MotheringMother's commentsComments On: Everything Articles Blogs Journals Photos created by: EveryoneMotheringMother Alzheimer's Disease: Hallucinations17 Mar 2008 08:30 PM When your loved one starts hallucinating is when you really face the fact that you are no doubt, a caregiver. Before then, you can sometimes fool yourself, but that moment when you realize your loved one is not dealing with the same reality, you then see that you must step up and make the decisions and not waver. It's scary, at first. My mother saw hallucinations before things got really bad. And also, may I point out that other diseases also have hallucinations, either because they're neurologically based illnesses, or the meds can cause them, including sleep aids. It takes a while as a caregiver to get your bearings on this one. Mother thought trees were people, buildings were water, she saw people hiding in our house, she saw John Wayne, the old cowboy westerner. Some were mildly amusing, others were in the middle of the night and were unsettling. Talking to your doctor about their meds is important. Sometimes this can at least be diminished. Being observant and vigilent is important. Having a good sense of humor helps a lot! Knowing when it's dangerous is a must. I took care of mom until her passing, and although it was hard, I'm so grateful I had this opportunity. I never thought I would say that, but caregiving teaches you a lot about yourself. ~Carol D. O'Dell Author of Mothering Mother: A Daughter's Humorous and Heartbreaking Memoir available on Amazon www.mothering-mother.com Final Stages of Alzheimer's Disease17 Mar 2008 08:24 PM I've found that somewhere between stage 6 and 7 families oftentimes need to place their loved ones into a facility. They feel like they failed, but they're exhausted beyond belief. Stress has even taken a toll on their marriages, family life, and even their health. I took care of my mom until the end. She passed away in our home. If it weren't for my family and the community, church, and hospice support, I never could have done this. Still, it took its toll. I was a relatively young sandwich generationer--just turned 40, and my health and family rebounded. What's the right thing to do? Whatever is right for you and your family. Let go of guilt. Do the best you can. I can only believe that if our loved one were in their right minds, and in a place of peace, that they would know they were loved and that we caregivers and families did the best we could. I found I could give mercy to everyone but myself, and in the end, I learned just to let go and love. ~Carol D. O'Dell Author of Mothering Mother: A Daughter's Humorous and Heartbreaking Memoir available on Amazon www.mothering-mother.com |
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