Have any questions about how to use the community? Check out the Help Discussion.

Regressing

Maru
Maru Member Posts: 123
100 Comments 100 Care Reactions 25 Likes 5 Insightfuls Reactions
Member

DH with ALZ…he has forgotten not only that he loves bbq ribs but also how to eat them. It suddenly occured to me that there have been a number of clues that his eating habits have regressed to early childhood. He now cuts all his foods …asparagus, long green beans, meats…into bite size pieces before eating. I asked him several weeks ago why he did that and he replied "that's what mom used to do." i see now that this part of him has changed.

The other thing is that I find I am having to wipe up small puddles around the toliet from his night time trips to the bathroom. This is pretty new.

And, now he can only remember one thing from a list of instructions. ie…put the bag of fertilizer on the top step, put it on the edge, make it facing the stairs downward. And, I can only ask him to do one thng at a time.

I am reminding myself that this is a slow and long goodbye to the man I married 66 years ago. Thanking God for all those years. Praying for wisdom and patience.

Comments

  • Iris L.
    Iris L. Member Posts: 4,683
    Legacy Membership 2500 Comments 500 Likes 250 Care Reactions
    Member

    Be careful of meat. Make sure the pieces are small and not tough. Meat can be a choking hazard.

    Iris

  • White Crane
    White Crane Member Posts: 1,001
    Eighth Anniversary 500 Care Reactions 250 Likes 500 Comments
    Member

    Yes, as the disease progresses, eating habits change and regress. A couple of weeks ago, my DH did not know what a fork was.

  • upstateAnn
    upstateAnn Member Posts: 150
    100 Likes 100 Comments 25 Insightfuls Reactions 25 Care Reactions
    Member

    My DH now only eats soft foods….

  • annie51
    annie51 Member Posts: 286
    250 Care Reactions 100 Likes 100 Comments 25 Insightfuls Reactions
    Member

    I have seen some strange eating habits come up as the disease progresses - mixing foods together, trying to cut pizza crust with knife and fork, etc. He will still eat everything I give him… and I mean EVERYTHING. He will ask for a spoon or use his fingers to get every last morsel of food, every last drop of sauce, syrup, salad dressing, whatever. I’m waiting for him to start licking the plate. 😋

  • SDianeL
    SDianeL Member Posts: 1,586
    500 Likes 1000 Comments 500 Care Reactions 250 Insightfuls Reactions
    Member

    They make disposable mats for around the toilet. A bright red toilet seat and well lit bathroom may also help.

  • M5M
    M5M Member Posts: 157
    100 Comments 25 Insightfuls Reactions Second Anniversary 25 Likes
    Member

    My DH was having toileting issues with those drips and puddles…… I suggested he try sitting down….he was resistant at first but then tried it and realized it was much easier than standing, standing, trying to pee. He is unsteady at best anyway. I posted on this earlier, and one of the men mentioned that some men are not able to sit to pee…but for DH it works and works well. He is able to get "every last drop" done while seated and then gets up by holding onto the door handle. We also have a night light in the toilet area that makes it easier getting up at night.

  • SiberianIris
    SiberianIris Member Posts: 37
    10 Comments 5 Insightfuls Reactions First Anniversary 5 Likes
    Member

    If he is reluctant to pee sitting down, there are stickers you can place in the toilet bowl that will give him something to aim towards. They have different designs, but I think the best ones look like a bullseye target in red and white. They're called Toilet Targets. People with dementia can have trouble seeing, so contrasting colors are helpful.

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