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Depressed or just tired mind?

My wife (early stage 4 Alzheimer's) sometimes gets quiet and sullen-looking. My intuition says she is depressed and I should do something to cheer her up. On the other hand I think maybe it's just getting late in the day and her mind is tired and simply doesn't want to think. Anyone else record comparable observations? Have any thoughts? Thanks!

Comments

  • trottingalong
    trottingalong Member Posts: 435
    Eighth Anniversary 250 Likes 100 Insightfuls Reactions 100 Care Reactions
    Member
    edited January 30

    My DH does get depressed. It can be morning or later in the day. I have tried to get him on a walk, to the beach, out to eat, you name it. It’s always “no.” He prefers to just have me sit next to him while he watches endless YouTube videos. I either cook or clean and take a short walk alone. I’ve reached the point that I just cannot be “everything.” If he’s comfortable sitting in the couch, I let him be. I will ask daily if he would like to go somewhere. If he says no, I leave it at that.

  • BPS
    BPS Member Posts: 99
    100 Care Reactions 25 Insightfuls Reactions 25 Likes 10 Comments
    Member

    My wife is pretty easy to care for. She sleeps until afternoon and then only wants to sit and watch TV, I try to get her to go do something because she still can but she don't want to go or do anything. I recently I was able to get her to tell me why she didn't want to do anything, and she said it was just too much. I think she meant to much motion and activity for her to feel comfortable with. She never looks really happy no matter what I say or do. She has lost any concern for how others including me feels about anything. It is lonely when she is asleep but I feel even more lonely when she is awake because she wants me to be sitting there with her watching the same old shows over and over instead of doing anything I might enjoy. I have thought about memory care but like I said she is pretty easy to care for. She is not incontinent or violent (she does have some delusions) so all I have to do is cook and clean that I would do even if she was in memory care and give her her medications. I think it would be easier if we had a close relationship before this disease.

  • charley0419
    charley0419 Member Posts: 375
    100 Likes 100 Care Reactions 100 Comments 25 Insightfuls Reactions
    Member

    This illness sucks !

Commonly Used Abbreviations


DH = Dear Husband
DW= Dear Wife, Darling Wife
LO = Loved One
ES = Early Stage
EO = Early Onset
FTD = Frontotemporal Dementia
VD = Vascular Dementia
MC = Memory Care
AL = Assisted Living
POA = Power of Attorney
Read more