In Like A Lion

Yesterday, Tuesday March first, Mom slept the whole day, in between bathroom breaks. I got there just as Dad was getting ready to leave for his appointment. The phone rang, and it was one of the occupational therapists from the agency, offering to come to bathe Mom, so I put her on the phone with Dad and they agreed to put it off. Not that Mom doesn't need a good cleaning up, but Dad was going to be gone for most of the day time, and this being her first time up, we decided it would be better to wait. Maria is still coming this morning, as well.

March 1, 2011

Shortly after Dad drove off in his car, the nurse we met on Sunday called, returning the call Dad had made the day before. She asked how Mom was and I told her she was just resting and not too bad. I thanked her for calling, and we will be seeing her later this afternoon.

I visited with Mom, and immediately she indicated that she wanted to use the bathroom. She is getting up better, though not without help. She's even able to stand alone, too. She strained a little to produce a decent sized bowel movement, then I watched her to make sure she wiped well. Dad has put on a pair of adult diapers on her, and she doesn't seem to notice.

The rest of the day was like that. Small drinks of water or juice, no eating, bathroom breaks, sleep. On the couch mostly, but once she wanted to sleep in bed. I helped her into that for a while, then she called out for me. "Do you want me to close the curtains, Mom?" "No, just make them straight!" When I closed them she was content.

Later she wanted me to lay next to her in the bed. I agreed to do that for a few minutes, but when I realized it created even more confusion for her (she started getting confused about where she was, where she lives, where I live, all kinds of stuff), I suggested we get up and go to the couch, that it would be less confusing for her. She agreed to that.

At one point I was able to get her to eat four sliced grapes. When Dad got home around three, she ate some peeled and sliced apple. "Do you want some cheese, Mom?" "NO!"

Two things we've noticed. She'll only eat when we feed her like a baby. Some of that is her sore hand, but how much is it the Alzheimer's and how much is it her? Oh, I don't know. The other thing is she has started to moan and howl when she wants attention. This is a sign of losing words, which does indicate she is slipping into Stage Seven.

We anticipate some improvement with the extra help, which will really get started in the next few days. They will help us decide when we can try the correct dosage of the Haloperidol, which may help with some of her obnoxious behaviors. I used to read to her, but now all she does is sleep. She used to watch movies a little. Her sleeping patterns are getting all turned around, too.

Let's see what today brings.