How does this person function?

[debilorrah]

As Mangled said, sitting and having a chat is very enlightening. Whether or not it is a memory or a fantasy, those dementia folks have got some stories to tell. And some are rather X rated, which does nothing but make me laugh!

 

[hatchaholic]

My oldest son, whose 18, helps out a great deal with MIL. He says he'd rather stay with her than have a stranger come in. When she starts talking crazy, he tries to re-orient her by telling her what's going on. All that does is make her more mad. He finally has figured out to let her talk, just don't let her hurt herself.

You kinda have to laugh at some of the things she says. If not, we'd go crazy.

The other day, she was eating an imaginary pie. She told the pie plate it wasn't worth a darn, but the pie sure was good...

 

[redhen]

I was a CNA for about 15 years, and i worked with many types of patients.... but my absolute favorite were the dementia/alzheimer ones. Dont ask me why, its just something that you know and feel when you work with them...they just touched my heart like no other patients...even when they wanted to kick my azz...

..(because of confusion)..., i worked the night shift, and many of them didnt sleep well, sometimes they would wake up thinking they were 5 years old again(and ask for their mommy, and be scared), and some were 25 again, and looking for their husband(that had been gone for 20 years)....i always tried to be in what "time" they were in and distract them with trival things(sometimes we would jabber ALL night..i loved to hear their stories!...

), and to orient the ones that i could.... it was heartbreaking and SO rewarding at the same time...the really sad part is the adult children would come in and the parents didnt know who they were, but yet...the night before they were looking for their "sons/daughters" , but only, they remembered them when they were young children...and couldnt remember them as adults....it is very stressful thing for a family to go through..and god bless all that have to endure it.......Wendy

 

[Linda in San Diego]

Quote:
Well that explains it all! (Just kidding!

)

Yeah, it actually does explain alot!

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
SO TRUE! Just enjoy what they can talk about. Sometimes it is disturbing to us, but it makes perfect sense to them. Wear a smile, hug them when they let you and know all is really alright. Seriously - it's US that are hurting and knowing that is half the battle.

 

[Acre of Blessings]

Quote:
There's your problem. To SOME of these ""GUIDANCE COUNSELORS"" there is nothing wrong anywhere in the world and they no nothin, I mean N_O_T_H_I_N_G. YOu could have probably passed gas and he would have said " What was that sound? Sound like soming came from that gutter."

Sorry, I never liked the attitude of any of my high school guidance counselors. They always seemed like they were high on something.

FOR THE RECORD~~~Not trying to belittle anyone in this field. Just giving my honest opinion.........

 

[hatchaholic]

Quote:
There's your problem. To SOME of these ""GUIDANCE COUNSELORS"" there is nothing wrong anywhere in the world and they no nothin, I mean N_O_T_H_I_N_G. YOu could have probably passed gas and he would have said " What was that sound? Sound like soming came from that gutter."

Sorry, I never liked the attitude of any of my high school guidance counselors. They always seemed like they were high on something.

FOR THE RECORD~~~Not trying to belittle anyone in this field. Just giving my honest opinion.........

Sounds like the ones at my kids' schools!

 

[SterlingAcres]

Quote:
Well that explains it all! (Just kidding!

)

Yeah, it actually does explain alot!

He's a MALE guidance teacher... right there's the answer.

I'm sorry about your MIL

 

[MagsC]

Well...however he functions at least you know as unobservant as he is, he probably wont be complaining about chickens!
That said, on the other issues, sounds like he lives in his own little world, nothing else registers...