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DH won’t let me change him

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easy23
easy23 Member Posts: 266
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My DH is in memory care and won’t let the aides or me change his wet Depends. He gets very agitated if I ask him and has punched me. He does the same with the aides.
It doesn’t matter what time of day I try. It is always a battle. The Dr put him on depakote to try to help with these behaviors but it hasn’t made a difference.

Any suggestions?

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  • tigersmom
    tigersmom Member Posts: 245
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    @easy23 , i am sorry this is happening. My DH was only in memory care for a month, and I can tell you how they dealt with it. Four people would surround him, and they would quickly shepherd him into the one-person restroom. They would have the supplies at the ready. If they were missing something and i was there, i would run and get it from his toom. It was not easy, but they would sit him down on the toilet and talk gently to him and get it done. Usually it was better if i stayed outside. Changing your DH now should not be your responsibility. I am sure you are paying them a lot of money to care for him. Speak to the director of nursing and, if need be, to the administrator to make a plan, Depakote didn’t work for my husband, either, and if it is going to work, it will take time. If all else fails, he may need a geripsych admission to figure out what does. Good luck to you andd your husband. This part is hard.

  • Denise1847
    Denise1847 Member Posts: 903
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    Ask the doctor for Seroquel (Quetiapine).

  • SDianeL
    SDianeL Member Posts: 1,788
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    so sorry he is at this point. My DH also did this. They increased his Risperidone and added Depakote. It finally helped but caused him to sleep most of the time. We had no choice. The facility can’t have their staff injured. So sad.

  • easy23
    easy23 Member Posts: 266
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    I would rather he sleep than behave like this!

  • Dio
    Dio Member Posts: 831
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    This happened to my DH too. The Depakote took about 6 weeks to fully work. It's not a pain killer that works right away. Be patient. Is he taking anti-anxiety meds like Seroquel in addition to Depakote?

  • easy23
    easy23 Member Posts: 266
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    He started depakote 4 weeks ago and also takes 4mg daily of risperidone.

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