Thanks for sharing. I lost both my parents to Alzheimer’s.. the losses of self and independence along the way were heartbreaking to watch. Hugs to you and your husband.
Thank You, for sharing this experience. I am a nurse now home taking care of my father who has Parkinsons with dementia. I have such a hard time pulling back and referring to my nursing. When these episodes come up. The that didn't happens come about. The trying to not get in a circle of an argument that makes no sense lol and then goes into him arguing my side before its over. Especially trying to be respectful, but stern. The dark and scary road is bad, and we seam so alone here, while other family are in denial. I have heard all the out there things from family. "Parkinsons does not affect your mind," I have stopped explaining that PD does affect balance, can also affect learning, memory, and behavior. Thank you so much for sharing, God Bless you and Charlie.
I know exactly how you feel. It's so hard to show respect and love when your being verbally abused every day.Allow me to share this poem that I am trying to live by with God's help. Do not ask me to remember. Don't try to make me understand. Let me rest and know you're with me. Kiss my cheek and hold my hand. I'm confused beyond your concept. I am sad and sick and lost. All I know is that I need you, to be with me at all cost. Do not lose your patience with me. Do not scold or curse or cry. I can't help the way I'm acting. Can't be different though I try. Just remember that I need you. That the best of me is gone. Please don't fail to stand beside me. Love me till my life is done. .....unknown
I too am heading down that dark road with my 89 year old Dad....I suspected for a long time that he had PSTD I didnt guess it was combined with dementia until Feb 2013 when my Mom passed away suddenly while on vacation in Mexico with my Dad....he bought her ashes home with him on his birthday. Since then at 1st I thought it was grief that was making him act the way he was acting and knowing the PSTD was also playing havoc with him I was confused as Ive never had to experiance this awful disease and dont wish it on anyone....for years before my mom passed away we had been noticing he was quite nasty, yelling alot over the smalleat things treating my mom very badly, verbally & physically....all thou we told her she didnt have to put up with that she didnt leave him....now she is gone and I am the one getting the wrath....along with his dementia and not remembering things....he also lost his licence which has made it even worse....i am 59 yrs old and have COPD Im trying my very best to deal with all this while trying to grieve over my moms death....she was not just my mom but my best friend and every day has been a struggle...also we have lost 2 more close family members one being my moms brother and the other being her sister-in-law. Im totally lost and finding not much help here in Canada for families like mine. Thank god for sites like this where I can bouce things off of you good people. Thanks for letting me vent. Xo
Marlis, I've been following your articles all this year, thank you for sharing your experiences. What wonderful memories your hubby has about the past, enjoying the wonders of nature.... many of us are jealous that he got to experience such delightful things. But on the other side of the coin, he can't do all those things like he use to.... [sigh].
I can't remember how mobile Charlie is, just wondering if anyone has a large dog he can walk in the woods... if Charlie losses his way, dogs always find their way back home.
Are you living in a place where you can feed the wildlife? I know that I and my sig other can spend hours watching the birds, squirrels and chipmunks feeding right outside our window. The chipmunks are getting a bit tamer, not running away as fast when we bring the feed out. Maybe a deer feeding station further back in the yard [if the yard is opened and has woods], they like to eat dog chow.
What about wildlife cameras? These cameras are waterproof, use batteries, and has a computer chip where you can place that chip into the computer to see the pictures. I have one on my front porch at small animal level, and one on my back deck. We finally found out who was taking away the water bowl off the deck, a young fox :)
My husband has dementia also and it appears we are going down that dark and scary road. God bless both of you and us also. My prayers and thoughts are with you
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A Trip Down Dementia’s Ever-Darkening Road
for sharing this experience. I am a nurse now home taking care of my father who has Parkinsons with dementia.
I have such a hard time pulling back and referring to my nursing. When these episodes come up. The that didn't happens come about. The trying to not get in a circle of an argument that makes no sense lol and then goes into him arguing my side before its over.
Especially trying to be respectful, but stern.
The dark and scary road is bad, and we seam so alone here, while other family are in denial. I have heard all the out there things from family.
"Parkinsons does not affect your mind," I have stopped explaining that PD does affect balance, can also affect learning, memory, and behavior.
Thank you so much for sharing, God Bless you and Charlie.
I can't remember how mobile Charlie is, just wondering if anyone has a large dog he can walk in the woods... if Charlie losses his way, dogs always find their way back home.
Are you living in a place where you can feed the wildlife? I know that I and my sig other can spend hours watching the birds, squirrels and chipmunks feeding right outside our window. The chipmunks are getting a bit tamer, not running away as fast when we bring the feed out. Maybe a deer feeding station further back in the yard [if the yard is opened and has woods], they like to eat dog chow.
What about wildlife cameras? These cameras are waterproof, use batteries, and has a computer chip where you can place that chip into the computer to see the pictures. I have one on my front porch at small animal level, and one on my back deck. We finally found out who was taking away the water bowl off the deck, a young fox :)