What does it feel like to find out your loved... - Making Space
What does it feel like to find out your loved one has dementia?
My best friend's grandmother has had Alzheimer's for as long as I can remember, and it's definitely really tough to watch her decline. I'm still not sure what the best way is to handle when they just don't know who you are anymore.
I am lucky my wife has not reached that stage yet iknow it must be hard but just keep chatting to her as she may just remember some things even showing her old photos can recindle old memories
its awful....you just have to stay strong for your family member or whoever it may that has dementia...they still love you even if they can't tell you...and you just love them back!
hi my mum had dementia she was in a emi home for the last 7 yrs of her life
when i was first told it was like this cannot happen to my mum my dad passed away a few yrs before my mum became ill all i can say is you are going to have to make a lot of very important decisions remember you have your own life to live which is what i forgot when i was looking after mum at home and ignoreing my own familey some things they do make you cry sometimes they make you laugh but what ever they say or do dont forget they still love you its the illness that makes them say things
Watching someone you love suffer from dementia is heartbreaking ,my dad has vascular dementia and has suffered with this for the last 7 years 18 months ago we made the painful decision to place him in a nursing home that specialises in EMI nursing as my mum could no longer care for him.We have laughed and cried but stayed strong for him as he did for us when we were growing up. The person we love is still there it's just the illness that has made him say and do things he wouldn't have normally done.
It feels lonely. My husband was diagnosed with cerebral vascular disease 2 years ago. His brain scan showed no signs of alzheimer's. His problems are mainly with memory and cognative skills. Its like he has to re-learn each day how to do things he has been doing for his whole life. So random things happen, nothing major, little things like bringing me the remote control instead of the phone!! I have no idea what the prognosis is. For now life is relatively normal although I have to be very aware of any dangers for him ie crossing the road as he doesn't perceive things too well. We can laugh still, but I cry inside.
Thanks for sharing all these moving stories. I understand how painful it must be and offer my condolences to you all. Let's continue to support each other in this community and find strength in times of need.
My Husband was diagnosed with vascular dementia last year, at first it was a blessing as the early diagnoses where of Cancer, however this was dismissed as he improved medically and when discharged from hospital had dementia, after all I had been though I was just pleased to have him home. However the mood swings started and a side of him I did not know appeared, even with daily care I found this very difficult, then after discussing it with a very old friend I realized my husband could not cope with the daily carers...people who didn't belong in our lives...so they had to go...and we had an improvement.So now he goes to WORK each day, WORK is a daycare centre and comes home each evening as he would have done 10yrs ago, lifes tough, I grieve for the man I HAD, while I share my life with the man I now have, and prayer that God will give me strength for tomorrow and the next day. Make life simple, turn the clock back, it has worked for us and I cry about it, but never in view of my husband or family.
I can identify with this very much indeed as my husband was also diagnosed with dementia about two years ago and it is a gradual slow progression and each day I notice little things he cannot do or remember which he could before. As you say it is very lonely as there is no longer any meaningful conversation or input with everyday decisions and all of a sudden it is all down to me to make all the decisions and also do the driving which he used to do so well. Thank God for my family who are all very supportive. I hope you are also lucky enough to have family support. God bless you.