Is anyone else finding their loved ones AD is progressing since this coronavirus scare?
I’m wondering if any one is noticing a dramatic change in their loved ones behavior? I don’t know if it’s a natural progression in my husband's AD or the result of the change in routine because of the coronavirus. I try to limit the TV but must admit so much has happened at once in my house that’s my head is spinning so I don’t see how his isn’t either . At the beginning of this scare he saw me fall down the stairs in the house , after which one child stayed with him while the other took me to the orthopedic surgeon . Luckily it was just torn ligaments in my ankle and not my hip ( God was watching ) but I am in a boot and hobbling around . Also , even tho we are trying to social distance to the best of our ability , the kids are taking shifts as I’m not allowed to take the stairs or walk the dog and a physical therapist is coming to the house a few times a week . Oh my , as I’m writing this I may be answering my own question . He sometimes understands what’s going on and sometimes looks at my foot and can’t figure out why I’m wearing a boot, why someone is sleeping over , why groceries are being delivered, why we’re washing out hands constantly ..............
But he is definitely sleeping less,
imagining things happening that really aren’t , becoming more incontinent and I even took his razor away and bought an electric one as he cuts himself now every time he shaves .
Anyway thanks to this wonderful site I already feel better .
This is such a hard time for everyone, things will go better, they have to! And yes, thanks God you didn't break your leg.
I did notice more memory problems with my mom and some confusion. She watches the news a lot, there's no way to stop her. She also didn't sleep well recently, but I'm not worrying too much, I noticed in the past that when she's stressed these things occurr, but so far they've all went back to normal when the stress passed.
That's a socially distanced hug!
The only person that I have been close to with Alzheimer’s was my godmother. She lived in a nursing home towards the end of her life. She also went blind from macular degeneration.
She went through Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans which was devastating in 2005. She did not even know there was a hurricane. She thought the nursing home was taking her on a ‘road trip’ during the evacuation. She truly wasn’t aware of the catastrophe.
So who knows how much a person truly understands. I think it depends on the stage of the disease and so forth.
I had just posted a question about dementia and shelter in place before I saw your question.
I care for my Aunt while in Montana. She is in California!
Her ALF has been on total isolation for 2 weeks .
I have noticed that she had become increasingly confused.
She has started asking about going home again. She is stressed over her belongings. These issues had decreased tremendously over the last 2 months , but are now at her forefront!
I think because she has nothing else to occupy her mind, her mind has gone back to what is familiar.
It doesn't seem to matter that she has been told that her home has been sold and all of her belongings are safe, she now seems consumed with worry.
I am praying that once she can resume what had been her normal activities, she will settle in again.
I have come to equate any change in a dementia patients routine, is like moving furniture on a blind person. It throws their world upside down! When what is familiar and safe has been changed, they have to struggle to navigate!
Our loved ones Dementia is never going to get better, however, praying that they can get back to some sense of normality!
God bless!
Sending hugs and prayers!!
When people come to visit, they should wear masks. Everybody should wash hands frequently and wipe down "high tough surfaces" with a rag soaked in bleach water. You do not need to wear a mask or social distance from your husband.
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