As our move has now been delayed I am now reviewing how I did on the targets I set for last week:
- To smile more and communicate clearly
I haven’t had a bad week on this front with the occasional lapse: particularly when Maureen tried to hang washing on a tree and ended up treading on a freshly set part of my vegetable plot. I didn’t smile at this escapade and became frustrated that my hard work had been undone.
- To visit family in Coventry
- To have a day out together
No progress has been made on the above.
- To go out and leave Maureen to her own devices for an hour on two separate occasions
I have left Maureen on a couple of occasions almost approaching the hour mark
- To revise and dance our routines to the Cha Cha in our Lounge
We have had the odd smooch but no Cha Cha in the last week
- To encourage Maureen to do crosswords or jigsaws
Thursday’s carer did a couple of crosswords with Maureen and I have bought a jigsaw
- To attempt to resolve Maureen’s shortage of clothing
I have bought Maureen 3 pairs of joggers which are awaiting examination. The pyjama trousers I bought are uncomfortable.
The question is am I doing a good job? I think I have done well in the last week by exploring Day Care at Royal Court and a move into Lindsey Hall Nursing Home.
I hope to make progress on some of the issues that are outstanding in the coming week.
Three additional targets for this week:
- To explore avenues for some form of immediate respite
- To explore moving into single rooms in Lindsey Hall on a temporary basis
- To explore viable alternatives to moving into Lindsey Hall
Dementia: Sharing The Good Times 
I am so impressed at how well you have succeeded this week. You pack a fair bit into your week.
I am hopeless, certainly a week is a long time for us. For us it is day by day. I admit one of my targets every day is not to show how frustrated I may be feeling. I do find that difficult at times but have learnt to achieve it most days. Poor John gets so upset if I do show frustration and feels he has done something wrong which then takes me ages to reassure him, then I feel guilty!,,
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As we know there are shortcomings with self-assessment. Is there any chance of you poping over to do a spot of moderation?
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Di & Paul, you are both awesome 🙂
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We are doing our best Susan thanks to AMAZING support from so many people.
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You are right Paul, no one can do it in A vacuum
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I would prefer some constructive feedback from all those people who are keen to tell me I’m ‘doing a good job’. They also keep ‘blessing’ Maureen. Why would you bless someone who wakes you up at any time of the night or well before dawn? Kate Swaffer’s point about language in dementia needs to be extended to Care Partners. I’m not sure whether to deck the next person who uses such patronising phrases or vomit over them. All I know is I’m doing my best and am currently exhausted from lack of sleep!
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Hmmmm. Well, I don’t know if that comment was directed at me, but all I can say is I call it like I see it 🙂
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It was certainly not Susan: your comments are authentic in contrast to those who patronise to try to placate a tired old Care Partner!
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Gotchya!
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