Procrastination is the thief of time so I wasted no time yesterday in my plan   To Take The Bull By The Horns.  An early morning phone call to my G P led to a consultation at 11 am to discuss my latest concerns with Maureen’s presentation. Dr Munjal was extremely supportive acknowledging the difficulties of being a Care Partner as dementia progresses.  He urged caution in confronting Maureen about her reluctance to take medication or recognising who I am.  Dr Munjal knows Maureen well: it is always helpful to discuss my concerns with him. 

I also manged to speak Mel, my Admiral Nurse, before 10 am and arranged to meet her on Friday morning.  She has hinted that Life Story work may be a positive way forward and I have just scanned Dementia UK’s approach to such an initiative.  I am optimistic that we may be able to develop something that helps Maureen to remember key events in her life: particularly our wedding .  There is an opportunity to open this door today when we collect her wedding ring from the jewellers.  I’m hoping that the reduction in size will help to keep it on her finger and that her engagement ring will eventually turn up from the safe place where she has placed it.

Once the ring is back on Maureen’s finger we might even try to sort out our Wedding Album: even place some of the duplicate photos strategically around the house.  The only problem is that may make recognition even more problematic as we have both aged a little since our ‘Happy Day’ (pictured right). Then of course we have the Wedding Video to watch if if reminiscing seesm to help. .

The 3.30 alarm call came on time this morning as Maureen yelled out ‘Paul’.  I found her downstairs concerned that her car was about to depart and leave her alone in the house.  My attempts to placate her fell on stony ground with all sorts of abuse aimed in my direction.  A cup of tea an hour later seems to have hit the spot and I’m hoping she will sleep as Mrs Dementia and wake as Mrs Collins.  

Postscript: I’m optimistic my wife is back: Maureen has just woken moaning ‘she won’t go swimming today after all’ (the mind boggles) and just to help her focus I have gone straight into Tea Boy mode and topped her mug up with further supplies.