O/T The Trouble With Dad

[JohnDearyMe]

Did anyone watch David Baddiel's documentary about his dad and his dementia (Picks disease) on Channel 4 tonight?

I thought it was funny, poignant and sad in equal measure about a very difficult topic

[mrhungryone]

I try to steer away from a lot of these type of programmes and watch something funny or factual with a positive outlook regards the programmes content. I think a lot of tv today focuses on disaster stories and emotive subjects and as we know the soaps would have you believe theres a disaster round every corner.i just think for a persons well being its better to watch the alternatives on offer, saying that i watched burnley on tv saturday and was well depressed. My fatha had altzeimhers by the way but while these programmes might be of interest to some id prefer to watch something else.

[HatfieldClaret]

Tend to agree Mrhungry

I began to read 'Elizabeth is missing'. Just reminded me so much of my mother I had to put it down and start on something else.
Too close to home. Makes for very difficult reading.

[cricketfieldclarets]

I bought one of Gazzas earliest books and it nearly ruined my holiday. Way too depressing. Sad to see things like this, and in the rare occasion I do watch the box (football aside) try and watch something for escapism.

Watched I Daniel Blake Saturday and whilst a good, gritty film was very sad and realistic.

[mrhungryone]

Yes i was lucky enough to visit my mutha yesterday.and she unwittingly had a programme on while wating for songs of praise.showing young children with incurable illness and death..... i turned it off as it was to terrible to watch,and before the watershed you dont want kids exposed to it as sad as it is its just not good tv....imo

[HB Claret]

Yes I did watch it as my dad was diagnosed with vascular dementia last year. The night Burnley beat Leicester (31st January - which was my mum's birthday) he fell over and lay in the floor for over 12 hours. He has spent the last 3 weeks in two hospitals and the powers that be are discharging him today at 11:00am and sending him home. I think that the programme highlights the difficulties that dementia brings to families and I think the Baddiels are dealing with it really well.

[tybfc]

I saw that this programme was on and avoided it like the plague.

And I don't know why.

Nearly 5 years ago my mother in law passed away with cancer and her last words to me was a request for me to look after her husband and not let him go into a home as he would never cope. He was 81 then and seemed in pretty decent health but she obviously knew differently.

He has since been diagnosed with vascular dementia and alzheimers diseases.

We have built an extension onto our house at ground level and moved him into our home.

He has a large bedroom, sky tv, a wet room etc with all the mod cons.

I have given up my well paid job and now care for him at home 24 hours a day 7 days a week with a day off for a Burnley game or a Lancs cricket match.

Last night he went to bed at 7pm and got up 5 times before 1am thinking it was morning before I put him back to bed each time.

Today he has then slept all day in the chair.

I cannot leave the downstairs of the house during the day as he gets that confused that he thinks he is alone and tries to escape to find me.

He asks me 20+ times a day what day it is. He doesn't recognise his own family. He will say at 4pm "is it time for me to turn in for bed now"

It must be so scary for these people that we cannot imagine but society has surely got to learn how to cope with the illness and deal with it.

I take my hat off to the staff in the good nursing homes who are priceless and have the patience of saints.

[mrhungryone]

Tybfc i think your last line applies to you also....

[Vambo]

Tybfc- Complete admiration for your dedication and commitment to your family. Not many people would go to those lengths.

[rayzer]

Ty, my wife works in a dementia care home and I worked in one for 2 years. My utmost respect to you. Looking after a someone with dementia is a gruelling task, but I wouldn't say thankless as every now and then they seem to look at you and say thankyou with their eyes. All the best. Rayzer.

[oswyclaret]

TYBFC you are an amazing individual and hopefully your efforts will be rewarded!

[HB Claret]

TYBFC thanks for your post - the events seem very familiar to the path it looks as if we will be going down. My dad was brought home today and despite us being told that he would be getting 3 short visits a day from registered carers to help him and us to readjust him back to as normal a life as possible nobody has shown up yet !