Caregiving Rodeo

I am creating this blog because several people have suggested that I write up some of the tips and tricks that have helped me in caring for my loved one (LO) who has dementia. The journey isn't over, so I'm sure I will continue to learn and adapt to the changing conditions. My brother is also along for this adventure. We both like problem solving and are good at lateral thinking. It always helps to think, "If this way of doing things isn't working, what else can we try?" Sometimes a problem arises that makes me think I just can't manage anymore, and then we come up with a solution and suddenly things look brighter. I also have help in the form of part-time caregivers who come in for a few hours three days a week. And I have a friend who is in a similar situation that I talk to on the phone every now and then. I follow a few Facebook pages related to caregiving. I could post my ideas there but things get lost in the feed. And maybe you don't want to be on F

I hesitated to put safety latches on the doors because of fire safety, but eventually it became more important to prevent my LO from wandering off. So, I installed sliding latches at the top of the exterior doors. I'm very happy with the ones I chose. They can be slid back and forth from either side of the door, providing you are tall enough. A person who still has their wits will be able to figure it out, but my LO one has not yet managed it.  Look here:  GlideLok Child Safety Door Top Lock Made of Durable Metal Update: My LO managed to pull so hard on the door that the bolt got pulled out along with some of the door trim. So, after gluing the trim back together, I used 3-inch screws to secure the bolts (on all our latches) all the way into the door frame.   

Sundowning is the term that the dementia world uses for end-of-day moodiness, although I find that it doesn't really depend on the time of sunset; my LO gets anxious around 5pm all through the year. Melatonin, 1mg, dissolvable tablets work like a dream. I hand one to my LO anywhere between 4:30 and 5:30pm and it makes the evenings very calm and enjoyable for both of us.  Try it if your LO gets anxious in the evening. https://www.douglaslabs.com/melatonin-18010.html