Such a dreadful disease
I'm a caregiver and have been for 7 years. I've learned so much but I still have trouble coping. The lady I'm taking care of is in a group which is a mess. My biggest problem is getting her undressed to go to the bathroom and change her slacks. Some days she complains but lets me change her other days she screams at the top of her lungs. I'm at a loss as to how to handle the situation.
Hi @Vickig, what used to work for me sometimes is showing the new outfit and asking if they could try it on for me. It didn't always work, but often enough 😀 - Warmly, Donna (team member)
Thank you so much! I only stay with this lady 4 days a week and when I'm not there she has begun to scream when they get her up to get dressed and when she goes to bed. I have no idea what's going on and when I ask her daughter if maybe her medicine needs to be changed she's adamant that she doesn't want her on medication.
Hi @Vickig, you're most welcome! If you find that certain things you are doing are helpful in keeping your resident content and calm, maybe try discussing those techniques with her daughter. She can make the request for those techniques to be used with her mother during care plan meetings. If everyone was on the same page, and there was a continuity of care techniques, it could improve her mom's experience. - Warmly, Donna (team member)
My biggest concern is how she reacts every single time she is changed. When I'm not there and also with me. This morning she was screaming bloody murder and also swinging at me. I took her arms gently and looked at her and said knock it off and she said well ok! I'm going to talk to her daughter because I just feel something is causing this.
That sounds like a good plan of action. Let us know how it goes with the conversation! Best, Patty (Team Member)
I did ask the daughter if she thought it might be time to increase her medicine but she said the neurologist said it was normal and would prefer not to add or increase medication. Of course the doctor and the daughter have no clue what we're going through. I asked the daughter if she would take off one day during the week and go up early and see what happens when they try to get her up and how she acts during the day. I think as her mother declines the daughter is pulling away.
Hi @Vickig,
I can understand his point, the medications, as we know, can have side effects. It's hard, because we can't control their actions, we can only control how we react to them. I'll keep my fingers crossed that you can get her daughter in to see the contrast in care techniques. - Warmly, Donna (team member)
