Follow
Share

FIL has been in AL that he chose 10 months ago . It was very difficult getting him to go in AL as he said he can dress himself . Finally got him to go in one that looked like independent living . He ate three meals there before going in and said they were good. On and off he complains about the food . He asked to move to another facility 2 months after being there because of the food and we were willing . FIL after touring more places decided to stay where he was because he literally has a one bedroom apartment as his building used to be independent living . He has a regular kitchen , regular apartment sized refrigerator/freezer . They have however unplugged the stove/ranges so they don’t operate . They supply a microwave . he has his Keurig coffee and a toaster . He gets three meals a day at the dining room . He wanted a toaster oven but that is not allowed. Even the toaster is iffy , as they told us they look the other way on that until he sets off the smoke alarm . I bought a toaster that if the toast gets stuck it shuts itself off . These things were very important to FIL as he is always trying to prove he can live independently . Now he says he is willing to give up his “ regular one bedroom apartment “ and take a more one room type assisted living room . The first month he was there he would shower by himself occasionally . Then the odor got so bad we knew he had stopped showering all together .Staff has been more forceful about showers and implemented toileting schedule which he refuses. He is very stubborn and showers occasionally . He wears the same depends all day until it leaks . His dementia has gotten worse . We know that if we move him to another place they most likely will not allow some of these small kitchen appliances he has . He frequently uses the toaster and coffee maker . Uses the microwave occasionally. The place he lives at now is liberal about small appliances . . It was the only one that “ allowed “ the forbidden toaster . He will not remember that we tell him he can’t have the toaster or perhaps even the coffee maker or microwave depending on the facility . Also I think he’s going to complain no matter where he goes . He has always insisted he is independent and doesn’t belong there. This telling us he has to move is also coming back up because the facility he is in took away his meds from his room , yes he was giving himself his meds. That was another big tadoo . He would not agree to go to a facility that would not let him give himself his meds . But they have now taken them away as his dementia is worse . He’s angry that they took away his meds. He agreed to a cognitive test in order to get his meds back but they told him he is having more “cognitive problems .” He says his brain is as good as ever and that they think he’s incompetent and that their philosophy is to take away his independence . He thinks he can bargain to get his way all the time . His walking is very bad , uses a walker . We told him we will not take him out to restaurants anymore unless he lets the staff help with showers/ incontinence as he can’t clean himself properly and that he must do PT.
He told us he would do PT. He doesn’t understand that he has to do all of the above to get to go to a restaurant . He is doing PT but not allowing staff to help with hygiene . He thinks he can choose the conditions and get his way. We fear that if we move him to a new facility he will think he can demand to give himself his meds , and have forbidden kitchen appliances even if we tell him up front that he can’t . He will say that he gave up his regular apartment to go to a smaller room (with a refrigerator and small pantry) . He always tries to negotiate to get what he wants . He does not understand that he can’t negotiate and that the facilities have rules . Do we move him and let the chips fall ? Or do we tell him he can’t move and if so what reason do we tell him ? He will not understand why he can’t dictate . Hubby has durable POA

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Find Care & Housing
Way2, FIL has dementia and anosognosia, i.e., he doesn't recognize that his brain isn't working.

He doesn't belong in IL. Move him to AL, or better, find a good Memory Care facility.

Sympathize with the fact that he's lost independence and that the doctors are not recognizing how good his brain is. Blame the docs for EVERYTHING.

Stop taking his complaints as calls for YOU to take action.

Sympathize, empathize and stay the course.
Helpful Answer (7)
Report

Please do not let a demented mind run the show.

I told my dad that he could do whatever he could do without my help or assistance. His choices weren't my problem to accommodate.

If FIL is as capable as he thinks, he will be able to research, tour and sign up for his new facility. Then he will be able to coordinate movers and get himself into his new home. If he can't do all this solo, it can't be done.
Helpful Answer (7)
Report

Well it appears that he does need to be moved to a good AL with a step up to MC.

They all complain about the food, it is part of the list of things they are given by their sidekicks in the home to complain about.

If he is not showering and refuses to get with the program MC seems to be where he needs to be.

He is a difficult person that doesn't know what he is doing due to the fact his brain is dying in addition most likely he was a stubborn bully to begin with.

Might be time to take over the reins.
Helpful Answer (4)
Report

This man needs to be in assisted living not independent. So a move is in order.

However, the elder often suggests moving because they just want something to do. I toured many Als then had my father look at the top three and pick the one he wanted. I moved him in which was a tremendous amount of work. Didn't use movers because his stuff smelled awful so a lot of it was brand new and delivered there. But I still took many car loads to his new place. I did this myself and had to take off of work to do so. Was it appreciated? Not really. Once he was settled, he started making noises about the place being....get this..."too nice" and he should move somewhere cheaper. He would bring that up every so often. I knew he was bored and just wanted something new to think about. Bonus points that it would be a huge burden on me. After 3 years I did end up moving him to a studio in the same building rather than a one bedroom. He liked it so much better. Probably should have done a studio right off the bat but I wanted him to have someplace nice to live in.
Helpful Answer (3)
Report

He needs memory care, not indepedent living and not AL.

My mom's MC had multiple levels of care,tand the highest-functioning people had access to a coffeemaker and a TV they could control on their own. (They didn't show the residents TV otherwise.)

MC does a far better job of coercing residents into showers and handling toileting issues. AL doesn't assist all that much, especially if the resident has dementia but the caregivers believe them when they say no.

Perhaps seek out a MC with levels of care, or at least ask what a resident can do if he wants a cup of coffee. His care shouldn't be predicated on whether he has access to small kitchen appliances or not.
Helpful Answer (5)
Report

You do realize that your FIL's brain is broken and that he is no longer able to make good sound decisions for himself right? It sounds to me that you may be in a bit of denial over his situation if you keep believing that it really matters what he wants at this time.
What he wants and what he needs are often 2 different things when one has dementia. And you as family must make the hard choice of what is BEST for him and his safety.
To me it sounds like he's even past being able to live in an assisted living facility and instead should be placed in a memory care facility. Or at least a facility where memory care is offered as an option as he will never get better, only worse, so being able to move in the same facility as needed is better for all involved.
Unfortunately your FIL no longer gets a say in his care, and your husband must now step up and do what is best for his father's wellbeing and safety.
Wishing you all well.
Helpful Answer (5)
Report

IF you move him I would make it clear that is the last move, like it or not, and for myself I would not do it. There is never going to be nirvana in any of this again. One place will be better in one way and the other in another way. As my bro used to observe, complaining is what they "DO" in ALF.
From all you say I think it is looking as though FIL will be moving to/needing more care soon such as memory care, so if one or the other place has a better/more reasonably priced MC than another, I would make certain THAT is the place he moves to.
I wish you luck. But you need to accept that not everything can be fixed. With his current mental limitations you FIL may never accept that.
Helpful Answer (4)
Report

Do you realize that now your POA is in effect, your in charge. Dad can no longer make informed decisions about his care. Thats were you come in. Its no longer what he wants, its what he needs. No matter where he goes, he will not like something . I agree, eventually he will need MC. No facility can force him to do what he does not want to do Dementia or not. Those suffering from Dementia really should not be in AL. MC is the next step.
Helpful Answer (5)
Report

Thank you all for your help , I agree . Wanted to see that others support my opinion . The hard part is figuring out what to say to FIL. He will not want to take No for an answer as he still thinks he can make decisions . Any suggestions ?
Helpful Answer (2)
Report
Way2tired Feb 2023
Update. Dodged a bullet . Hubby told FIL that only one new facility allows him his small appliances but that they only have twin size beds and it’s a long walk to the dining room . ( which is true ). FIL said to hold off for now. This time we were caught off guard. In the future we will give vague answers , that we will look into it and change the subject . Don’t want to move him at his request only for him to say he doesn’t like the food there either . We will move him when it’s necessary , like to memory care .
(8)
Report
Memory care time.
Helpful Answer (4)
Report
Way2tired Feb 2023
I agree and wish. But the facilities by me tend to keep them in AL a long time before switching to MC. I think there are not enough MC beds in my area .
(1)
Report
See 1 more reply
It sounds like memory care is his next move. You posted that beds are scare in your area. If I were in your shoes I would use delay delay delay tactics until a MC placement opens up. Tell him that you are looking for a better assisted living for him but right now they are full and as soon as something opens up you will take him to see it. Then as soon as a MC bed becomes available, take him there saying a nice place has opened up and he gets to “try it out” for a week. That week becomes permanent because there is a problem with his old place (they are painting, there was a flood, whatever…). Eventually he will settle in to his new place. I don’t think many of our loved ones ever actually fully accept their new living situations, something will be wrong with wherever he is placed. Trying to keep them happy 100% of the time is impossible. You are doing the absolute best you can.
Helpful Answer (5)
Report
Way2tired Feb 2023
Thank you . We are trying , Delay and therapeutic lies do not generally work well as he’s not confused enough yet.
He would want to read all paperwork before moving to a new place . He would see that it’s not a trial basis . At some point he will have to be moved and he’s not going to go willingly to MC. Recently he has demanded to go back to independent living . I told hubby it’s going to get ugly .
(2)
Report
See 1 more reply
Your FIL has dementia so he's not calling the shots anymore. Do not move him to a different facility. He's lucky that the AL he's in lets him stay because based on what you're telling us here, he should be in memory care.
As for the stubbornness, well this is not uncommon. Many elderly people with or without dementia will and do take being stubborn to absurd levels which often results in their loved ones saying 'fine' and walking away.
You're handling your FIL's stubbornness very well by refusing to take him out to eat if he does not allow assistance with showering.
Don't let him wear you down about moving him to a different place. He's going to complain about any place he's in. Complaining can be a form of entertainment or sport among the elderly with or without dementia. I would go so far as to say in my 25 years of experience with caregiving that I've known elderly people who have elevated complaining into an art form. Moving FIL to a new location will not stop the complaining. It will give him a fresh new reason to complain. He will blame you and your spouse for making him leave his old place that he loved so much. Don't do it. Keep him where he is. When the staff tells you it's time for memory care or a nursing home, move him then.
In the meantime, let the complaining go in one ear and out the other. Ignore it. Limit your time with your FIL if you have to.
Helpful Answer (13)
Report
Way2tired Feb 2023
Thank you . It’s good to be reminded of these things so as not to be worn down by his complaining. We aren’t moving him until we are told to . And now he’s gone onto something else . Now he wants back to independent living and wants his checkbook back which he gave to us on his own . Now I think he’s trying to plan an escape .
(2)
Report
See 2 more replies
You've already gotten great feedback. I just want to suggest you check out Wellness Briefs and Pull-ups. They are designed for 8 hour use and may help with your situation. You can get them directly from Wellness or from Carewell (as supplier of medical goods).
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

Thank you to all for your support . Will start looking at more MC facilities . I have looked at one so far .
Helpful Answer (2)
Report

As mentioned, he will never be content where he is as he is not content inside (due to changes, cognitive changes, fears).

* You need to set clear boundaries.
- Tell him once, you need to stay here for now. Then change the subject. He will want to argue and convince you otherwise.
- Expect him to react emotionally and verbally. Let him get it out although do not be drawn in.

He cannot make decisions in his best interest.
If needed for your comfort, tell him when he says he wants to move "we're working on it" and change the subject.

Logic won't work.

These concerns and transitions are hard for everyone concerned.
Try to set clear boundaries with compassion. It is a dance. Don't 'get mad' at him. If you are frustrated, deal with yourself outside of his presence. He can't help himself.

Gena.
Helpful Answer (4)
Report
Loralovesbread1 Feb 2023
Gena's spot on with her advice. Your husband has POA to make decisions Dad can no longer make to keep him safe. Work with Dad's care team regarding set schedules for toileting every 2-4 hrs (them flushing the toilet AFTER he's done so he doesnt lie about having gone) and bathing him 2-3x a week. He's in a stage where he may do as they ask of him from time to time. That's the best they can do as they shouldn't and can't force him. He no longer understands.
You can call Dad once week over rhe phone before you arrive that he must take a shower because you and hubby are coming to pick him up to bring him to a restaurant. Tell his care team so they remind him he spoke to you/his son and they need to get him ready to go out to the restaurant. When Dad asks about moving, let him know yyou're orking on mmaking that available and as soon as one becomes available, yyou'll et him know. Redirect, change the subject. He will ask every time he sees you; say and do the same thing. It's a white lie that gives peace after you answer and he will be satisfied umtil he asks you again the next time. A healthy game of cat and mouse, if you will. Eventually, this phase with him will stop as he fixiates on something else and his disease changes and/or progresses. I wish you the best.
(2)
Report
There is nothing you can do to make him happy. Simply tell him that you have checked and no one has a room/apt available.
Helpful Answer (5)
Report
BurntCaregiver Mar 2023
@Buffy

Excellent advice. Short and sweet and you are 100% right. There is nothing anyone can do to make him happy because he wants to complain. Like I said in my comment, complaining can be a form of sport and entertainment for the elderly.
Telling him that there's nothing available right now is pretty good.
(0)
Report
Moving to memory care should provide him with scheduling that will be determined by the staff. Again, my favorite saying is, "No is a complete sentence."
Helpful Answer (1)
Report
Way2tired Feb 2023
He’s is very resistive to shower and toileting schedule . He tells them to come back later for shower . Sometimes he does it later sometimes he doesn’t . He only lets them stand outside while he gives himself a half assed shower. And toileting , he sends them out of the room . Sometimes he leaves pee in the toilet and tells them to go look in the toilet , that he went already. He will not let them help with or check his pull-up that he doesn’t change often enough . Facility says he’s very difficult and are trying to work with him. We told him we will not take him out to dinner unless he lets the staff help him consistently . By the time that happens he will be in memory care and then we will not be taking him out for sure, for fear that he would refuse to go back into the building .
(1)
Report
See 3 more replies
You clearly stated fil lives in AL, not IL.

With dementia at play, he should have access to NO APPLIANCES WHATSOVER. When is this AL going to understand that? When fil electrocutes himself by trying to get the bread out of the toaster with a knife?

Move the man into Memory Care Assisted Living asap and tell him it's DOCTORS ORDERS. Period.

Its time now to stop allowing an elder with dementia to make ANY decisions except what choice of dinner he'd like. POA is in force for expressly that reason....to decide FOR him what's safest and best bc he no longer has that ability.

Best of luck
Helpful Answer (4)
Report

I think you answered your own question here.

"He will not understand why he can’t dictate".

No. That's right. He can't understand. 

"He says his brain is as good as ever.."

Anosognosia. 'Medical term for lack of insight'. Check out this under care topics. I'll try to add a link.  

If his current place is meeting most/all of his needs, I wouldn't consider moving.
Helpful Answer (3)
Report


Is he obsessed with food? How many times a day does he want to eat?! He belongs in memory care. You’re not going to make him happy - there’s no reason to try. I like the answers that way “we checked. Nothing available.” Or tell him it’s double what he pays. He’s lucky to be where he is but it sounds like he’s a nightmare of liability for the AL. Take the appliances that aren’t safe. “Sorry, dad, thems the rules.” What’s he going to do?! Get mad. So what. Be mad. Lots of us here tiptoe around our parents for fear of upsetting them all the while completely ignoring the fact that we are upset and they are making our lives difficult by their bratty or bizarre behavior. At this stage we have more power than we think. We can hang up the phone. We can walk away for a while. He can’t chase you!!
Helpful Answer (4)
Report
Way2tired Feb 2023
” Is he obsessed with food? “. “ How many times a day does he want to eat ?”
Thank you !! That made me laugh .

Yes he’s obsessed with food . He wants to be wined and dined every day and taken on a cruise to Alaska . He has finally stopped asking for a cruise since I told him multiple times that I don’t do crowded boats.

Someone please reconfigure an old cruise ship and turn it into a floating nursing home so I can give him a permanent cruise to nowhere !! He talks about the gourmet food , wine and free entertainment .
(4)
Report
Way2tired: An individual with dementia should not be making ANY decisions. Good grief - that is risky to say the least to allow him to operate a toaster, let alone a microwave or coffee maker. Any number of calamitys could happen.
Helpful Answer (2)
Report

With 27 years in long-term care as a clinical nutrition counselor.. food complaints is the one thing that all residents can complain about safely. I would hear them say they cannot eat and the food is terrible but yet they were gaining weight. Frequently, it was the way of manipulating family members. I would not move him and I would stop discussing the meals.. once I stopped reacting my mom started eating better and reported food to me less often,,
Helpful Answer (4)
Report
BurntCaregiver Mar 2023
@Sadinroanokeva

You are spot on about food being the common ground complaining.
I worked in an AL for years. The residents complained incessantly about the food and it was three gourmet meals a day with dessert every night, snacks, anything they wanted. Yet still the constant complaining.
My friend's mother was in the AL I worked for. She'd cry to her daughter night and day begging to go home and crying about the food being like a prison and how bad it was. One day I called her out on her crap in front of her daughter. I asked her why she goes to all the activities going on if she hates the place so much and why does she go up for seconds and even thirds at every meal if the food is so bad?
After this she refused to allow her daughter to visit her and then went around complaining to everyone that her daughter dumped her there and forgot about her.
I called her out on that too in front of her friends. This took the heat off her daughter and mended the relationship because now she could villify and complain about me which she did.
With an elderly group in residential care, they are happiest when there's someone they can all villify together and something common to complain about like the food.
(2)
Report
Gee, do we have the relative? Dad is constantly wanting to move. I finally realized if I said, yea, great idea and left it at that - the conversation ends - or he keeps talking about nirvana and I say - yea that sounds great. No arguing and no action. just listen and agree but don't do anything. Do not move him - I played that game - 4 places in 4 years.
My Dad is the same with the food - he only cares about seeing us because he wants to go to restaurants. And Dad constantly says "I'm healthier than anyone else around here." He has congestive heart failure, bad edema in lower legs, can barely walk (with a walker), colon issues, and dementia. Totally clueless.
I finally moved Dad into a small care home so that he could get more dedicated care. He hates it but as his dementia progresses, I hear a lot less complaining.
Helpful Answer (3)
Report
Way2tired Mar 2023
Sounds like they are twins. Exactly the same , only wants us to take him places. First 20 years of my marriage we lived 10 minutes away. He never invited us out to dinner with him and his second wife or suggested a family vacation with us and our children . We only saw them on major holidays . All of a sudden now he wants to have dinner all the time and go on a family cruise. Well we said no trip at all and no dinners until he cleaned up . So now he wants attention by moving. I was trying to give the benefit of the doubt . They only have food to look forward to. But when we said we found a place he asked if they have independent living and we said No . So he said let’s hold off for now . Then he asked for the 100th time …was he evaluated for independent living because he’s not like these other people . So it’s not really about the food . I’m done , not moving him unless needed for more care or they kick him out ,
(2)
Report
I hope you dont move him. I brought my mother to Colorado to live with me because she didnt want to live alone. So I brought her and all her belongings all the way from Virginia. Two months later she begged to go home. So she went with the grandchildren AND all her stuff back to Va. A month later she is on the phone again begging to come back. I eventually went and got her again but crammed all the furniture, etc into a storage unit instead of bringing it all the way back again. (that is the only smart thing i did which i should have done at first.) She had dementia all this time but I was not as aware of the limited capacity of her brain until this scenario played out. Please be careful; I dont want you to have to go through what I did--quite hellish.
Helpful Answer (2)
Report

Overall it does seem as if he should be placed in a memory care unit; it also seems as if his small appliances should be removed. He may forget to turn the small toaster oven off and start a small fire, may burn himself if he one day forgets how to use it properly, or something else. If he complains about having these taken away, you may wish to try giving him toy ovens that do not really work, in order to fool him, or disable the appliances so that he can no longer turn them on/off. He may become frustrated after a while when trying to use these, and give up trying to use them, or toss them out.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter