She has caregivers in 3-4 times a day, I see her 4-5 times a week and a sibling comes from out of town twice a week. This is the one thing she says that tortures me. She wants to be in her home so we have arranged that. I imagine since she has no short term memory that that is the reason because she doesn’t remember anyone coming in or talking to anyone. How do I let it go when she says she is lonely all the time?
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In fact this is often true of ALL of us, whether we suffer from any brain disability or not. Notice who comes to work always sighing and down, and who shows up always chipper and perky. You will eventually conclude that it really has little to do with their real lives.
We develop habits. It is often little other than that.
I don't know if it is true of your Mom or not, but it is said that we die much as we lived. Our last years are either ones of depression, resignation, deep sighs and looking at the downside (and there's plenty of it to see, I assure you at age 80)
OR
we are more or less content, enjoying those things we enjoy while acknowledging that we do so with a few more aches and pains.
I think if you are too "tortured" by this (using your word) you may want to seek a few hours of counseling with a licensed social worker in private counseling practice. They are great at life transitions work.
We cannot change people, but we can change our reactions to them.
You didn't cause any of this. You can't fix it.
And honestly you are already doing more than any three people put together. Doing twice what you are doing is very unlikely to change a thing.
Not everything in life can be made all happy happy, so just take her hand and say "I am so sorry. I wish you felt a bit better". Listen to her! Don't try to change things for her. It is her reality and she should be given the dignity of it.
Throughout our lives we choose whether to look more at the light side or the dark. There's plenty of EACH to see.
I surely do wish you good luck.
Remember, you don't want to mirror what your Mom is doing. You have a choice which side to concentrate your energies on.
You immediately translate her "I'm so lonely" to "I forgot that I saw so and so 20 minutes/an hour ago/yesterday" because that is exactly what happened.
That's how you let it go.
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We all lose when dementia comes into play. But if you are going to buy into her demented delusions, you may wind up suffering more than she is in the end. You're doing everything humanly possible for the woman, so let it all go and allow God to help you accept mom's situation now. She may perceive herself lonely 2 min after a visitor leaves, which doesn't make it a reality. Know that you are a wonderful child to her, and doing your level best in a difficult situation.
I suggest you read this 33 of booklet online about managing dementia and what to expect with an elder who's been diagnosed with it.
Understanding the Dementia Experience, by Jennifer Ghent-Fuller
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/210580
Jennifer is a nurse who worked for many years as an educator and counsellor for people with dementia and their families, as well as others in caring roles. She addresses the emotional and grief issues in the contexts in which they arise for families living with dementia. The reviews for her books are phenomenal b/c they are written in plain English & very easy to read/understand. Her writings have been VERY helpful for me.
The full copy of her book is available here:
https://www.amazon.com/Thoughtful-Dementia-Care-Understanding-Experience/dp/B09WN439CC/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2E7WWE9X5UFXR&keywords=jennifer+ghent+fuller+books&qid=1657468364&sprefix=jennifer+ghent%2Caps%2C631&sr=8-2
Good luck!
The one in my city even has a spa like room where they will bathe and do the persons hair.
It would be great opportunity for your mom to be around other people and have some fun. Most people leave quite tired from all the activity. They're worth every penny.