by
Joseph
Saturday, November 21 2009
Performing the tasks of a caregiver is hard work. You have to prepare meals, manage medications, and perform a lot of varied cleaning tasks. It's hard to find some time for yourself. As days become weeks and weeks become months, fatigue from the routine can affect one's mood. The desire to do a good job and remain... Read more
by
Joseph
Thursday, November 19 2009
When it becomes obvious that an elderly parent can no longer live alone, a bit of panic sets in. Some choices have to be made and they may conflict with the desires of the parent. Nobody wants to give up their independence. In the case of dementia, a person living alone begins to make mistakes that can have deadly... Read more
by
Joseph
Wednesday, November 18 2009
My mother had lived alone for ten years after the death of my father in 1999. She moved from the family home into a condominium and gradually socialized, making 4 or 5 new neighbor friends. She would visit with them and chat on the telephone to pass the time. Between them and her brother and sister, she was well... Read more
by
Joseph
Monday, November 16 2009
I've written on the topic of delusions a lot lately. My 88 year old mother continues to struggle with delusional thinking. To me, it seems like my mother is having bad dreams that somehow morph into part of her reality. As a child, she was severely disciplined by a strict Irish father who enjoyed his whiskey, a bit too much. When his children had... Read more
by
Joseph
Saturday, November 07 2009
In the ten months that I have closely observed my 88 year old mother's mental health decline with "Unspecified Dementia", few things are more heartbreaking than seeing her live with increasing episodes of delusion. The delusions can range from harmless goofy little things to very frightful, terrifying experiences. These episodes can... Read more