Not gonna weigh in today. I was at mom's yesterday and succumbed to the mini-candy bowl again. Still can't kick that damn habit. Had 3 Reese's and 2 Hershey's milk chocolates. Tasted good, but felt dizzy afterwards. Breakfast: protein bar Lunch: Taco Bell steak chalupa Dinner: half-cup of white rice and pork tenderloin Snack: giant bowl of buttered popcorn It was kind of a miserable lunch hour. Our elderly friend that mom and I are helping had a mental meltdown and was accusing me of borrowing $2K from her and then she tried to throw out her wonderful assisted living companion, accusing her of being too nosy. It's stressful to get unjustly accused of things when you're only trying to help. But we know it's not her fault. The dementia is kicking in, and it's awful. I admit I let the anxiety of that situation drive me to the candy bowl, so I need to summon the will power to overcome it because this is going to happen every week.
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![](https://m.ftscrt.com/static/images/box/membersicon.gif) 评论
Uh oh! That sounded like a bad day ... for sure. Does this lady have family to help her or get her to a facility that can handle her now? I hate hearing about this stage of dementia. I hate to say it. I am not sure I can handle that.
2017年06月30日 会员:: Mom2Boxers
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Hard, hard, hard. Sometimes family or friends are not equipped to handle the situation. Sometimes we need professional support, help, assistance.
2017年06月30日 会员:: ginger dog
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Mom2, I recall you writing about your mom with dementia. We've now had 2 experiences with elderly loved ones and dementia. I suppose everyone is different, but in these 2 cases, they both have had intense paranoia and anger, which are very hard to deal with because once they fixated on a belief ("you're stealing from me... you're trying to have me put away", etc.), you can't change their mind. Sadly, my mom's friend has no children or close relatives, so we're her main support system. She has a very slow progressing stage 4 cancer as well, so that's why she has a companion who works with her 5 days a week. Thank goodness for that lovely help or we'd go crazy too!
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Ginger dog, it is hard, but there are good days, and we have good professional help too. I don't know how people manage their afflicted loved ones without help!
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I have heard a lot of stories about the last stages of Alzheimer's but so far my mom's has just been her short term memory that is messed up. Other things, too, I am noticing ... she never knows what to wear because she can't remember the month we are in. Her eye sight is really messed up. She says she has become color blind. She was coloring in adult coloring books. Then she just quit. Bless you and your mother for caring for this woman. It is great she has the assistant 5 days a week.
2017年07月1日 会员:: Mom2Boxers
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Mom2, one thing I've read that is good therapy for Alzheimer's patients is music. My mom-in-law can't dress herself anymore, but she can still play the piano. It is amazing! She was always a very talented musician, and that hasn't left her, and her docs say that her music skills may actually be one of the last abilities she'll lose. Playing favorite songs from their younger years is supposed to enhance their memory, so you may want to try it! :)
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She still plays the piano! That is just incredible, isn't it? I am just amazed at what they do retain. Mother doesn't play any kind of instrument and her hearing is horrible ... so playing music is out. When she watches tv, the sound is up so loud I have to leave the room. Mother works crossword puzzles almost non-stop all day long. She says it keeps her mind alert. :) I see her looking for the answers in the back of the books, too. Since she has been here and eating better food, she isn't searching in the back of the book as much as she was. Her sleep at night is never good. I think she goes to the bathroom once an hour. It's a good thing she still takes care of her personal hygiene. Fingers crossed.
2017年07月2日 会员:: Mom2Boxers
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