Any advice for my own stomach/gastro issues due to the stress of caring for FIL?
Hi, I'm sure someone here must have gone through this, so I'm just asking for advice on how to deal with this issue. I've been prone to stomach ulcers and gastro issues for years, but recently had it well under control until my FIL moved in with us. Now, I'm having all kinds of tummy issues due to the stress. I am on several OTC medications for it, but I don't like to be on these long term - it's just not good for you. We have no health insurance (again, thanks to Obamacare), so I can't really afford to go to a specialist and have a bunch of tests done, and I pretty much know what the issue is, anyway. So, the question becomes, how does everyone else deal with this? I'm trying to control my stress, but I work from home, and I'm also an introvert, but my FIL makes comments EVERY TIME HE SEES ME! He thinks he's funny, but I feel like I'm being watched, observed, and commented on every second of my life, and it's driving me INSANE! ("Well, look, your hair is wet!" Yes Dad, I just took a shower. "Oh, are you going to drink that?" No Dad, I'm just lighting a candle. "What was that noise?!?!" I'm just getting ice from the fridge, Dad. "Wow, you're moving so fast!" I'm just walking to the laundry room, Dad. These comments NEVER STOP. And it's even more fun at night, when he sundowns and get cranky and starts yelling at me, or when he wakes up confused at 1:00 AM, and 2:00 AM, and 4:00 AM...) You can't tell him to stop, because he has dementia and forgets. Then I feel guilty for trying to avoid him, which causes further stress, so it's just a never-ending circle. How do people deal with this?? I'm open to suggestions. Thank you!
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www.va.gov/COMMUNITYCARE/programs/caregiver/index.asp
Have you considered yoga or learning how to meditate? Behavior modification therapy can help too. And please know that in our eyes, you are a hero. Even though you dont feel well, your post was about helping Dad. Kudos!
As to places with day care, are there any Jewish Family Services in your area? In ours, they have a day care program; I don't believe it's restricted to Jewish members though as they have typically provided outreach generally to people in need.
The Alzheimers' Assn. is a good source of information, better than the Area Agency on Aging in my area. The AA e-mails requested information w/I 1/2 hour. The AAA generally responds within a week, usually with a request for donation.
Would he be able to go to breakfast, lunch or other social gathering of Veterans? In my area one of the American Legion posts is holding a holiday dinner for WWII Vets. He probably wouldn't need to interact, but on the other hand he might feel out of place as he did at the Senior Center. However, that might also have been due just to the change in setting. New and/or different surroundings can be unsettling.
There are large piece puzzles with pieces about 2" x 2" (+/-) . I found some at baby stores, to be used when my father was intubated and medicated (against my preference) with psychotropics.
Dominoes are another game; even if the dots don't match, it might give him a chance just to put together some pieces and see what the design turns out to be. Triangular dominoes offer different perspectives on design creation.
Years ago I found an excellent site with suggestions for dementia activities. That site eventually disappeared, but, lo and behold, I just found another. Search "games for dementia". If you use Microsoft's Bing, you'll get hits first; Google provides ads first.
The Alz. site (alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_101_activities) also has a 101 activities section.
Does he like music? Strauss waltzes are relaxing. If you have a collection of CDs, let him go through and choose one. It will keep him busy and occupied. And giving him a chance to make a selection of something on his own may make him feel important.
SendHelp - Well, I don't drink much coffee anyway, some mornings I don't have any at all, but I already drink 1/2 caf Americanos - yum! ;) As for slowing down, again I will say...lol! But, it's a nice thought.
CountryMouse - good thoughts, all. I do try to exercise, but it seems the most stressful weeks are also the ones where it's tough to get out. Ugh. I'm going to try for a bike ride today, though! The breathing exercise is a good thought, too. Yes, I hold my breath a lot. And I laughed hard at this:
"Because the effect of someone doing this is, I hope, probably as close as we'll get to the auditory hallucinations of schizophrenia and IT DRIVES ONE NUTS!!!"
Yep!!! Thanks for all the help and understanding, everyone!
And do you get any physical activity? - apart from the endless domestic round, I mean. Working up a bit of a sweat and getting out of breath - ten minutes' speed walking round the block, e.g. - is good for the system in general. I had 'Liberty Bell' on my iPod for the purpose.
I feel for you on the constant scrutiny + running commentary aspect. Gosh what a bind it is. Elderly person asking innocent questions, harmless remarks on "the bleedin' obvious": why should it be so difficult just to nod and smile and rejoin "'deed I am busy!" or "yes, I expect I do look tired"? Because the effect of someone doing this is, I hope, probably as close as we'll get to the auditory hallucinations of schizophrenia and IT DRIVES ONE NUTS!!!
a) stop lifting, carrying, and bending.
b) stop hurrying, walking fast, slow down.
2) Remove tight fitting clothes.
a) remove your bra, or wear a sports bra, two sizes larger for comfort.
b) very loose fitting pants, or a house dress.
c) larger underwear at the waist.
d) stop hurrying to get dressed, it is very strenuous!
3.Control foods:
a. Coffee is contraindicated, but you can still have it, drink less.
b. Cafe Americano has 1/2 coffee with 1/2 hot water added.
c. 1/2 decaf, 1/2 regular. Limit to mornings.
We did look into Adult Day Care, and are still looking, actually. The weird thing is, I couldn't find one near us with "memory care" that would accept him on a day by day basis, he had to be inpatient. I'm going to keep looking, though. I keep hearing that they're out there, I just haven't found one! I'm going to call the Area Agency on Aging again; they're the ones who gave us the day centers to look into, but each one was a bust. ?? Oh, and there's no Gilda's Club near us, unfortunately, but thank you for the idea!
We do have a Senior Center near us, but it's pretty much above his level - they're very active and their cognitive level is pretty normal. (We checked it out with Dad; he seemed a bit overwhelmed with it.) But, they also have some days where they do music programs; I think we could plug him into that for an hour or so! I don't know if we can leave him by himself, so I do like the idea of hiring someone to stay with him while he's there. I guess I always think of caregivers just coming to the house, but that's a good idea to have them stay with him somewhere!
Grammy - I'm sorry that your mom rambles! That would be hard to listen to. So far, Dad only mumbles at night, occasionally, in his sleep. I'm thankful for that!
I didn't know about the sugar making sundowning worse, thanks for the tip! He does like his sugar, lol!
I'll try some puzzles, too. He's never been that into puzzles or games, but if I can find just one thing that he likes, maybe he'll do them! We did try that Lumosity online brain games website that you can do on your computer, but that was a bust. He's never been great with a computer anyway, and the Lumosity was almost kind of comical for him! (Sorry, you have to joke where you can! Poor guy. He tried, though!) I thought about maybe getting him some really simple crosswords, or Sudoku. He's good with numbers, so if they're easy enough Sudoku, maybe he'll do them.
Anyway, guess I'm rambling now. Thanks again, all!
The repetitive comments/questions are so much a part of the disease and we all just have to come to terms with it. Some people put on headphone with music and don't answer them... For me, I don't mind just answering. My mom is stage 7 and rambles all day and many nights. I have learned to mostly zone it out.
Our home is quite small as well, but we do have a small (8x10) bedroom for mom but she spends her days in our living room with us. I am sure it is tough in the tight quarters.
Maybe you could use some of dad's money to hire a companion (or maybe even a volunteer from church...or neighborhood) for just a few hours. They could chat with him, have lunch, look at books or photos, do puzzles, anything that works for dad.
Make sure you take a bit of time for yourself each day... Go for a walk, do some yoga, read a book, go shopping, whatever works for you. Tag team with your husband, you go..he stays, then he goes..you stay. That is how my husband and I work it. Once in a while, we have one of our daughters stay and we go together... Or we load mom up and take her with us...but not too often.
It is a lot of work, physically and emotionally. I don't think any of us realize until you do it day in and day out, for weeks, months, years.... One thing that helps me is to remember that this too shall pass. Each stage has its own challenges, then on to the next stage and different challenges. I don't think you will ever regret taking Care of him later in your life. You will look bad a be glad you gave him this time.
One recommendation I would add is to locate the closest Gilda's Club and consider participating in their activities. Our local one has an excellent program. There are also whole family activities, such as potluck suppers.
Some of the activities are geared toward meditation, with various nontraditional musical programs. That might calm and sooth him.
I'm going to pass on the Medicaid issue; I'm just not that familiar with it, but others here are.
I understand that sometimes there are no options. And it really wears you down. FIL is probably at the stage in which he's focused on HIS needs and doesn't understand your needs, especially for peace and quiet while you're working.
At this time I only have one suggestion as to the repeated interruptions. Perhaps set aside some brief time every 2 - 3 hours, have a cup of coffee or tea, and chat. Then tell him you're going to work and can't be interrupted.
With dementia, he might not understand, but it might be worth a try. If he does understand and can be programmed to look forward to the coffee breaks, it might be like brain patterning - but that might just be wishful thinking.
I don't really have any good suggestions for sundowning, other than not giving him anything sugary for dinner as that might contribute to any agitation he has otherwise.
Or you might find a nominal "fidget" tasks for him to keep him occupied. He could fold towels, sort things out (nothing that shouldn't be lost though). Perhaps he might gain some sense of usefulness with nominal activities.
Can he work puzzles, play board games by himself?
It also seems to me that his queries are basic, somewhat of an attempt to have a conversation. Is there a good Senior Center in your area where you could take him for events? If you can't take him, some SCs have transit; my father's has a small bus which can pick up residents for various trips.
If you can think of some social activity that allows him to get out of the house, you'll have some peace.
As for any siblings, please allow me to say, "Bwahahahaha!!!" Sorry, had to get that out. My husband has one sibling, who is completely and utterly useless, and lives a thousand miles away, anyway. I wouldn't subject Dad to that household, regardless, so it's not even a question.
We HAVE discussed putting Dad in memory care, it's just so darn expensive! Dad has some money saved, so it's kind of an option, I'm just worried about blowing through it all too quickly - he's not rich, and neither are we! Our thought was that if he's with us, we can help save him some money, and then he can more easily afford to have the occasional caregiver hired for the day/night, when we need a break, or if both of us have to be gone.
I don't know, I just didn't know it would be this hard; I thought I would adjust to this. I think it would be easier if he had his own room or suite, so to speak, but our house is very small, even my husband's desk is out in an open area. We don't have an extra guest room, so Dad sleeps in an alcove in the living room, but also sits near the TV or at the table in the eating area. There's nowhere to hide, so to speak. I also feel bad that he doesn't have his own room, but we have curtains around his sleeping area, and he does seem content there - I think he likes being around us all the time, as he's very people oriented, and an extrovert, obviously.
Sorry, I don't want to be one of those people who says "No, that won't work" to every solution. I'm just hoping maybe there's something we haven't thought of.
If we do put him in memory care, what happens if the money runs out? Does Medicaid cover it? Sorry, that question has probably been asked a million times. Thanks for having patience with me. ;)
I'd be carrying a piece of paper and he would ask "what is that?". Now i just answer "a piece of paper". There are times I just want to be snarky because of the lack of common sense in some of those questions.
For me, I get acid-relfux, thus prescription pills didn't help, neither did over the counter stuff. Turned out after having a DNA test done for medicines, those medicines wouldn't work for me, glad to know that now.
So I just dove into a bottle of Tums for whatever is stomach or acid-relfux related.... so far they work for me :)
Are there are noncontributing siblings?
Does he have funds for independent living?
If this were me, I'd have a friendly sit down talk and let me know that he's making you ill to the point that you can't care for him. Mention the words IL or AL so he can begin to think of alternate living (even if you don't plan to explore these options).
He's dominant in the household, and you'll need to stop that, but with dementia you have an added challenge. Do you think it's time to find another home for him, such as in memory care?