I don't know what to say or do anymore when my husband says I have him locked up in the house. He says he lives with his mother. Obviously he is going thru the time shifting phase in Alzheimer's. We are seeing his doctor in a couple of weeks and I have to write down all the progression that has been going on. I'm just getting very frustrated with the situation now. I know he does not know or mean what he says but I think he is just getting worse faster then I thought he would. I'm very burnt out from it all. Your thoughts please. Thank you.
That's been one of the difficult things for me in dealing with my mom. I'm a software developer, and I'm naturally a very logical person. It's sometimes hard for me to talk to mom when she's not at all logical. For example, she insists she's been to my niece's house in another state, when she hasn't. Logical me thinks that us telling her Susie moved after the pandemic, and that she (mom) hasn't been anywhere since then, should make it plain she hasn't been to Susie's house. But it doesn't work that way. She just *knows* she's been to Susie's house. In the past couple of months there's a new phenomenon. It's like deja vu, where she keeps saying in different situations, "We've done this before," when we haven't in fact done it before.
Well past time actually.
You are now to the point where you have to meet your husband where he is at, and live in his world and quit expecting him to live in yours. Your life will be much better if you can remember that.
Plus I would recommend hooking up with a local caregiver support group that meets weekly, where you can share with others that are going through similar things to you. It always helps to know we're not alone in what we're going through.
There is nothing easy about dementia, and it sounds like you're not dealing well with it at all, and that can be very dangerous to you as 40% of caregivers will die before their loved one suffering from dementia from stress related issues.
So perhaps for your health's sake you may need to start looking into getting your husband placed in a memory care facility, where you can get back to just being his wife and advocate and not his burned out and stressed out caregiver.
I have handled pretty well being the only one doing the caregiving. Thank you.
When DH complains about being locked up in the house, tell him you are too! Where would he like to go? For a walk? To get ice cream?
Like Funky said, YOU enter HIS reality now and meet him there. If he says you're mom, you're mom. If he's locked up in the house, so are you, by choice. There are no prison bars on the doors or windows. Make light of all the nonsense. Until it begins to affect your health negatively and then you have decisions to make.
Best of luck to you.
in meantime maybe you could get some official help taking him out day to a park for fresh air / do you have anyone else to help ?
-all said- It sounds like you have reached all you can cope with. Speak to his doctor first advice -
Have him checked for a UTI if these behaviors seem to be progressing rapidly.
I'm finding out that dealing with the older population and of all their demands and complaints is to be engaging but detached in the same manner. It's not that you don't care, but it is a learning curve to protect your own peace of mind while helping someone.
Tell the doctor that you can not safely meet his needs at home any longer and ask for a referral to a memory care facility.
I agree with AlvaDeer.
Don't let the doctor postpone action until a future appointment. Keep pushing. Ask what needs to be done for placement in a care facility.
In the meantime, try and have patience with your husband. Don't try and argue with him about where he is or anything he perceives to be true. It will only add to your frustration, and his.
If a severe, unmanageable event occurs, call 911 and have him taken to the ER. Don't keep your cool about it. Emphasize how unsafe he is or how unsafe you feel! And that you don't know what else to do! Once at the hospital, he should be evaluated by a neurologist and can be admitted to the hospital or to an appropriate care facility for his condition.
I wish you the best! This last year there was a water leak that went undetected until it got severe! There are still repairs needed between the insurance and me getting sick! I feel so isolated from the world! I only drive a couple times a month because I am so sick from Lyme! He is here but the home nurses that were here said they were very concerned about him and how he acts! I have not slept in my bed upstairs since September when I got sick! I told them that I could be dead upstairs and he'd never care! A home visit Vet that came to my house for my dogs too noted that he seemed animated in his actions! He wants everyone to think I'm a liar and everything is good with him! He is a stranger to me! He has no concerns about me and would love it if I dropped dead! 55 years on 12/6 and he never said a word! My neighbor said she could cry the way he treats me! I know if he goes into a facility I will never visit him! I am trying to get my health better so I can start putting plans together!
I understand how you feel! Stay strong!