Last Sunday we had an issue. Well, Jim did – even though he didn’t realize it. He double dosed his vitamins.

While on the surface, it doesn’t seem like a big deal, it is. I’ve already hidden away his medications because he’d stopped reading the day written on the box of his daily pills. He’d forget he’d already taken his pills and reach for the next day’s dose.

But on Sunday, he took the vitamins I put out for him and then a few minutes later, I heard the bottles rattling. I went back to the kitchen to see him putting out more vitamins. I reminded him that he’d already taken them and put the saucer containing the vitamins, at the back of the counter for him to take tomorrow (since he’d already put them out).

In the space of time it took me to walk down the hall and back, he’d forgotten our conversation, picked up the saucer and downed a second day’s dose of vitamins and was getting ready to refill the saucer.

I steered him out of the kitchen and promptly removed the bottles from sight.

This morning, I forgot to put Jim’s medicine out for him with today’s vitamins. It threw him off and he panicked because he couldn’t find them. (and didn’t think to ask me for help)

When I came back into the kitchen, I realized my error and corrected it immediately, but it still earned me a lecture about not interrupting his schedule.

This is where the hard conversation started.

I had to let him finish, because he’d start all over again if he didn’t get what he wanted to say, said. (Which is common in dementia patients at this stage.)

Then I let him know that the change wasn’t done on a whim, it was a necessity. When he tried to argue, again I let him say his piece and then I (unfortunately) had to remind him that his memory was misbehaving and could cause him serious health issues. I tried to use simple examples so he didn’t get lost in my explanation.

I told him it was dangerous for him to double up on his medications, especially the ones for his diabetes.

His response was, “What diabetes medications.” 💔 💔

He hasn’t come back to scold me again, so I think the conversation is over. At least for now. I know from experience, he’ll dwell on the feelings most of the day. He won’t remember why he’s upset, just that he’s upset.

Now, I’ll have to figure out a place to put his vitamins and medications, so I don’t forget one or the other in the future.