Hello, I just found this site and I am so happy that I did. I am COMPLETELY lost and overwhelmed with my current situation and new role as my grandma's primary caregiver.
Physically, she is doing great. She couldn't walk steadily and now she walks without a walker. The strokes affected her cognitively. Her short-term memory is like a goldfish. She goes through "looping" and sundowning. She has cryptic pneumonia (inflammatory pneumonia).
Basically, all she wants to do is stay in bed. She's on prednisone, so she is shakey. She's very depressed and I'm worried she is losing her will to live.
How can I get her to stay up and alert and do life? I have a lot of word searches and puzzle books. I fight her to do my and everything- bathing, getting up, doing her PT exercises, etc.
Prior to all of this, she lived alone, mowed her 2 acres, did home repairs, went to the casino, and out with friends. It's absolutely heartbreaking to see her like this. I am a "fixer" so this is killing me.
I stay with her 4 days out of the week while my husband is home at our house. My mom and brother stay the remaining 3 days. I want my life back and to go back to "normal."
I'm rambling and I'm so sorry that this post is so long.
You aren't God. You can't change what has happened.
The sad truth is that this isn't getting better and the trajectory of all this is now downward. You, of all people shouldn't be involved in this caregiving. This is for her children to handle, and either to DO, or to see it IS DONE. That probably means placement because your grandmother has had her life, is now ill and will not recover, and she requires the hired in help of several shifts with several people each.
Get together with family, and tell them you will not continue as caregiver. Let them know that you will not be taking on shifts as of a certain date. The POA or next of kin will need to begin searching for placement for your grandmother.
You deserve a life; grandmother has HAD a life. It is not fair that you are expected to throw your own life on the burning funeral pyre of your grandma; it may be a slow burn.
Who is to say, in 10 years when grandmother is gone, that one of your PARENTS will not need/want this care? Is this what you choose for your own life.
It may sound hard. And if it is too hard for you, then you will continue in this sad choice. You are a grownup. You now make your own choices and live with consequences of them. But do understand what is at risk in your own well-being and in your relationship with you husband.
I am very sorry. These choices are ALWAYS done with great grief and mourning. That can't be avoided in life. I understand it's easier said than done. But the facts are clear. Do some thinking and some talking with hubby, and perhaps with a good cognitive therapist before you act, if you like. But you will need slowly to make the steps in building your own defensive walls. That begins with approaching all involved with great honesty.
I often advise on this forum that all children (I will now add grandchildren) should move 1,000 miles away when they reach age of majority. I more and more believe that's a good idea.
And who wouldn't be depressed when you were a short time ago living on your own and enjoying your life and now you're needing family to take care of you?
The best thing you and your family can do now is to educate yourself about this horrific disease of dementia, because this is one thing that CANNOT be fixed.
I always recommend the book The 36 Hour Day, along with Teepa Snow(a dementia expert) who has lots of videos on YouTube and many books as well.
And while it's very sweet that the family is all stepping up now to help grandma, please know that she will only continue to get worse and that you all deserve to have a life away from caring for her, so there may come a day when you'll have no choice but to have her placed in a facility, and that will be ok.
You mention inflammatory pneumonia. I am wondering if she is already experiencing aspiration pneumonia. How is her swallowing? She needs a speach therapy assessment to see if her diet needs to be radically changed to improve that situation but will not provide a cure.
Strokes can be quality of life sucker's. She cannot go back to a normal quality of life here. Your family of caregivers need to make adjustments. Eventually one by one, each will face burnout and drop out of this current plan.
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/vascular-dementia/vascular-dementia-causes-symptoms-and-treatments
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4QGBPmAK_I
https://www.heartandstroke.ca/stroke/what-is-stroke/vascular-cognitive-impairment
If she's fighting you over doing herADLs, PT and so on, this isn't likely to get better, only worse. Also, with the family caregiving plan you have going on now, she is probably bored. But you are all so busy and overwhelmed with her care that you can't be expected to be her trained monkeys and amuse her all the time. Her old interests may never return. You can try to interest her in those, but her brain is now injured, and you may not have any luck with it.
Those are hard truths. I suggest you look into assisted living or memory care situations before something else happens, such as a fall. That could set her back even more, and if you don't have options in place, you'll be scurrying around trying to find a suitable placement at the worst possible time. In the process of looking at these places, you'll observe people who have suffered strokes, falls, and other issues. You'll see the socialization, the caring aides, and the acceptance that the residents have for each other. You may decide to place grandma sooner rather than later for her own good as well as yours.
I wish you luck in proceeding with a plan.
Your grandmother can't go back to normal. The strokes have affected her ability to process information, and when brain cells die, they don't recover. People can slowly re-learn to do things, by "training" healthy brain cells to take on new tasks.
As her caregiver, you will need a lot of patience.
It wouldn't hurt to have a physical therapist, or someone other than you, to go through exercises with her. That is important to maintain what strength she has.
Let her sleep more, and keep her engaged with simple activities. NOT word puzzles! The damaged brain works hard to process everything! Try playing simple games (like for children) with her. If she likes music, play music and encourage her to move or dance (for exercise, and a mood -booster!)
Create simple tasks for her to "help" with around the house.
I, too, struggled with sundowning and "looping" (perseveration). I got a lot of tips by "googling" the conditions. Both of these can be triggered by anxiety and stress. A medication in the evening can help to calm her and reduce anxiety.
Also, you can help by reducing stimulation. And by sticking to a routine.
Changes in routine can create a lot of anxiety for someone with dementia.
Another helpful tip is, learn to re-direct her attention to something she will be interested in. A TV show, a treat, just move to another room. If she is truly uncomfortable, but can't clearly express what is bothering her, ASK if she has pain anywhere. She may not think to volunteer this information, unless asked.
And go through a list; Does your stomach hurt? Does your head hurt? Where does it hurt?
Do you want something to eat? Something to drink? Would you like to lay down?
In general, keep her environment calm. Limit noise and chaos.