Mr. Q – A Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease Tragedy

Transcribed by Honey B Wackx

Mr. Q arrived here in our home three and a half weeks ago. Mr. Q has been diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer’s. He has been living alone most of his life and at least the last forty eight years. So I am guessing that will make even harder to adjust to his new surroundings.

Mr. Q can no longer take care of himself. There are a lot of little (as he calls them) things that are problems for him. Some of these he recognizes, while others he doesn’t. For example he realizes he has a speech problem, and sometimes can barely say a couple of words when he should be saying sentences.

He also knows that his memory is not as good as it was previously. Other than that it is mostly conjecture as to what he really thinks or understands. It seems to vary from day to day.

If you have never experienced living with a person with dementia or Alzheimer’s it’s hard to believe the things that happen. Of course people do different things, but most of those with either of the conditions have some sort of problem.

The things they do may not be consistent at all. For example our Mr. Q has obviously known how to go to the bathroom and do his business all his life. He was doing ok (with a little coaching) until a few days ago, when he seemed to forget and started trying to do his business in the sink, a cup, etc. Hopefully that won’t last.

Another example; Mr. Q was doing fine going into the bathroom or waiting until someone got out, if it was occupied. Then all of a sudden it seemed he started going into the bathroom when someone was in there.

Even if he sees them go in and shut the door he will try to go in and virtually nothing will stop him except forcefully restraining him. Talk does nothing, warning does nothing. Even holding him so he cannot reach the door knob is very difficult to do for a women. Mr. Q seems to have super human strength when he wants to do something and we tell him no, or it’s wrong.

This page and related posts are a little bit of the daily experiences we have to go through with someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.