Maureen’s presentation from 3 am this morning has been rather alarming.  She woke me up saying that someone was in her car yet gain.  I managed to console her with a cup of tea and empathy over her concerns.  I left her downstairs sleeping on the sofa as I went back to bed.

At 6 am I heard the front door open and hot-footed it downstairs.  Something of a lucky escape as I had not removed the key or set the bell on the door.  Maureen looked terrified as she told me she didn’t know where she was.  I offered to make her a cup of tea in an effort to help her get her bearings.  It took half an hour or so before I was sure she knew who I was.

We had an early breakfast together and made idle chat.  When I asked Maureen if she wanted any bread she offered to do the necessary.  Her efforts were a sobering reminder of the incredible decline in her functional capacity.  I had to perform a rescue operation to have anything that resembled a jam sandwich.  Maureen has now gone back to sleep she seems distraught possibly by her awareness of her lack of functional ability.

The bell on the front door will now remain on as an early warning whenever it is opened.  I think it is likely that Maureen has the back door key in her pocket.  Mary today’s carer has just arrived and I need to hot-foot it to Argos to buy a sound and motion alarm to reduce potential risks a little further.  That’s the easy one: I need help with how to address Maureen’s declining functional capacity –  I’m well aware that the more I do for her the less she will be able to do