My problem is that she doesn't want to go out at all anymore and she doesn't want to bathe. She has a caregiver during the week and the caregiver has the same issues with her. She has lost all sense of trying to keep herself clean and she was 180 degrees opposite from this her entire life. She doesn't want to occupy her mind with anything. She doesn't like TV. She doesn't even try to read the paper anymore and she used to do word search but wants nothing to do with that anymore either. Also, when she says she wants to go lay down for awhile she gets back up within 5 minutes. She can't relax it seems. Does anyone have any input or advice on this? I feel like it would do her good to get out more with assistance of course and she never has any social interaction with anyone anymore except for me and her caregiver. I feel like she needs this too. Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Will she allow a sponge bath? That might be the best you can hope for. Dry shampoo powders?
I don't think that getting her out more would really be of much help at this point. I think it would be confusing. Going out for a ride and to look at pretty scenery, etc. might be fine, but getting her more social interaction might not be what she needs at this point.
I agree that her lack of interest in reading, word search and not being able to relax all have to do with her condition deteriorating. If she is VERY agitated, it might be good to talk to her doctor about this and she might benefit from a little bit of something to take the edge off.
Good luck!
https://www.agingcare.com/topics/5/alzheimers-dementia/articles
and watching this video series
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2E2lPBsUeBjA1Utglo8q6yANAijEf8cX
Your aunt's aversion to bathing is common. There may be good reasons - she is afraid because the bath/shower isn't accessible with bench, grab bars and hand held shower, or it is too cold, or she is protecting her modesty - but sometimes there is no easy fix. Given that she is only with you on weekends I'm wondering why does this even come up?
She can't watch TV because she can't follow the story, the same applies to books. She's jittery and agitated because at some level she knows something is wrong but she can't articulate what it is or do anything about it. Leaving her familiar home only makes this worse, people with dementia do best with order and routines and change can be very upsetting.