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Dealing with a Spouse with a “Mild Cognitive Impairment”
My husband was diagnosed with MCI in 2019. He is pretty independent, just forgetful of time, dates, location of places, anything electronic & events from our life together (we’ve been married 52 years). It’s all just getting to me. I find myself wanting to be alone so I’m not continuously reminded of these changes. Because my friends/family are out of state, working, or involved with their own families, I really have no one to talk to so I’m seeing a therapist twice a week to deal with the sadness, anger, grief I have over his condition. I just wonder if other women find themselves in this position & how they are dealing with it.
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@jett56 Same situation here. I’m making it through so far by helping my husband as much as I can, encouraging some independence, seeing family and friends and planning time on my own. He seems very content to watch lots of TV during the day so that gives me time to do my own thing at home.
Stay strong and think about the better times. That helps also.
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5 Reactions@jett56 This is my situation exactly. I have no privacy and no quiet time when I am home until he falls asleep in front of the tv, which does not always happen. I stay up later than him so I have some time to read or watch tv uninterrupted. If I sleep in more than 30 minutes after he gets up he comes back upstairs and wakes me.
I can leave him for an hour or two during the day but often he will start calling me after about 45 minutes, sometimes several times with the same questions. It is exhausting. I am looking into a companion or senior sitter to be with him when I leave but I fear he will resist. He has no awareness of his memory issues.
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9 Reactions@murkywaters A neuropsychologist who works with MCI, dementia, Alzheimer’s.
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1 ReactionI totally get it. My husband needs help with the remote even though I have showed him how to get "regular TV" on so many times I couldn't possibly count. It is frustrating and oh so sad.
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5 Reactions@gilkesl My husband wouldn’t put up with having someone else here, so I could be gone a few hours.
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3 Reactions@rochrsalley81 Some thing here.
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1 ReactionMy husband was also diagnosed with this a few months ago. His memory is terrible and he has difficulties following television dramas in which there is a plot and various characters. He watches old sitcoms like Andy Griffith show and Dick Van Dyke endlessly and falls asleep during the day. It is really hard no be around him.
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8 Reactions@joannahoward
@sandyar I'm sorry you're dealing with this. My situation is similar, but not exactly like yours. It's so hard to know that when your husband is awake, you have to be "on guard" for questions, help, etc. I love my husand. I'm also lonely and tired.
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10 Reactions@rochrsalley81 this is my mornings, along with teaching him how to send a text message. Thankfully he has not sent a text to a non family member.
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