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He has recently been diagnosed with dementia.

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He may (probably) is depressed.
Ask MD about medication.

Visit a day-care on your own.
You could take him out for lunch and then visit a day-care.
He won't agree.

You could arrange for volunteers to come in (from a church, college (nursing, geriatric, counseling Depts).

If you bring over a caregiver (thoroughly interview), introduce as a friend of yours if this might help (with his resistance.)

Get him a massage.
Volunteers can do - shoulder rubs, foot / hand massages. Often touch is better than trying to talk to someone who is depressed / isolating. Depends on his receptivity (to touch).

Gena / Touch Matters
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We found that letting my Mom know that my daughter and I were the ones needing help. We were getting worn out with caring for her for five years +.

Yes, it was initially more work getting the schedules and instructions settled but now five months in we are so relieved to get some of our time back for our own families and interests.

So far we have them in for two hours each morning and evening. Eventually it may progress to full days and
possibly nights, it is $$$ but so far her funds allow it.
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Angdavger: Pose your question to his neurologist.
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Reply to Llamalover47
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Just go and visit him. Bring over a pizza or a pie or anything. You don't have to talk. He doesn't have to talk. Watch a game or something. Then tell him how much you respect and admire him for not wanting to be a burden on his family. Let him know that no one wants to talk about bringing in help, but it has to happen so he can stay living in his own home. That everyone including him is going to take things one day at a time. I've told more isolated, ornery, stubborn, care-resistant elders with dementia exactly this for 25 years as a homecare worker. I tell them and their families this now as a homecare owner. Speak kindly, but plainly to him about it.

If you get a homecare worker who's a good fit with him he will grow to see that person as like a member of his family. It's not easy to bring up, but it's like pulling off a band-aid. Just do it. Putting it off and thinking about it will only make that talk worse and more uncomfortable. Bring some good food with you though. I find when a person knows there's some dish they really like, it softens whatever talk needs to be had. Good luck.
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Reply to BurntCaregiver
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Hrmgrandcna Oct 16, 2025
As a former fellow CNA and caregiver, I absolutely 👍 agree.
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I would ask him questions and see if he's given any thought to any of it:

"Dad, given what you just learned about your health, what are you thinking in terms of preparation and care? "

Asking questions, rather than trying to tell him stuff. In the end, any talk of it might freak him out and there won't be anything you can do about that.

It would be important to know if he's got an assigned PoA (you?). If not, he needs to know what this may mean for him if he doesn't ever put this in place (most likely court-assigned guardian making decisions for him rather than his chosen PoA).

I wish you success in having a productive conversation with him.
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Is he isolating by personal choice? As an extreme introvert myself, I would absolutely shut ANYTHING like that down in a heartbeat, regardless of what words were spoken by whom. So, coming from that perspective, there's isn't anything anyone could say or do to get me to agree to that. Probably not the answer you were looking for, but at his age he's gained the right to have complete control over his life for as long as humanly possible. With dementia the time will obviously come when he can't make those decisions anymore, but I doubt he's there yet.
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