Dad (82) and I clean his house all the time. He has cataracts. will not get his eyes fixed. what can I do, Sunday he was out of it he kept putting his pants on back words I helped him get them on right I do not know what to do
If he is seriously seeing ants, then it may be more than his vision. It may be a urinary tract infection or maybe depression is causing some psychotic features. These two problems can make people see bugs that don't exist. Another possibility is vascular dementia setting in. I would do whatever needed to persuade him to go to the doctor. Let the doctor know that he is seeing bugs.
Kathy, you can only do what you can do. Don't give up, but don't bear up on yourself, either.
It sounds like Dad might be depressed. That, too, could be addressed medically -- but you'd have to get him to a doctor first.
When Dad says "I just want to die" could you consider a reply like this?
"I respect that Dad. You will die when your time comes. I will not try to prolong your life against your will. But until your time comes, I want you to be as comfortable and free of distress as possible. I'd like you to have a thorough physical exam to see if there are any minor things that could easily be fixed that would make the rest of your life less unpleasant."
Kathy, does your Dad get to visit with people of his own generation? If not, maybe that is why he feels enough is enough and doesn't want to go to the doctor.
Sometimes it seems like my Dad is out of it, but my sig other thinks my Dad will do and say things just to make me upset to get a conversation going.... my Mom is almost deaf so there isn't much conversation going on in my parents household.... and there isn't much I can talk to them about because their day is pretty much the same thing day after day, nothing new to talk about :(
Most of the time good, but other times it is like he is out of it. he has lost so much weight he can not keep his pants on and we take him food all the time. he will not go to the Dr he keeps saying he wants to die. I do not know what to do at this time. He sits and messes with his belts. I brought him jogging pants so they do not fall off of him we will not wear them
Kathy, sounds like your Dad has what is called *floaters* in his eyes... it's all part of aging, most people over a certain age will get them. But it sounds like your Dad has more medical issues than his eyes. As Jeanne suggested above, have your Dad have a complete checkup. Hopefully it is something simple to resolve.
Sounds like it would be a good idea for Dad to have a complete checkup. Even with vision problems most men can tell that the zipper or opening goes in the front. Perhaps he is starting to have cognitive issues as well as vision issues. How is his memory?
It sounds like Dad might be depressed. That, too, could be addressed medically -- but you'd have to get him to a doctor first.
When Dad says "I just want to die" could you consider a reply like this?
"I respect that Dad. You will die when your time comes. I will not try to prolong your life against your will. But until your time comes, I want you to be as comfortable and free of distress as possible. I'd like you to have a thorough physical exam to see if there are any minor things that could easily be fixed that would make the rest of your life less unpleasant."
Sometimes it seems like my Dad is out of it, but my sig other thinks my Dad will do and say things just to make me upset to get a conversation going.... my Mom is almost deaf so there isn't much conversation going on in my parents household.... and there isn't much I can talk to them about because their day is pretty much the same thing day after day, nothing new to talk about :(