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What is the best thing to say?

Caregivers: Dementia | Last Active: Jun 23 1:49pm | Replies (50)

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HI @jeanadair123, it sounds like your husband would be receptive to a day program. Is there one in your area?
Maybe you could write out a list of things for him to do everyday, easy chores, like make the bed. My husband does that. It's not perfect, but it will do. I also give him his cleaned clothes to fold and put away.
He washes and dries the dishes, not very well. There's no use correcting him because he'll forget, and often I have to hunt to find a certain item, missing from its usual place.
He forgot how to shave so I wrote out step by step instructions which he keeps in the drawer with his shaving tools. He refers to them, but wants my approval to do most things.
When I'm preparing to leave the house, he asks me so many questions about where I'm going and when I'll be back, that I don't know whether I'm coming or going. I ask him to be quiet so I can focus.
Last week he asked me so many questions that I snapped at him and told him to go away. Then I saw him shuffle off like a poor lost soul and I felt so bad. Fortunately, he forgets. A moment later, I engaged him in a friendly tone so we could get back on track, but occasional derialments are to be expected!
I'm fortunate in that he will get engaged in working on jigsaw puzzles. He can handle 100 pieces, and will keep at it for a couple of hours.
There's a good caregivers support group in our area, once a month in person, so I go to that (through the Alzheimer's Association).

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Replies to "HI @jeanadair123, it sounds like your husband would be receptive to a day program. Is there..."

Thanks for your response.
My husband likes to be with me he always goes to our appointments and shopping with me.
He does the dishes, washes and dries them, makes the bed, garbage, keeps his man cave spotless, works outside sweeping etc. mostly everything you mentioned. I sometimes spend a lot of time looking for things. The other day he asked if I could help him when needed. I try to understand but it’s not always easy. But I always remember the man in-between who loves me so much.