For Dad and hence for us, the details really matter.
He’s been forgetting, more regularly recently, to turn off his stove top after he makes his porridge. But he still makes his own porridge so….we just have to remember to check every morning and it’s all good!
Dad received a lovely chocolate bar as one of his birthday gifts recently. He promptly unwrapped it completely and put it out on his countertop. We don’t know why. So, we wrapped it in plastic, brought it to our side, and now we dole out a chunk once in a while. He enjoys it just as much, I’m sure!
I put 2 bottles of Ensure in his fridge the other day and he promptly drank them both within the space of an hour. Now I only hand him one when I think he needs it. So once a week or once every two weeks.
We realized the same problem may apply to his beer consumption so we gave him a 6 pack of zero alcohol beer and we now dole out the real stuff once in a while. Yup!
My father has cold feet and cold hands. Always has. So we moved his space heater into position after he took his heated blanket off his bed to use to wrap his feet at his living room couch. Now we have to remember to turn it on and then later to turn it off. It can be done!
I usually put a piece of paper towel on the top of his lettuce which we purchase in a plastic tub. (this helps the lettuce to last longer) He’s taken to throwing out the paper towel immediately. So now, I put it under the lettuce. Problem solved!
We bought little boxes of raisins for him which we already wisely dole out once in a while. We’re learning! But he’s outsmarting us. He has only eaten a few of the raisins from one single box so far. Given his propensity to consume whatever is in sight, we find this to be quite odd. Come on dementia, give me a break!
But the biggest devilish detail is this…. Sometimes I think what’s the point of telling my Dad something or explaining something since he’ll just forget. But if I go that route, I diminish both him and me. And sometimes, he still totally understands and completely remembers later. Amazing. Why would I deny him (and me) that? I wouldn’t. So I keep engaging him.
And to quote the show that Forte Plus is about to do – No ifs, ands or buts.
