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Well, what can I say? The home care/transportation appt. actually went off w/out a hitch. Took less than 10 minutes, my mother was cordial, and we made the first appt. for this Thursday, and then every Tuesday and Thursday going forward. I did have to leave pretty quickly because she was starting up her schpiel (sp?) again about legal action. So I'm feeling mighty grateful at the moment.
Oh--I'll gripe about how I then had to drive 1/2 hour each way to pick up 80 lbs of gravel to redo her front walk area, and then lay it all down myself in 100 degree heat, because I guess her gardeners won't do that. Why wouldn't they do that sort of thing when they work in a community full of frail, elderly people?
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Toomuch I flipped my Mom the bird behind her back! It helps!... But I guess that's not a good idea with kids around!
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Self centered is putting it mildly. That alone is very draining. My father adores the weekday HHA and sees her as his "girlfriend". So Im invisible during the week. Our weekend HHA is a lovely older woman. My father wants nothing to do with her and then wants undivided attention from me. This is why I at least make his breakfast on weekends if not he would spend the entire day trying to get on my nerves because Im not doing anything for him. Anytime I do something for myself he seems to try to "remind" me that Im nothing more than an unpaid house intern. "Did you get the mail I left on the table ?" even if Im in the middle of planning something for one of my children.
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Go to bed mom.. Mom, please go back to bed.... MOM, for the LOVE OF GOD stay in bed!!!!! She wouldn't. It was like she was possessed by tiny mischievous imp's...all night long, and I do mean ALL NIGHT! All her clothes were pulled down, she must have changed clothes 4 times... at one point I found her trying to crawl under the foam mattress topper.... she was just talking away to several people?? Somewhere around 4:00 a.m. I just knew she was gonna pass out from exhaustion so I felt I might be able to close my eyes in peace... wrong. A few hours later I found her inside her closet rummaging for some tool that the "person" asked her to get. What really worries me... her toilet is empty (she doesn't flush) and she goes to the bathroom constantly. I might have a surprise waiting for me when I pick up all her clothes she took down :( I'm so tired... something has to change.
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Yes, I rely on this site for advice, guidance, support, and plenty of exoneration, lol! At this moment, I am counting down the minutes until my appt. w/the home care agency and my mother, to arrange regular transportation/companion care for her, since she's not allowed to drive anymore. As per her personality pre-dementia, she's refusing to accept anything she doesn't personally agree with, she's completely uncooperative, and she won't stop threatening to pursue legal action (Oh, brother...). I can only use my calm voice for so long, and it doesn't do any good. She continues to revv up, and revv up some more. A few days ago, I felt a bit foolish when I literally ran out the door to get away from her, but now I think that's probably a good strategy that I'll continue to use as needed. If any of you are able to shut the door, leave the room, just physically get AWAY when they start making a scene, I say do it.
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Self-centered is right! And it is worse if they were that way somewhat before the dementia. It seems impossible that they are even pleased and docile when cleaning up a bathroom mess - on the floor or on the body! It's attention, for heaven's sake - that's the ticket.

Talking is miss mash without dentures and hearing is the same without hearing aides here! This combination happened this AM. After the second 'what did you say', the reply came out a shout and still incomprehensible.

Being early in the morning, I just turned around and left the room. I did not want our dog to go and hide again during an argument.. LOL

Apparently it was not important. We did not speak during his breakfast - not unusual. All he can talk about is his 'condition' and what we can do about it. There are only so many words to express, 'Not much...'

So, I come here and whine while comforting the dog, etc. We both talk more to our lovable dog than we do to each other these days.

We do whatever works for us in any situation and we are exonerated by all here - right? That's why we come, along with the blessings and good wishes...
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Oh, toomuch4me....I feel your pain and recognize it. It amazes me always how self-centered they become. And you cannot always respond with the 'calm voice' that others think solves everything. It may but it is not always possible with them pushing those buttons all the time. Hang in there girl, you are not alone.
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Toomuch4me deep breaths.....
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Yesterday I literally ran out of the room screaming: I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE !!!" That pretty much sums up how I feel. The entire weekend led up to yesterday's big explosion. On Saturday and Sunday my father insisted on getting up at 7. Now that doesnt bother me at, except for the fact that if I didnt get up also he would come to the basement door and turned on the light (which would have made me even more angry). So instead of enjoying a few moments of quiet that I cherish on weekend mornings, I was fixing breakfast for Dad. Saturday evening Im sitting on the couch with my girls, watching a show. He stands by the TV and needs to discuss why the gardener hadnt shown up. I tried to ignore him but he continued until it turned into a big argument. Sunday he needed to go pick up something after I had already told him I was taking my youngest daughter to a birthday party. Yesterday was the last straw. During my work time Dad insists that he needs me to check his bank account online. He even went on to say his bank account is more important than my job. He starts complaining about an American Express Card that he knew was cancelled. Thats when I exploded. I hate doing that. My sister seems to think that speaking calmly to him will solve everything. YEAH RIGHT. He doesnt listen..has no intention of listening...
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I am LOL!! The last time I took my mom out to dinner, she was sun downing badly..slurring words and mispronouncing others. A man and his daughter were seated in the booth behind us, after there order was taken, the man left and (I assume he went to his car). Soon my mom says, "Look at that man walking on the sidewalk, he doesn't look like he needs to a meal, he looks like he had too many already!!!" I turned around to look.. and sure enough, it was the man who was seated behind us! I am sure his teenage daughter heard my mother...LOL!! With her slurring words, the daughter probably thought my mom was drunk! So Yes, I decided I would not take her out to dinner anymore or for late afternoon appointments. It is not worth the horror of what may pop out of her mouth.
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My whine: My mother got mad at me because we had sweet and sour chicken with RICE! She apparently hates rice now! She complains every time we have something over rice. Then she started complaining about the way my sister speaks to her and if I do she'll slap me?!
I don't know how to respond to that. She can be soo hateful .
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My whine of the day -

I hate the hour drive in Chicago traffic up 94 and across 290 to get to the Jesse Brown VA facility. Every time I make that trip, including today, I just feel worn out by the end of it all.
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Someday.... 2 words. Puppy pads.

Kaz.... I agree, this is getting scary. She's been on a roll all evening....ranting/raving, talking about bashing people's heads in. I don't think I shall sleep well tonight.
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And she doesn't have Alz/dementia according to that psychiatrist. I wish she had used it on him!!!! ;-)
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I can apologise for the fat comments but its the bad language that really shocks me she is always well dressed and well spoken then out comes the "f" word!!
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dad always comments about overweight people in public like today at doctors office. I just wanted to put a bag over my head. Also asked three times in about 20 minutes when "we" are going home. I td him that he is going to his new home in two weeks .
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Gosh assa this is awful, funny thing is mums a big woman? not huge but not slim? My brother phoned earlier and told me to get a sign and put it on her back? On a more serious note though it woke me up to this is really happening and its getting scary i mean apart from the hygiene etc this behaviour really shocks you theres just no logical reasoning here she just cant see how wrong this is. On a lighter note we passed the "local town nut" hes an alcoholic and roams around town shouting etc.... mum turned to me and said "oh dont go near him hes mad" LOL
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Yes someday! I kiss my cat and mum shrieks in horror! she thinks i might catch something off him? hes cleaner than me wormed flea'd you name it BUT if mum asks me if i want a sandwich its a big NO THANKS! my brother when hes home looks at all the food in the fridge and asks if its "safe".
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I've raised my children, helped raise the grandchildren, trained many dogs and cats, so what do I get? Mom peed the couch again today. "Sigh"...:-/
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Kazaa I stopped taking my Mom out to restaurants over a year ago after she kept going on loudly about "the fat women"! I grimace thru it only own her birthday..
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Everyone on this site are angles and saints. We should all have medals for what we put up with. Life and people can be cruel at times. Thankfully we have each other here to lean on and have others who understand. I lift a glass to you all :)
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My whine today is.. i think even though im experiencing alot with mum the last few years today was a very bad day and i think ive seen this illness at its worst well so far? mum and i went to eye doc ive noticed now that shes shouting and couldnt careless who hears her? there was quite a large female nurse and mum kept going on about how big she was i told her to keep her voice down but she wouldnt and her language is foul. Stupidly we went out to dinner and luckily we sat downstairs where there was noone but the waiter could hear everything mum was saying loud and using the "f" word alot i was mortified and wonder if i could ever take her out again. constantly telling someone to watch thier language and to stop shouting just drained me and made me see this "madness" for what it really is. How do you cope with this behaviour? Is she starting to get worse now? she seems to give out alot more about anything and dosnt care who is around her i actually dont want to be out with her anymore if she is going to behave like this. Gosh i must tell my sister to bring her EVERYTWHERE!!
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Lois that is funny... Thanks for the laugh..
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Veronica, didn't somebody mention a week or two back that Mercury is going retrograde? Well, there you are then. Proof at last that astrology is not entertaining hokum, eh?

Actually I think Mercury's been busy sorting out my internet connection - it's still not great but at least it hasn't made me cry for a whole week.
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No, no angel here - I do my share of griping. Somehow it helps. Our kids do appreciate that I am doing an OK job with their Dad and express that often.. And the lucky part goes both ways, believe me!

Thanks for your angelic expression, assandache (interesting is there an explanation besides the almost obvious one..?)

Is this a good place to post a funny paragraph? This really made me laugh this AM - from our DIL:

Nine thoughts to Ponder...

Number 9-
Death is the number 1 killer in the world.

Number 8-
Life is sexually transmitted.

Number 7-
Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.

Number 6-
Men have two emotions: hungry and horny, and they can't tell them apart. If you see a gleam in his eyes, make him a sandwich.

Number 5-
Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day. Teach a person to use the internet and they won't bother you for weeks, months, maybe years.

Number 4-
Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in the hospital, dying of nothing.

Number 3-
All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism.

Number 2-
In the 60's, people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird, and people take Prozac to make it normal.

Number 1-
Life is like a jar of jalapeno peppers. What you do today might burn your a** tomorrow.

...and as someone recently said to me:

Don't worry about old age; it doesn't last that long.

Have fun out there...
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My whine moment for the day is trying to set up appointments - for myself. I tried radiology at one hospital and I got a recorded message asking me which records I would like. Next same hopital's main number was allways busy. Tried another hospital and the switchboard just put me through to a number that just rang Finally got the appointment but they forgot to tell me the department had moved a mile down the road. Next tried for a PT evaluation. Their computer was down and apparently still is because I haven't had a call back yet. Tried a different office and found they were out of business and had joined the first one. How do real old people manage. I am only 75
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Lois your are an angel... Your family is lucky to have you..
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At least you are trying - taking her out for some fun things.. Would it work to take along a healthy snack, if there is one she likes? Or even a sandwich, etc..

'Sounds to me like you are doing a great job! Hugs..
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Just to mention yesterday....Sunday...was a pretty good day with family coming over to swim. I was hoping to give Mom a day to visit the babies and family. It started out fun as we all walked to the pool (which is not far). But when we got to the pool mom starts her "I'm hungry, I need something to eat" crap. (Just a note: mom is constantly eating). It's really her fidgety thing she does when we go somewhere. I try to distract her for a bit because she has just eaten breakfast and snacked. But she will still start the complaining about something--especially food. It's not so much that she does it because I am used to that. It's how she does it---interrupting me while I am speaking with someone else or doing something else and she blurts it out loudly/rudely. She threatens to walk back home (even though we just got there) and get her own lunch. Now on the weekends, I am the one who furnishes her meals (not Meals on Wheels). This means if I let her go back alone, she will eat ice cream or whatever snacky thing she can find instead of a good lunch and then sit down and watch tv. True, I could have let her do that but I was trying to get her to socialize a little.
So now...I decide to walk home and fix lunch for her and bring it back because I can do it quicker. I know that if I don't, she will either keep hounding or walk home anyway. Now I am trying not to be annoyed but I am. I am trying to get over the fact that she is behaving self-centeredly and childish and just do it.
Sometimes I just think I shouldn't bother taking her anywhere because it becomes such a hassle.
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Over the past year My husband (vascular dementia - 90 yo) has been pestering me to allow him to go to our lower level where he has a desk and his 'important' papers on building our retirement home - 25 years ago. He thinks that there is information in his old records that will prove who his wife is, really!

He cannot manage the stairs anymore and I have agreed to drive him around on the lawn to go in from the lower ground level. He refuses that since it is 'drastic'. He, one day, wanted to call our son to come over and move his 'file' upstairs so he could examine his old records. I resisted this, even though he had gone into the attached garage to find a good space for the file cabinet, etc. This dispute often got so loud that our black lab ran and hid!

Yesterday (for the second time in 6 months) I went down and pulled all the files and spread them out on the dining room table. Oh, he was so happy... Now, once and for all he could prove that I am not the girl he married 70 years ago!

He pulled out his glasses and went through the top several files and came up to me, saying that he forgot what he was looking for and I could return the files to 'his' file cabinet now.

Without the advice of many here, I most likely would have continued to resist in this matter, since I had already presented out marriage license and Living Trust papers. It is sooo much easier to just give in and do the ridiculous than insist on the assumption that you can change his mind!

I am now going to put together a special cardboard box and place these important, to him, files where he can find them at any time - here upstairs - mostly to save me the effort and energy and time to retrieve them again soon, since he will have forgotten this latest examination.

Argument is totally worthless - but it is difficult to understand how he can mistake his actual wife as some stranger who is the only one who "does anything around here.. My wife should not let you do all this work!" If only...

I still could have it so much worse. Our children and grandchildren are so understanding, though busy; he is not violent - yet - just confused and depressed cause he cannot do 'anything' and wishes to die, stating this often.

Looking back, I have had a great life, mostly loving husband, and wonderful, normal children - four - who will appear whenever I give up and ask for help. My wish is that all of you without this good luck will prosper and gain insight and strength as time goes on and continue to whine when necessary to keep your sanity!

Blessings to all!
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