My Life With Jim – Page 14 – Dementia Makes A Strange Bedfellow

Days When You Just Can’t Seem To Suck It Up

January 22, 2021January 22, 2021 Wife of JimCoping Self Carecaregiver depression Caregiver Guilt Caregiver nad days

I feel like I’m being hard on myself this week. I feel like perhaps I’m looking after me a little more than looking after Jim but truthfully, I don’t think I’m really looking after me either This is a cycle. I’ve been here before, it’s a little self-protective, like burrowing deep into a cocoon. …. Read More

Medications Revisited

January 18, 2021 Wife of JimProgressionDementia Medications - to take or not to take

One of the topics the Geriatric Assessment doctor and I talked about was the option for medications. I’ve been on the fence since before they were mentioned four months ago. My concern has always been about prolonging this stage of decline. In my pea-brain, it seems that this would be the worst stage to …. Read More

Frustration About Being Parented

January 15, 2021 Wife of JimCoping ProgressionDementia Patient Frustration realizing there is something wrong with your mind

We’re in another cycle of Jim being resentful because I’m correcting him and dissuading him from doing what he wants. Sadly, we’re also at the stage where little of what he wants to do is safe, or even makes much sense) His frustration definitely seems to come and go in waves. This time was …. Read More

Over-Compensating To Avoid Upset

January 11, 2021 Wife of JimCopingovercompensating to avoid fallout

There are several times that I wonder if I’m over-compensating to avoid Jim’s adverse reactions. Keeping him away from situations where the memories triggered may not all be positive, instead of letting them play out naturally. For example, Jim ‘was retired’. Notice the passive tense. He didn’t want to retire, he didn’t see a …. Read More

Coping With Repetition

January 8, 2021January 7, 2021 Wife of JimCoping Progression

… and now I’m repeating myself. At least I think I am. I’m sure we’ve talked about this before but the stress of the holidays seems to have woken the repetitive beast in my home. (I am not immune – ask my friends. I can’t stop repeating tales because I’m no longer used to …. Read More

Common Associations

January 4, 2021 Wife of JimProgressionDementia Progression losing the ability to understand cause and effect memory and common associations

Over the past few weeks I’ve noticed Jim has lost even more of his ability to determine cause and effect. It’s been a slow, gradual progress since July 2017 when he began losing his complex thought capabilities but lately I’ve noticed he’s consistently missing simple associations. Or rather, the associations are there but they’ve …. Read More

Happy New Year

January 1, 2021January 1, 2021 Wife of JimCoping Self Care

My goals for 2021: Continue to be patient. I’m not the one struggling to remember who I am. Find ways to take a break. I don’t have to be on 24/7 Find support. Don’t let myself get lulled into the trap of “I can do this on my own” Declutter. Both the house and …. Read More

Routines or Bust

December 28, 2020December 26, 2020 Wife of JimCoping Progression

Christmas Day was lovely yet very exhausting. Part of me wonders whether I should have forgotten holiday traditions and stuck with Jim’s daily schedule. Even though, Jim himself was keen on keeping the traditions alive. Jim felt that I was eager to unwrap gifts, so he rushed through his morning routine to come out …. Read More

Since Last Christmas

December 25, 2020December 21, 2020 Wife of JimCoping ProgressionChristmas with Dementia

Last Christmas, I watched Jim open his gifts and realized that it would be the last holiday with him. This year, I’m grateful for what we still have. He’s not as incapacitated as I predicted. He’s still charming and witty and has the same personality for the most part even though, he’s no where …. Read More

Separating The Person From The Disease

December 21, 2020January 25, 2021 Wife of JimCoping Self Care

I had a bit of a boost yesterday. I had to go to the office to pick up something and was talking to the girls. It was a good day because during this second wave of Covid19, I’ve been somewhat isolated and these days and Jim isn’t able to be the best conversationalist. One …. Read More

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