One area in which I can take control is the home environment.  Maureen often thinks she is either in her Aunties house or  a Care Home as she doesn’t think she lives here.  That doesn’t really matter.  What I have to do is to make our home more dementia friendly to make life easier for both of us.  Sorting out Maureen’s clothes so she is not overwhelmed by choice can only help.

Yesterday afternoon was a very distressing experience for me.  Maureen has loads of clothes and turns out every day in her blue joggers and a choice of a few of T Shirts.  There are also couple of cardigans she wears and that is about it.   So while she had a late afternoon doze yesterday I pared down her wardrobe a little further.  There are now two further bags of clothes for the charity shop.  The whole process was upsetting, as most of the items brought back happy memories of times and places.

I just had to do something practical yesterday to try to move things forward.  Even more inertia from social services yesterday suggesting a visit but not able to confirm.  I just wonder what it will take for them to move on the need for more support here and a Carers’ Assessment .  I wonder if they wait until Care Partners collapse in a heap before they move themselves?

One real positive from yesterday.  Our new kid on the block, Rosie, shone once gain.  Her and Maureen have really hit it off and my task is clear: to nab her for some weekend sits when she starts University in a couple of weeks.  All of this would be easier if social services would let go of the reigns and let me take control.  I do not understand what their procrastination is all about.  I am beginning to wonder if there are systemic problems that mean they simply lack the capacity to give a worn out old Care Partner the support he desperately needs.