Couldnt find the old one so I thought I'd start another.
How is everyone going, havent seen Gill around for a while, I wonder how she's getting on.
My dad is quickly getting worse to the point where I will probably need to move him into high care now. We are also having low blood pressure and high blood sugar problems. Waiting on some tests to see what thats all about.
He is now at the point where by the time he takes his seatbelt off, he starts to put it back on again. If I turn a corner in the corridor before him, he forgets where I've gone and what he was doing. He is also starting to forget how to eat and becoming a little bit difficult with the staff.
😞
Dear Punch my 
sincerely goes out to you.
I went through same/similar with my Dear Mum. She was diagnosed with Vascular Dementia. Same result ref. decline and behaviours etc as Alzheimers except Vascular Dementia causes a decline at a much more rapid rate...... awful, awful and more to see a loved one go down like this.
Best advice I can give to you is: get the support offered and available as soon as possible, earlier the better for ALL concerned.Especially regards going into full/high care.
You don't get medals for battling on your own/shared care with siblings......and caring for your Dad for as long as possible, without outside support is not a measure of how much you love him
Get some counselling for yourself to cope with guilt and grief -the earlier the better imo.
Be assured that the worse your Dear Dad gets the more he will be unaware and less anxious etc.
When visiting with him relish the joyful moments-find and share the humour
(((((BIG HUGS))))) x
Thanks paintsew, sorry about your mum, dad's dementia is vascular too hence the rapid deterioration.
Its only just over 12 months ago that he stopped being able to look after himself and needed to go into care, the decline since then has been even quicker. Its very sad, but at least he's been happy where he is. He often tells me how well they look after him and how nice they all are to him because they wash and dress him. I find that really sad, but he seems pretty happy with it. I guess its a blessing that they dont remember a time where they were independent and would have been horrified at the thought of someone showering and toileting them
He hasnt forgotten me yet and is always pleased to see me which is nice, dont know how much longer I'll have that for though.
Dad just had a birthday too, he turned 70. He kind of knew it was his birthday, but not really. We took him out for lunch and he was very happy to see everyone, even if he didnt remember who they all were.
I have been making a point of taking dad out every time I go there, but it has become pretty difficult. I had been making all his appointments, podiatrists etc away from the home because I think they are better and again, it gets him out for a while. I think that will all change now.
We've been having a bit of a problem at the home re lack of communication/consultation with me and I thought I had it all sorted but today they told me a few things that had been going on that I should have been advised about well before now. I'm not overly impressed with them right now to be honest. They were meant to order blood tests today because of a funny turn he had yesterday and it still hasnt been done. My sister is there now trying to sort it all out, she's inclined to a drama queen though and you never really know if she's telling the truth or exaggerating the situation.
I have considered moving him when the time came for high care, but he's familiar with the staff there and I'd be concerned a move any further away than just down the hallway would be too distressing for him. They use the same nusrses throughout the facility and at least it keeps it partially normal for him.
I wish I lived so close, he's 40 minutes from me.
When I discuss the move to high care with them I will also be discussing the lack of communication. I'm not so sure its a complete lack of communication on their behalf, more that they have been contacting the wrong family member.
