Wow, look at that sunshine...that reaction was Mac's this morning when he came into our apartment. It is such a wow place for sure, with sun pouring into the huge windows it really is spectacular and such a lovely way to start the day. Happily the day started that way and continued right through to bed time with little agitation hurrah.
The main reason for my blog is I think we may have made a breakthrough. Mac is actually eating some solid food, even though the solid was 4 cookies ...he did drink two full cups of boost milk shake, and one cup of cream of spinach soup. Actually that was his total intake for the day, but compared to all the days leading up to this - it really is great. I tried other foods but to no avail.
Another reason I'm writing the blog today., is I have had conversations with two women married to men with Alzheimers..and noticed that the one thing these women have in common with others as well is to feel GUILT. In one woman's case her husband had to be hospitalized - he died - he was hospitalized because he was not breathing well, but she doesn't really know the cause, she thinks it may have been a heart attack
- she wasn't there - and was crying saying I feel so guilty, as she spoke about this situation, she then went on to mention other women in her support group who feel guilty as well. Sunday I was with another lady who told me she could not take seeing her husband in the lockdown ward more than twice a week, it is just too much for her, but she then went on to say how guilty she feels about this. I really think this is something that should be addressed at Support Groups and in material put out by Alzheimer's Associations.
Feeling guilt, why does one feel guilty, I think in my own case, for the most part I really don't feel guilty, I know I'm doing the best I can.
There are times, I feel I must rush back if I'm away for any length of time. I guess that's guilt. Sometimes it's because I think he may be missing me, other times I'm sure he might be acting strangely and the person with him may not be handling him the right way. There really isn't any RIGHT way, but to try to be as kind and caring as one can in the situation. The other time guilt feelings can occur is if one loses patience and starts to yell at the person with the big A. As a matter of fact, the woman I will be going with to a support meeting tomorrow wants to talk about precisely that - apparently she said they had a big blow - up over the weekend and she has had IT...So perhaps the leader of the group will give some insight into the guilt "problem".
Well it's been a good day, behavior-wise, food-wise, and even his walking seems a bit better...so on that note, I'm off to bed...wise? (no really) g'nite.
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