Trouble’s Afoot

Wife of JimCopingProgression

  Jim has diabetic feet. He had diabetes for a long time before it was diagnosed which created a foundation for several serious complications as he’s aged. Foot problems are a common occurrence with diabetes. In fact, it was problems with Jim’s feet that led to a diagnosis of the disease. These days, the circulation ….  Read More

Fixation Explained

Wife of JimCopingProgression

  A lot of caring for someone with dementia is managing our own expectations. As the disease progresses, we have to constantly remind ourselves that it takes away more than just memories. It takes away a person’s ability to think and therefore function. You know this. I know this, and yet we are caught by ….  Read More

Fear Of Abandonment

Wife of JimCoping

  Jim recognizes he is faltering and it scares him. He often asks if he can be doing more to make me happy. Which breaks me because I know he can’t, no matter how hard he tries. He will continue to decline and I will take over more and more of a management role in ….  Read More

Jim Fell

Wife of JimCoping

  One of my worst nightmares came true. We got up and did our regular grocery shopping first thing Saturday morning. It was such a nice day that after putting everything away; I took my cup of coffee out to the back deck while Jim sat at the dining room table with his coffee, reading ….  Read More

Brilliantly Confused

Wife of JimProgressionUncategorized

  The heat has eased off and still Jim seems more confused than normal. I’m beginning to fear this may be a new stage of dementia. Until now, it’s been mostly his memory affected by this disease but over the past few days, he’s not been himself. He’s hesitant, and questions himself more than I’ve ….  Read More

Horndog Dementia Jim

Wife of JimImtimacy Loss

  Over the past few days Jim has gone from the occasional veiled sexual innuendo to full on Construction Worker Speak. Note: He’s always been rather old-fashioned and a gentleman. He didn’t even talk like this when we first got together, back when things were hot and heavy. Sure we’d joke around but honestly, it ….  Read More

Lost

Wife of JimCopingProgression

  I’m not sure if it’s the aftermath of the incredibly hot temperatures we had last weekend, or just a new phase of dementia. Jim seems lost this week. Outwardly I don’t see much different in the way he remembers things or navigates through his day. Inwardly though he seems to be unsure/lost. As if ….  Read More

Heat Wave

Wife of JimGeneral

  Heat waves aren’t something that I worried about before when looking after Jim. One, his tropical ancestry makes it easier for him to deal with heat than me. And two, we rarely get more than a couple of days a year where temperatures skyrocket past the mid 30s (90s in Fahrenheit) Since Saturday, it’s ….  Read More

Dos And Don’ts Of Dementia Care

Wife of JimCopingResources

  I found a lovely short yet comprehensive list of Dos and Don’ts for dealing with dementia patients. 15 Dementia Care Do’s and Don’ts (homecareassistance.com) It’s a nice refresher for me because when I’m in the thick of answering the same question for the umpteenth time, I  don’t always have the mind space to step ….  Read More