Posted on 07/11/2020 1:03:40 PM PDT by knighthawk
A Florida woman took a dishwashing job at her husband’s nursing home after the coronavirus pandemic kept them apart for 114 days.
Mary Daniel’s husband, Steve, has been living at Rosecastle Assisted Living and Memory Care facility in Jacksonville since he was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s.
Before the pandemic, Mary would visit her husband every night and help him prepare for bed. She couldn’t live with him, but it was what she could do to stay connected to him.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Dammit. Couldn’t finish reading the story. My screen got all blurry.
wow, that’s love and commitment. she’s not young. I had that job at a 25-30 bed facility in my late teens and wouldn’t want it again. beautiful woman, and couple.
Alzheimer’s is a cruel disease.
I just came back from visiting my mother in memory care. All I can do is stand outside the window and try to talk to her.
Do masks work or not?
Ten minutes later ,
She- Have you made up your mind what you want for supper?
He- Yes, Hot dogs and beans.
Twenty minutes go by,
She -It is getting along for supper do you knw what you want to eat?
HE-This is the third time I am telling you; I would like some hot dogs and beans.
She -Well if you told me three times I don't remember you telling me before.
Your life as you knew it, is over ,and you have to adjust to her having Alzheimer's which is not going to get better or stay the same,, it is only going to get worse.
Hallucinations and delusions to follow in the years following.
My wife was diagnosed with Alzheimers 7 years' ago, at Brigham and Women's in Boston.
I have her at home, with no outside home help, and hope I can outlast her as long as she doesn't get too....wacky.
Most husband/wife caretakers just get worn out and quit.
Their Alzheimer's patient insanity just overwhelms the caretaker.
So far I can still care for her.-Tom
Never heard it said that way. I like that
Tom, God bless both of you!
Sweet!
True devotion.
God bless you and your wife.
It is wonderful of you to keep her at home.
I kept my husband at home for four years.
I had help from a grandson who lived with us and hired caregivers three nights a week, so we could get some sleep.
He was a sundowner, which means he was awake and active from sundown to sunup.He had to be watched constantly. He would try to escape and wrestle with the ladies. He would steal all their snacks and drinks from their carry- alls. He would lie down on the couch and put his feet on their lap so they couldn’t get up. Many a night the caregiver would have to wake me up at 3 a.m. just to settle him down.
He would turn the stove on, all burners, and stand there watching them turn red. After that, we turned off the stove at the fusebox every evening. We had to hide the microwave and the toaster oven.
One night, he found the meat cleaver and took it out to cut up cereal and soda boxes! Every knife, scissors, and sharp object was then kept under lock and key.
He flooded the bathroom so bad, the water got down into the basement.
Yes, we finally had to put him in the Care Home. To keep him safe and keep me sane.
Once again, God bless you for keeping your wife at home.
One night, he found the meat cleaver and took it out to cut up cereal and soda boxes! Every knife, scissors, and sharp object was then kept under lock and key.
He flooded the bathroom so bad, the water got down into the basement.
Yes, we finally had to put him in the Care Home. To keep him safe and keep me sane.
I say you did the right thing.
When they become a physical threat to themselves or others they have to be in a care home.
So far I can put up with my wife's insanity, the delusions and hallucinations and misplacing and hiding of many things; but always have that gut feeling things could get dangerous in an instance. But that goes with Alzheimers, given enough time.- Tom
Thank you for posting this article, knighthawk. Absolutely beautiful!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.