watch the TV. He's been into a home for respite (only because we nagged him until he agreed) 3 times now but every time he comes out, everything goes back to where it was. My parents shout at each other and fight constantly (he won't wear his hearing aids most of the time). My brother and I are trying to persuade him to go into a home full time. He was on the brink of doing so but then the home said he would have to go into their dementia unit (last time he stayed he'd upset other residents with his rages, to the point that they were refusing to go into the dining room when he was there). He doesn't want to go into the dementia unit so is refusing to go into a home. Meanwhile, my mother is miserable. He's also blocked her way out of the flat a couple of times, when she just wanted to get out for a few minutes peace (I was there once, so witnessed this). I have come to the conclusion that the only course of option open to us now, is to tell him that we are taking Mum away, that she cannot cope with him anymore and that he will have to either stay in the flat on his own (which he wouldn't/couldn't do), or go into a home. I don't want to take this course of action - he will be furious, for a start - but see no alternative. It feels like getting my mother out of an abusive relationship (one that I should have removed her from years ago). Any advice/help? Has anyone been in a similar situation?
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Then let things fall where they will
It is excellent that you have an established relationship with a good care provider. Work with the home's management. Book him in for respite care, like previous stays, only this time he will stay in the memory unit (you don't tell him that beforehand). While he's there, you work with the home's Admissions Manager, your mental health nurses, any memory clinic he's booked in with as an outpatient, and his GP to get his care plan agreed.
He will be furious. All of these people together will help him, your mother and all of you to get through it. Better furious than violent with your mother or a risk to himself.
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It is possible that Father’s conduct can be temporarily altered by medication, both for his comfort and your mother’s safety.
IF/WHEN you have a printed statement indicating that your father is a potential danger to himself and/or others/is not competent to care for his own needs, you and your brother will need to assume management for him, which means ignoring his violence and if necessary, involving legal man’s to get HIM to a place of safety FOR HIMSELF.
It does not matter if he’ll be furious or delighted or any other emotion- his emotional reactions arise from his dementia, not from what happens to him or around him.
What he’s “always been” is NOT what he is now. If you think it is safer, design a care plan for him, including residential care if recommended by a professional trained in geriatric care, AND DO NOT DISCUSS IT WITH HIM.
Your situation is enormously difficult and painful, but in no way unique. It happens to many of us. Sharing experiences here can be helpful to you. We are with you.
So, in your case, if your mom feels threatened, she should call 911 and have him taken out of the home and refuse to take him back home. She should not be the one having to leave her comfortable surroundings. Your dad has an illness and the best place for him is in a home where nurses can provide the care he needs.
Best wishes for a positive outcome for you.
It’s a transitional time for all of you. You’re on your way. You’ve reached out for help. That’s a great start.
When things hit us out of left field, we are stunned for a bit. It’s easy for others to say what they would do but often they aren’t walking in your shoes.
So read the advice given carefully and use what applies in your situation. Lots of people on this forum do have vast experience and knowledge with the situation that you have and can offer valuable advice. I do not. I am not in your situation. My mom has Parkinson’s disease, without dementia. Some Parkinson’s patients also have dementia so I may face this issue one day as well and will be seeking advice for my mom.
I would like to offer support and lots of hugs and warm wishes to you. Take care and let us know how you are doing.
For his safety and for your mom's he needs to be some place where he will be safe.
Shadowing is common. Even though they bicker he knows she is a safety line for him. He knows her and she is the one constant he has so he follows her to be sure of where she is. And I am sure he gets frightened if she leaves.
He can not be left on his own. So taking mom away will not really help the situation. Is there a way you can get caregivers in to help mom? They would give her a break so she can get out.
for the a) - he'll be paying for it - doesn't matter, sort this out with the home's admin. people. As your father's diagnosis is pending and the question of his mental capacity is very much moot for the time being, you won't be able to take over his financial affairs, of course; but all the same *nobody's* situation is ever unique and they will have come across this before. They'll advise you what to do.
for the b) - he's going to respite care as before. Is the "home" one of the continuing care developments? Do you mind my asking who the provider is?
Again, people in the care industry, for want of a better term, are perfectly well aware that Alzheimers hides for much of the time in the earlier stages and won't be fooled by your father's apparent normality. The home's records will be helpful in this - if his rages impacted on other residents, there certainly should have been a report made at the time and it would be worth asking. You need to collect the evidence because it sounds as if the time for LPA might have passed, and you will be looking at other ways to represent your father - go to https://www.gov.uk/make-decisions-for-someone for the lowdown on that.
Who are the 'memory nurses' attached to? Community team or outpatient clinic? Is your parents' GP in the loop with everything, too?