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Holidays and unusual depression
Caregivers: Dementia | Last Active: Jan 4, 2022 | Replies (17)Comment receiving replies
I really appreciate this discussion. Everyone is so on point here. My husband now has moderate Alzheimer's Disease. He is not as sociable as he was before and too much stimulation exhausts him. When a friend visits, I tell him he does not have to stay with us. Usually he says hello and retreats to our bedroom. I did have one guest over for Thanksgiving and he did converse with her for a while, but by the end of dinner he was exhausted, went to bed and was down for the night. I was thinking about having that same guest again for Christmas, but I've decided to pass for a quiet day instead. Maybe @teacher502 let your husband know he can leave the festivities to rest any time he wants to and ask your family members to keep things on the quiet side as much as it's possible. My husband is deeply tied to our routines, especially meal times and certain chores, so maybe try to preserve as much of your husband's routine as possible while everyone is visiting. Wishing you all the best this holiday season. Teri
Replies to "I really appreciate this discussion. Everyone is so on point here. My husband now has moderate..."
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An incident that happened yesterday gave me more insight about the difficulty of the holidays for those with memory problems. Our nephew called to wish us a Merry Christmas. My husband, who has moderate Alzheimer's, would not pick up the phone. He said he had no idea who our nephew was, what had happened in his life, and no desire to talk to him. He said "It's part of this stupid disease." My husband was frustrated and I was saddened to observe another example of the losses he experiences. Six weeks ago, he called this nephew on his own. We still have moments of shared laughter and love for which I am grateful. Here's wishing manageable holidays to all. Teri