My dad's nurse said he has taken another down turn. I can see it when I visit him. When you talk to him he turns his head away from you and doesn't respond. It's almost like he is mad at you but he's not because ocassionally the light will turn on for a split second and he will give you a bright smile full of love.
He has developed a tick that is not very pleasant to watch. The nurse said that as the Alzheimer's gets worse, supposedly the tick will go away. He clinches his teeth like he is in pain and he gasps for air and he does this ALL day long. It makes me worried everytime I see him but the staff said he is just fine. I don't like it. I haven't seen him in one week. I have a hard time seeing him right now. I know I should suck it up and go anyway but it's heart breaking.
As my dad has more and more down turns it seems as if they are extreme. He can barely walk now and when he first moved in to the home, he walked just fine and that was about 5 mos ago. So, to me, these changes seem rapid but to Alzheimer's I guess it's par for the course.
Poor dad.
Monday, June 8, 2009
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6 comments:
Seeing your dad decline and go through these awful changes, must be so painful for you.
Alzheimer's appears to be so different with each person, but no matter what..... it is a HORRIBLE disease.
My thoughts and prayers are with you, your dad and your family ......
I am so sorry to hear about your Dad's recent down turn. There are times that it is almost too painful to watch. It is important to take care of yourself (I know that is much easier said than done). My Mom has just started to receive Hospice care and I am finding it harder to visit. It is a constant struggle with "sucking it up" and taking a break and not feeling all the guilt.
I am thinking of you and your family.
Hey Kristin,
Sorry to hear about your Dad! Girlfriend.. I know it's hard for you.... and some days even unbearable! Please!!! Do yourself a favor... suck it up and do the right thing; for you and your Dad! Be there as much as possible. Trust me... when he is gone, you cant make up the lost time. Be there for him, even if he does not know that you are there. Alzheimer's is a horrid disease and it attacks the mind and the body! It can not attack the soul. Your Dad's soul needs to feel your presence! Suck it up girl!!! You know all a about Alzheimer's. You know your Dad is only going to get worst... so be there, no matter how bad it gets. He needs you and you need him...
You are always in my thoughts and prayers!
Email me for my phone # if you ever need to talk!
xoxoxoxo
Donna Marie
I’m sorry to hear that your dad is declining. I know every decline my mom took hurt so much to watch. It’s weird – I knew what we were in for long term but somehow didn’t think it would happen to my mom. When I read about the later stages of Alzheimers, it made me sick to think my mom would not be able to walk, talk or feed herself one day. I couldn’t believe that she would become completely dependent. But she did. And as each step happened, it killed me a little bit too.
My mom also developed a "tick" or habit of clenching her hands constantly to the point that they would become so sweaty that her skin would "prune up" and her hands would get almost stuck that way. We would have to physically try to stretch her hands out now & then.
I also struggled to spend time with my mom when she would decline because it was so hard to accept. Guilt would plague me. Then somedays, I would find strength to go and spend a lot of time with my mom and would feel so glad I did but at the same time, terribly sad and depressed. Alzheimers doesn’t just affect the ones who have the disease; it affects the family and loved ones more than we’ll ever know.
Krista,
I hope you are having a good day today! I was just thinking about you!
Hugs
Donna Marie
PS I know it's hard... hang in there!
Every person suffers from the disease in his/her own way. Hang in there. Your visits help assure quality care.
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