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susiebuckeye Asked March 2016

My Dad has gone down hill rapidly. What can I do?

My brother moved in with my parents in the last month after being out of state for 30 + yrs. Be didn't move on as a caregiver, but to save money. Him and his dog have overrun everything and now my Dad's episodes of confusion are daily. They used to only occur when he didn't use his cpap, but now it is everyday no matter what. My Dad now thinks this isn't his house that he has lived in for 55 yrs and he thinks he is trespassing. He has been getting more agitated and I think it is because my brother has upset the norm. My Mom & brother don't believe this change could do it and think my Dad is crazy. What do I do? My brother will soon be moving his girlfriend in & I'm afraid it will kill my Dad. I want to do what is best for my Dad, but my brother is selfish & my Mom feels sorry for him because he has money issues & was recently dagnosed with type 2 diabetes. No one seems to want to help my Dad but me & I'm not sure what to do.


 

vstefans Mar 2016
It sure does sound like too much change all at once for you dad to handle. Not sure why mom and brother don't get that, but the reality is with any degree of dementia, the ability to adapt to changes can be severely diminished and minor ones can seem very major. Family meeting, run through of the house, goal not to make your brother the bad guy but to find ways to make the house look and feel more familiar to Dad again. Introduce the dog to dad slowly and in a more controlled manner. Dad is probably going downhill, but maybe you can get it back to slowly instead of rapidly by reducing stress and overstimulation. That said, also entertain the possibility that there could be an unrelated medical reason things have gotten worse and get that checked out as well. Either way, he is not suddenly willfully turning "crazy" for no reason at all.

BarbBrooklyn Mar 2016
What does dad's doctor say about his very confused mental state? Has he been diagnosed with dementia?

I would talk to his doctor immediately about dad's change in mental status and agitation.

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