I think I am gonna cry

[miss_jayne]

Quote:
i was going to say that earlier, but i didn't want to assume. i used to take care of a gent like this. he thought that the whole world was against him. in his mind, it was.

it's frustrating for all parties.

i loved taking care of him. he spoke Polish, was from the 'Old Poland' and told me stories in Polish. i speak no foreign languages fluently, but i loved it. and i am sure he loved the attention.

i was pregnant and he would tell me about babies in Poland and about his mother raising kids in Poland, war, etc. a superior mind that couldn't grasp the basics anymore.

my heart breaks when i think of him. wasting away. car parked in the drive. sweatpants every day, because he couldn't remember how to work a zipper anymore.

thanks, John, for teaching me more about life than you will ever know...
dobry, przyjaciel! (goodbye, friend)

 

[CATRAY44]

Speaking from my own experience, the daughter might not be so evil. My dad is in the early to mid stage of dimentia. He thinks I am mean and plotting against him because I can't give him his car keys. Sometimes people with dimentia become paranoid. It is really heartbreaking and makes it hard to help him.

 

[debilorrah]

The daughter stated he is in beginning stages of Alzheimer's which symptoms do not include paranoia or rage or sexual proclivities. I am just glad that APS took the bull by the horns and is investigatiing. I did recommend that the bus driver receive some kind of reward for her efforts.

 

[WriterofWords]

Quote:
I was about to say something very similar. When I worked with DD adults and Alz. and Dement. sufferers they would tell everyone how mean the staff (me) was to him. They (me) beat him with a belt, wouldn't let him eat, locked him out of his own home in the cold wearing only his underwear. I got used to being interviewed when he would get away from whatever staff was on duty and hop on a bus thinking he was going to the home he hadn't lived in for 70 years. It translated this way:
Beat with a belt: He had a "gate" belt to help move him that was fastened around his chest.
Wouldn't let him eat: He's diabetic and we wouldn't give him sugary foods or sodas.
Locked him out: He tried to sneak out during the night in his underwear and the door closed behind him.

There are always those instances where there is abuse, but the greater percentage of the time the abuse is imagined in the failing mind of an elder person. It's sad, because you don't know sometimes whether it's true or not or whether or not someone truly needs help.

You did the right thing though, the authorities will get it straightened out hopefully. If he needs to be moved to a safe environment they will do it, if he is telling people something that is actully untrue but in his own mind true, they will make suggestions to help keep him home and safe.

 

[justusnak]

What a great thing you did, contacting social services...so they could get in touch with his family. I too know how hard it is to care for an elderly person, in the late stages of dimentia. My grandfather ( God rest his soul) had Sundowners. He was the most loveing person, untill this kicked in. He was mean, combative, and downright UGLY! I loved him dearly..and it came to the point where we had to restrain him to his bed. He couldn't walk, but thought he could, and would fall out of bed trying to get up. He would wake in the middle of the night yelling...HELP ME, HELP ME!!! I would run in there, and aske whats wrong, and he would just look at me confused and say, " I dont know"

I miss grandpa...but I am glad he is no longer suffering. I just hope this gentleman has a loveing family..not what he " thinks" he has.

 

[andorraclaim]

Quote:
My grandfather was a veteran of the Korean War; spoke only Spanish. I imagine your acts are rewarded as you commit them, daily.

 

[Lobzi]

Quote:
Why be cruel to anyone or anything...I just dont get the human species. Im am ashamed to be part of this group. We certainly are doing our best to screw everything up for ourselves and unfortunately the other life forms here on Earth.

 

[sunbury chick]

Debbi,
What a sweet,kind hearted lady you are....

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
thank you, but there is no way I can take credit. the driver brought him in, and several people rallied around him and made sure he had a meal and water, etc. It was a group effort and i am so proud to work with a bunch of such nice people!!!

 

[smom1976]

glad that the authorities are helping ...