Alzheimer's under 24hr supervision
My neighbor was diagnosed with Alzheimer's a while back.
She's 81 and doesn't remember meeting me 18 days ago.
She came over and introduced herself when I was moving in.
She kept repeating the same thing over and over again,
as if telling me for the first time.
I had a hard time getting her to leave.
Sometimes I see her standing out on her patio staring off like she's
in some kind of trance.
She stays by herself during the day, but has a sitter at night.
Last Saturday she locked herself out of her home and couldn't remember if
her daughter had a key or not, it also took her several minutes to remember her
daughters phone number, for me to call.
I'm worried she might burn both our homes down...it's really sad how quickly she's going,
but her daughters want her to stay there long as possible. I just wish she had a day sitter as well.
Should she be alone during the day?
I think she needs someone in the day. If she is getting worse and you are worried about fire, you need to call her daughter and ask her to get someone in the day.
There are home care service. Sometimes the daughter may not know that her mother is getting worse. She certainly needs not to bother the neighbor, but you can do them a favor by calling the daughter and explain to her nicely about your concern.
My father-in-law has advanced alzheimers so he has 24 hours home care.
Nina
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How kind of you to be concerned! I agree that she needs more help - someone checking on her more often. She is obviously at a stage where she could leave the stove on or do something else that could lead to disaster. Also, she could wander off and get lost. Her family means well. She no doubt says she wants to stay in her own home, so they are reluctant to move her. They do get her care at night. But, unless they can afford 24-hour in-home care, she should likely be in assisted living. The very fact that she is sociable with you and wants to chat (and you can't get her to go) makes me think she is lonely. This can make dementia worse.
Elders often fight assisted living, but once they get there, the grow to love it. The have friends and they feel safe. This becomes their home and they forget the other home. Your neighbor sounds like she's getting to that place in her dementia. As to what you can do? No much, unless you are willing to call social services for a welfare check. I'd try talking, nicely, with her family first, but that does take courage.
Carol
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Carol is right. However I want to add that please talk to the family before you call a social worker. Give them a chance to realize this. We had this situation and the neighbor told us to get someone to help my father-in-law. Although it was not a happy conversation, in the end the problem was resolved. My husband was not the type that is very aware of the need to get his father help.
Nina
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