She insists that she does not require anyone to babysit her. Her husband realizes that her being left alone for a few hours may not be the safest thing for her.
First and foremost, she isn't the one who gets to make that decision. She has dementia, so unfortunately, she doesn't get to issue the orders. I assume her husband is your employer, so you don't need to answer to her on the topic.
You and the husband could always tell her that he's the one who needs overnight assistance.
You come up with a 'therapeutic fib' to explain why it's not allowable for her to stay alone anymore. ~Her doctor has ordered her to have a caregiver with her 24/7 365, no exceptions ~If/when the doctor says it's okay to divert from that care plan, THEN you will revisit the subject. ~Don't shoot the messenger; I am only repeating DOCTOR'S ORDERS here
Keep repeating that mantra over and over again, as needed, and put the blame on the doctor. In reality, that IS the truth of the matter anyway: a dementia patient cannot be left alone at all! Whether she 'likes' that rule or not, it is what it is and you are not in charge of making the rules. She should take the matter up with the doctor if she has an issue with it.
Like Alva said, 'feeling good' isn't always in the cards anymore, especially with a dx of dementia, we ALL lose; the patient, the family, the spouse, the caregiver, everyone. So compromises have to be made on everyone's part. Or, your client can go into a Memory Care ALF too; that's always an option, and a very good one too for most.
There is really no way in ANY time in life for us ALWAYS to feel good about anything. And certainly that is most true in these years with dementia. It's like expecting a teenager to "always feel good" about the rules. Won't happen. So you kindly explain "the rules" and the reasons for them (likely over and over again and to no avail). Just a part of it. This disease isn't rational, and can't understand. I am sorry. I wish you the best.
You and the husband could always tell her that he's the one who needs overnight assistance.
~Her doctor has ordered her to have a caregiver with her 24/7 365, no exceptions
~If/when the doctor says it's okay to divert from that care plan, THEN you will revisit the subject.
~Don't shoot the messenger; I am only repeating DOCTOR'S ORDERS here
Keep repeating that mantra over and over again, as needed, and put the blame on the doctor. In reality, that IS the truth of the matter anyway: a dementia patient cannot be left alone at all! Whether she 'likes' that rule or not, it is what it is and you are not in charge of making the rules. She should take the matter up with the doctor if she has an issue with it.
Like Alva said, 'feeling good' isn't always in the cards anymore, especially with a dx of dementia, we ALL lose; the patient, the family, the spouse, the caregiver, everyone. So compromises have to be made on everyone's part. Or, your client can go into a Memory Care ALF too; that's always an option, and a very good one too for most.
Good luck~
And certainly that is most true in these years with dementia.
It's like expecting a teenager to "always feel good" about the rules. Won't happen.
So you kindly explain "the rules" and the reasons for them (likely over and over again and to no avail).
Just a part of it. This disease isn't rational, and can't understand.
I am sorry. I wish you the best.