My mother is 87 with CHF and dementia. She has an 11 year old dog and still lives alone in her condo. Her dog has been getting sick because she cannot stop herself from feeding him small portions of what she eats daily. I have tried, begged, her to stop and have explained how it is making him sick. The vet put her dog back on bland diet and antibiotic. I am afraid I will have to remove him from her home. She loves this dog more than life and she doesn't understand what she is doing, she would never harm him in any way on purpose. Please help, need advise. Thank you.
When I am in her shoes one day, I hope to god someone gives me a fake dog to love on. We all need someone/something to nurture, even or maybe especially when we are the focus of intense caregiving ourselves.
Best of luck on this! (p.s. I wouldn't recommend a bird for someone with dementia as they are delicate and also little emotional beings too, that require proper care. birds are generally more intelligent than most folks realize and if not treated as such or related to properly with resort to self destructive behaviors and suffer. My vote would be for regular supervised visits with her dog to keep the connection and have something to look forward to :)
Not understanding how best to care for her dog may be a sign that your mother will soon not be able to care for herself properly. My mother and her dog moved in with my husband and me. She was not happy about it in the beginning, but she adjusted and, as the disease progressed, we realized the she and her dog will probably both live longer due to their current living situation. I realize dementia progresses at different rates in different people, and I pray that you have more quality time with your mother than I have had with mine. Whatever you decide to do, I wish you the best.
We aren't going to do surgery or any chemo. He is 11 and has had a good life.
Also, my husband's Mom went to the hospital this morning because she was discovered unresponsive by the nurse assistant early this morning. It is also my husband's birthday today. Geez, when it rains it pours...