Our family has recently moved in with my husbands Aunt age 84 to help care for her. As an Alzheimer's patient she need constant care. I have been caring for her for several months now and am wondering if I might be over my head. I have 2 children to care for as well one is school age and my youngest is 3.
Our Aunt does not sleep at night and so I get little sleep as well. I have so many questions. I know this can be done if I get organized but I don’t know where to start.
I need to find out if Medicare has benefits for her that she is not receiving: caregiver pay, Assistance to Doctor appointments, meal delivery and respite care for myself. Any help to direct me to the information I seek would be appreciated. Thank you Tammy
The one thing that takes up time for patients is to fold laundry or look at photo albums, you also might ask her doctor about the different drugs they have for various behaviors if it gets to be too much. Again, good luck
Any type of clutter is unsettling too. I had to get everything organized and keep it that way. When I have to make a change for any reason (like putting up the Christmas tree) it rocks her world and oh my goodness!
I go through her room every so often while she is snoozing in the other room to make sure she hasn't hidden anything in there. She accuses the kids of stealing but she's the one who does. :)
My husband and I went on a short trip a couple weeks ago and a Visiting Angel came in to stay with Mom. The VA took her rings off to wash Mom's hair and after the bath was done, she couldn't find the rings. Mom had taken them because "they belong to the family". I found them when we returned from our trip.
You have taken on a lot with a family of your own. I know when my grandchildren come over, I have my hands full with them and my 94 year old mom with dementia/Alzheimer's.
You mention she doesn't sleep at night. Is she sleeping during the day? Quite often the problem is that they are not stimulated and awake enough during the day and then they don't sleep at night. My mom was up and down all night before she moved in with us. Now I keep her up during the day and busy as I can and she is sleeping at night.
I'm sure there are others who will pipe in here. I wish you the best!