← Return to No more Driving

Discussion

No more Driving

Caregivers: Dementia | Last Active: Sep 9 6:33pm | Replies (131)

Comment receiving replies
@sueinmn

We're at the very beginning - like no driving in unfamiliar territory or at night, but "What he remembers is not what I remember and I am starting to think I may be going off the deep end? But I am not. " - Yeah - that was my first hint, and I thought maybe it's his hearing - even though he admits he needs his aids, and puts them on for others, but not me. He said "It's your hearing" - so to humor him, I am seeing the audiologist (again) next week - last time she told him bluntly that it was his ears, not mine.

Today we were at the State Fair with kids and grandkids, and he did fine until he got tired - then he was having trouble navigating, but it could have been pain - his ankle has been hurting and swelling for almost a month. Every day he says he'll have it looked at if it's not better tomorrow - every afternoon/evening it swells, but by morning "it's better today" - if it swells tomorrow afternoon, I'm making the appointment! Especially if I have to finish mowing the lawn - again - because it gives up. (By the way, our RN daughters have also been bugging him to get it looked at to no avail.) Must have been bad tonight though - he let me walk 4 blocks alone to get the car & come back to pick him up!
Last week my cousin was here to visit - she has been spiraling down for over 2 years, and this was her "farewell trip" accompanied by oldest daughter to see all of her cousins, her childhood home, and favorite places. So hard to watch the "family chef" struggle to chop tomatoes, mash avocado and put on her walking shoes.
We need to be our own cheerleaders. When caring for my Mom (post-stroke deficits) I learned to savor the little moments and tried to ignore the bad ones. This, I hope, will serve me well.

Jump to this post


Replies to "We're at the very beginning - like no driving in unfamiliar territory or at night, but..."

All we can do is take one day at a time and remember the person we love so much and the moments that are good.

I can relate to your situation. My husband was diagnosed via brain scan with MCI three years ago. It showed a mild stroke but the time of when this happened is unknown. He has limited driving privileges to known places. I have noted him mixing up events, when things happened, etc. The progression of his disease has been gradual (he has been taking Donepizel (Aricept) for several years which can slow the diasease progression in some patients. I am finally accepting where we are (it took a long time) and accepting of our situation, as has my husband who has now accepted that he has memory issues… never calls it Alzheimer’s. I too track him so that I can bring him home if he gets lost… that feeling of independence is so important for them to have as long as possible. I am thankful for each day. May God be with you on your journey!