01/08/2024
It’s been a long time since I put up a message… I have learnt so much so let me share one…
SHE TALKS SOOOO MUCH
Who knows what stage her Alzheimers is in; it’s hard to say but the latest is that she doesn’t stop talking and I mean it!!! So it starts something like this:
• wake up and get out of bed old girl (her words)
• get dressed but first go to the loo (and everything, every process, every ‘release’ is spoken of - my words in brackets)
• now get dressed
• where are my slacks (she opens the cupboard doors)
• oh there they are but why have I got so many… never to worry (and this is repeated endlessly)
• take them off the hangers and onto the bed (she says - so from every item she wears it is verbalised and put onto the bed until she has it all) …
I am sure you can imagine - try it yourself
From every thought she thinks of she speaks of and repetition; repetition; repetition SO try it from every thought and EVERYTHING you need to do say it!
HER HUSBAND IS MOSTLY DEAF AND HE STRUGGLES TO HEAR HER… for this disability of hearing I am grateful
After a WHOLE day of this which I understand as a part of her disease I decided we should all go for a walk in the hope that the fresh air would calm her a bit…
It didn’t - she became angry because she was being taken out her comfort zone. I could see the fear and anxiety in her eyes but thank you Jesus (I mean that) her husband was in standby to encourage her) and she did walk the short walk from 1 pavement to the next and back for which she was praised and acknowledged
ANXIETY MAYBE TRANSITIONING? Who knows
I am of the belief that maybe all this chitchat is because she is transitioning into the next phase and maybe that it is her way of trying to hold onto the current phase she is in… who knows… there are no papers on the subject I can find
So yes a fear of losing what’s already lost and transitioning; panic because she doesn’t understand (neither do I) but as a carer I want to try and understand what’s happening - I don’t always get this right
And yet the chatting continued but in a far more calmer and encouraging way continues
CONCLUSION: don’t beat yourself up when you don’t get it right… it’s the hardest job because you nor her understand why or what’s happening - each person is different
Let her talk but be mindful that a change of settings may be necessary and may cause discomfort but encourage and take gentle control
FINALLY: I get this wrong everyday… being a carer but I connect with my patient in the best way I can and when I go home my question is always about what I could do better
I don’t always get the answer but the following day comes with me being mindful and her being forgetful and we start the day again
