Saturday, August 2, 2014 Oh this is where i sleep....

and over there on that side - you sleep...yes i answer....this is what mac says just about every night...after he asks where is the bedroom.  Once the preposee has his p.j.'s on I try to get him to bed asap as he has had so many problems these days waking up to get dressed...Strangely enough yesterday, he woke up at 7;00 a.m. a first, and then couldn't get back to sleep..so we both stayed awake.and all went..well   BUT, that did it.this morning he could'nt wake up till after 9;15, which wasn't too bad as this is the day the preposee, Agnes comes, she is cheery and always later, takes her time, so that was good.  But, his behaviour was awful  Mac tried to kick her when she was dressing him... it's really tough trying to be nice when someone waves you away, as he did the minute he saw her..but she persevered. After she finished she told me that he did kick her; and that the man next door Mr. Putch yelled at her all the time she was dressing him..so for her it was a really bad day. 

Getting back to asking where the bedroom is - mac doesn't remember where any room in this house is and we've really only got three, plus a hallway..another thing, he can't seem to see me when I sit at the far side of the room on the computer.  He has trouble seeing his fork, spoon, or his food..I'm definitely going to make a eye doctor appointment.  Last time we were there the doctor says it goes with the territory, meaning Alzheimers..but it seems to be getting worse..Actually I'll check it out with the doc  when he comes back from holidays..in the meantime I am getting morose over these things, and have to work hard to cheer myself up had been telling my friend whose mom has the big A. and this continues from my email to her....

So that's that...I had been reading stuff for care-givers that says  'your family would be willing to give you time out...and you should take it blah blah, but they don't take bathroom needs into consideration....and how difficult it is to interfere into the lives of others who also have their own lives and problems to deal with....

 

A plus...our usual preposee introduced us to a new one that will be working part time,  she is English - from the Camaroons in Africa..jolly girl named Eunice, she said she would be happy to moonlight when i need her.

Actually my Debbie is still there for me, and does a good job for the most part..so i'm just going to forget about making all my family part of the solution....i.e. giving me short times out, respite when needed....

 BUT, your answers this one and the earlier, make so much sense, and i'm a happier (not entirely happy) camper and have just a tiny bit of sadness, added to my perpetual easy to cry status...which by the way was what sent me reading "helpful hints for the caregiver in the first place...hmm."

Her answers were that no one that has not lived full time with someone with the big A. really knows the heartbreak it causes; and feeling like crying is par for the course. In any case i made it clear to her that I would rather live with him than without him..and saying that -  the perpetual lump in my throat went away and I cheered up; now I hope I can stay that way for at least a while.. My support group are great, and they say everyone in a family that has a member with A. has their own problems plus the added heartbreak of trying to be there for the caregiver and the family member that has the disease..and it is a really difficult problem..so with that in mind, I'm happy that Mac has a supportive family, a wonderful little great grandchild who loves him, and says Grandmac is my best friend  - how wonderful is that..so g'nite..