Tonight we had a discussion on when it is time for bed. Mac said, if you have done all the things you wanted to do, then that's it, time for bed, so go to bed it's time. Well, what about relaxing time, reading, or watching t.v. answering emails, i replied. No that's not what you should do - there must be someone who sets the rule. No at our age, we set our own rules, and i go to bed at 10;30...so i can do some other stuff besides, dishes, wash, sweeping, ironing etc. Well i'm tired said mac so i'm going to bed. And so he did at 8;30 he was tucked in - cat beside him and happy to be in bed. Every night i have to do various things before he goes, - i.e. wash him, make sure he brushes his teeth, help him to undress etc, give him his eyedrops, his pill, his patch....usually we end up he's not in bed till 10;30, but tonight i'm happy he is there - he has a bad cold, and i'm sure he needs to be asleep and he is....
We have noticed that he is not walking as well, wobbly, I spoke to a friend who is a nurse, she said it could be the combination of the alzheimers and his bad cold...so we'll see when the cold ends. but definitely his stamina for the cold weather, the walking and staying up, is dwindling down...We are still in the process of waiting for the CLSC to provide us with a person to give him a bath,give us an extra 4 hours of free time and in the meantime, i'm doing the shower for him , but it's kind of messy, and can be a bit of a problem...again my nurse friend suggested a good idea. a bed bath, why didn't i think of that. Will give it a try, perhaps others have done this, but it's just a matter of having him stay on a warm big towel, on the bed - and bring in a basin with warm water soap and facecloth and another big towel...that's the next thing i will do this way he can be able to have a bath perhaps every second night.
Today had some friends in and their questions as to how we manage made me realize that many think that the person with A. is always away in their own dream land. Actually in mac's case he talks about the day, and the here and now ...and so conversation is definitely there. one person's mother had A. and she said it's as if they are in a fog, and now and again the fog lifts and they say a few words, sometimes on target. Well perhaps that will happen, but it's not happening now. I think one has to engage the person - if we walk and or sit and i don't say anything, then perhaps mac will do likewise, but if we just talk - in the present - then he is there....last night during the night when i was helping him back to bed after going to the toilet...he said - don't ever go and leave me behind eh? I said, 'no mac, I won't. i pray i will never have to.. g'nite.
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