August Update

I never got around to posting this but I want to catch up: 

Tomorrow, Dad turns 78! I have a fun day of activities planned, provided the weather doesn't ruin our outdoor plans. I'll publish a separate post for his birthday.

July was extremely busy, and August has flown by. I have kept him extremely busy, going out almost every day to various places, including antique stores, Sam's Club, two different bookstores, for lunch, or on any other errand I have for the day. He doesn't remember what we did or where we are going. When we leave a place, he asks me where we were and what we did. Then, when I'm worn out and exhausted, and he's on the couch watching TV, he starts to get antsy and asks to go out again. I have been firmer with my boundaries, so I often find something we can watch together to give me a break, or I go to my room for a nap. Every time I'm in my room, he asks Rich if I'm sick. 

Dad asked me the other day how bad his Alzheimer's is, and I said it seems like he is in the middle stages of it. I decided to look it u,p and I was correct:

According to AgingCare.com, he is at stage 5 of 7

"Stage 5: Moderate dementia

With moderate dementia, a person can no longer live without some help from others. They’re entering the middle stage of dementia, when thinking skills are more severely affected and personality changes appear.

Here are some signs that your loved one’s dementia is getting worse, to the point they need assistance:

  • Inability to remember significant parts of their life
  • Difficulty choosing proper clothes
  • Disorientation of time and place
  • Trouble remembering names of relatives
  • Lack of expressing emotions

What it looks like: It’s possible your relative frequently can’t remember the day of the week or the season of year. Although they can eat and go to the bathroom by themselves, they might have trouble choosing clothing that is clean or appropriate for the season. They likely know their own name and usually their spouse’s, but they may forget the names of their grandchildren or other relatives.

Duration: Moderate dementia usually lasts about one and a half years if the person is otherwise healthy."

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