All posts by It's My Time Now

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About It's My Time Now

I am a retired adult educator. My wife had a stroke in February 2014 and developed mixed dementia. I was her Care Partner until she passed in October 2025. This Blog has told the story of life as a Care Partner and now focuses on the aftermath of dementia.

Fond Memories

I was hungry after my third shower of the day at 10.30 last night. Weetabix was at hand and I ate 6 one after the other. This brought back fond memeories.

I was on holiday with my ex wife and two children. Whilst we were in Amroth we had been unable tofind any Weetabix in local shops. When we returned home my young son ate 6 before his appetite was fulfilled.

I miss my only son having no communication with hime for a long time now. The only time I have seen him has been at my Dad’s and Mum;s funeral. However’ I know that he is giving sterling support to my ex wife as she faces significant health challenges.

I’m ready for something to eat now. My first breakfast of the day. I bet you can guess what it will be.

You Are No Longer A Resident Here!

I am bemused by the attitude of the Care Home I voluntarily spent 8 weeks in. As I tried to do my duty yesterday and seek an informal meeting to provide helpful feedback on my stay I was told that ‘you are no longer a resident.’

I am the first to admit that occasionally wake up in the morning a little confused about where I am. Such confusion soon passes as I start my day in my own home.

I just wonder why staff at the Care Home feel the need to remind me that I no longer reside with them?

Panick Mode

Yesterdayevening I went into panick mode a GP at the EmergencyCare Unit at Grimsby Hospital had determined that I needed to take water tablets to address my dreadfully swollen legs. I found his diagnosis both concerning and worrying.

I wondered how less that five days ago one of the GP’s at my own Practice had made no such diagnosis: his remedy had been elevation. A football chant of ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’ came to mind. My legs remained as swollen as they had been for the last few weeks but now different GP’s had come up with radically different plans. The latter requiring me to take tablets and monitor my blood pressue on a daily bassis. With tests on my heart pending.

I tried to see my own GP today. That has not been possible aand he wo’nt be available until Thursday. In tthe mean time I have no intention of taking water tablets. I have been advised to keep my mobile phone handy at all times in case there are any changes in my condition. No need to panick: just need to ensure it is fully charged.

Christie Hennessy

Youtube this man and you will see what I mean. Beautiful songs full meaning. I don’t know where Oconnor came from it must be those blasted miteds munching my memory

Remember Me

Things have been rather hectic lately as I try to deal with the impact of scabies. So I thought this song would tide me over for a few days.

Just chek out Christie Oconnor for this beautiful song.

I’m Back Blogging Again

It’s been a few years and there is lots to tell. In the next few days I will explain where I’ve been and what I have been doing. Hope you will be patient as I try to explain where I’ve been !

Dementia: Black Holes In Care Homes?

Image result for Black Hole picture

I’m convinced there are Black Holes in Care Homes.   There is no other explanation for where some of Maureen’s gear goes whenever she is in Respite Care.   Relentless searches by care staff at Ashgrove have so far failed to unearth her a pair of tights, trousers, and slippers.  If she realises that her slippers are missing we are in real trouble as they are special to her as her sister bought them for her.   The Black Hole in Ashgrove must suck in slippers as a pair went missing on a previous visit.  Perhaps we have got off lightly this time as her watch went when she was in Alderlea.  Thankfully she has forgotten that this special present from her son is missing.  She wore it every day despite the fact that she can no longer tell the time.

Last night Maureen’s aunty came round to look at those old photographs I had found.  It was so sad to see two people who used to be in fits of laughter in such a sober state.  Even reminiscing with someone who had shared those times failed to cheer Maureen up for long.  When I looked across at them Maureen looked years older than her aunt.

I’m struggling to find ways of lifting Maureen’s mood.  This morning she ‘feels useless and wants to die’.  I know that feeling well from my periods of depression.  I’m also well aware this is not a chemical imbalance and antidepressants are not the solution.  She doesn’t need to be taking tablets that don’t work and are likely to give side effects.  Thank goodness my daily visits to the gym are helping my mood: Black Holes may be inevitable but I have to avoid the Black Dog, as Churchill labelled depression, at all costs!

 

Dementia: ‘Help Me Get Better’

Image result for Help Me Get Better Picture

After a two weeks respite break, it’s taking me a while to get up to speed as Maureen’s Care Partner.  I was struggling last night when Maureen thought a woman was going to ‘steal her food and cause her harm.’  She also said that this woman had ‘taken her baby away.’  It took me a long time trying to reassure her that I would keep her safe and ease her into sleep on the sofa.

One good piece of news is that Maureen’s eye infection is clearing up.  The antibiotic cream prescribed over the phone by a Practice Nurse seems to be doing the trick.  Perhaps such minor concerns can be dealt with over the phone but we are really missing the support of our old GP who has retired.  He would have seen us at the drop of a hat!

As I type, Maureen is crying in the next bedroom and when I go to see her says: ‘help me get better’.  I reassured her that I’ll do my best!

Dementia: ‘I’d Die Without You’

There may have been times in our lives when we might have welcomed a loved one saying they couldn’t live without us.  Maureen’s cry of helplessness when she woke up this morning had quite the opposite effect: it brought tears to my eyes. As I helped her to find her way to the bathroom I reassured her that it was only a matter of time until she regained her confidence and became her old self again.

There were some good moments yesterday.  None better than returning from shopping and hearing Maureen and Our Little Gem singing this one:

The girls were in hysterics when I picked up a sweeping brush and danced around the Sun Room as they sang along.  OLG is such a thoughtful carer she had bought us the Mary Poppins LP to add to our collection.

We are now down to four items that are missing from Maureen’s stay in Ashgrove.  I called in there twice yesterday to reclaim more of the missing items.  One of the carers is on a mission to find the rest of the gear. I hope she comes across Maureen’s favourite blanket and slippers.

Maureen continues to be very sleepy and more confused than I recall.  I’m not sure if this is further progression of dementia or the result of a couple of weeks in a Care Home.  I  hope that a few more days of being back in the old routine will ease my concerns.

 

 

Dementia: Early Morning Reminiscing

Maureen came into her own very early this morning after spending most of yesterday catching up on sleep.  She loved looking at some old family photographs that her sister had sent us several years ago.  The one above is my favourite of the big sister of the family with her siblings.

I often think I have turned into a One Trick Pony relying on music to fill our day.  I’m hoping that sifting through these photographs, and many others that are tucked away, will provide hours of happy memories and even lead to some life story work.

If Maureen was in a Care Home now I would say ‘she is settling in’.  She seems to think we have been on holiday together for the last two weeks and says it would be nice to visit Cleethorpes when the weather improves.  Her recollection of happy family holidays here are one of the dominant memories of her childhood.