How to handle behaviors ….

JC5

Craving for sweets insatiable, insists on donuts or turnovers for breakfast and lunch! He’s on metformin for diabetes. DH is either really hungry or doesn’t remember he has eaten and will go thru fridge making a sandwich if he can’t find cookies after he has eaten his meal. Wears same stained urine soaked clothes day and night till I practically tear them off his body! Will shower once every 7-10 days . Won’t shave so I bring him to barber. Insists on bringing a “snack” to bed and throws a temper tantrum when I say no. Although he has major back issues he is capable of doing simple chores but refuses to, so he sits, watches TV and eats all day!!

If this sounds familiar what do you do how do you handle it? I find I cry A LoT!

Chance Rider

@JC5 I’m sorry for the challenges you’re facing and can relate to much of what you’re experiencing.

My husband also takes metformin and went through a stage of eating copious amounts of sweets, turnovers, muffins, donuts, etc. After about 6 months that has subsided and he’s now eating large volumes of mostly finger foods. His diabetes was in check so I decided not to fight his cravings, and actually indulged him by buying his “treats”.

My husband is just beginning to experience incontinence. The first time it happened I told him I’d bought myself some “special” panties because when I had a bad cough I’d “leak”. I think because I showed him what I wore at night he readily agreed to let me get him some.

When I need him to change his clothes I fib and tell him I don’t have enough for a full load and ask if I can add his clothes to my laundry. It’s worked well so far.

I’m sure my challenges will change as my husband’s disease progresses (he’s late 4 early 5). For now, I choose my battles carefully. The result is much less anger on his part and mine. In my case my depression and anxiety were out of control so I asked my doctor for help. I’ve been on Prozac for about 2 months and it’s made a huge difference for me.

Oh, and yes my husband is quite capable of helping around our home and acreage but he watches TV day and night.

Best to you…. This is a horrible journey none of us asked for.

SDianeL

dementia changes their taste. Many PWD crave sweets. Get sugar free things and healthy snacks. Hide the rest. Child locks will work. PWD lose the ability to initiate tasks and they forget how to do things. They also lose track of time. It’s the disease progression. So sorry you are going through this.