Skip to main content

Dismantled Barriers


After publishing Saturday night's post, I heard a commotion upstairs & on investigation, found Bebe standing in her doorway with a broom in her hands - the broom is part of the barrier Sime sets up every night to discourage Bebe from going downstairs &/or venturing into our room during the night. It usually helps her to feel safe too, as she can get quite anxious about being on her own in the dark. We have a nightlight on the landing & various laminated signs - arrows to the loo, info on where she is & one asking her to go back to her room & that we'll see her in the morning! 

The council social care department are going to let us try an electronic prompt device, on which we can record our voices & it will be triggered if she attempts to leave her room, so as she reaches for the door handle - our voices will kick in asking her to go back to bed... Clever! Will keep you posted on this, as we're quite intrigued!

Anyway, back to Saturday night's incident... Bebe had dismantled the barrier to our room & proceeded to threaten me with the broom, insisting that someone had been into her room! She then said she thought it was Sime & I getting up to something... Trying to drive her mad!
I managed to calm her down, but it was quite a surprise to see her in such a state. We think she suffers terribly when Sime goes out - she just gets completely lost without him, although she sometimes doesn't seem aware of him being out, but will ask several times during the evening if there is something wrong... We know folks with dementia tend to focus on the closest person to them, so we think when Sime isn't here - it's just turns her world upside down.

On Sunday, Bebe was restless & fearful - Sime was gigging again & last night she was back to her more relaxed & happy self... He was at home. It's fascinating, she may not converse with us much in the evening, but she does check on us a lot, probably making sure Sime is here.

This sundowning is really dreadful, it's awful to see just how tormented Bebe can be. It's hard to comfort her or reason with her, but at least our background in social care helps us to cope with her challenging behaviour, which is fine if we're not tired.

When Bebe is aggressive, we know not to take it personally & we are pretty good at diffusing situations... It can feel quite surreal at times - when we've been up with her in the night or she's argumentative in the evening, then just as sweet as can be in the morning. 

Thank goodness we do get some quality time each day, the chance to chill out together... 
Breakfast is our favourite time with Bebe, it's usually fun with lots of laughter & we always have conversations to get Bebe thinking. 

Here's our video from this morning...

 

Kay & Sime
xx






Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Diet And Drugs

Some of you know about my fight with Graves Disease, an auto immune system disorder, which causes an overactive thyroid. Since I was diagnosed 7 years ago, I have made it my business to know everything I possibly could about the condition & this has probably saved my life. I have blood tests on a regular basis & in November last year, I was told that my T4 levels are normal & again in January the same.  My thyroid stimulating hormone was finally starting to work too, after 7 years of lying dormant, so I suggested I came off the anti thyroid drug & my GP's response was to continue for a while longer. A month ago, I rang my GP & suggested again that I come off the drug or at least halve it, as I was feeling so well  & was concerned about the drug pushing me into being under active. Again, she said to be patient & they would send for me when it's time for a blood test. I don't normally do as I'm told, but decided to stick with it a b

Our Neighbours

The ladies next door have been giving birth in the field. Their babies are like any other babies - they sleep, they feed, they follow their mums everywhere, they run around, then fall asleep again.  These little beauties are completely unaware of their fate... But we know... And this is one thing which makes living here difficult. How can people eat other beings without feeling terrible?     It just doesn't make sense. Both the posters are from the  Cornwall Vegans  website. If you are in Cornwall or will be on Saturday 22nd April - do support this event! Perhaps you have been considering veganism - this  Vegan Starter Kit  will help you to get started and if you have any questions, need help or ideas for recipes - just ask, we are always happy to talk to folks who want to change their diet for the better. And in case you haven't seen this on iplayer - Here is  Simon Amstell's Carnage . Please, please think seriousl

Nettles

Our garden yesterday. Tall Nettles TALL nettles cover up, as they have done These many springs, the rusty harrow, the plough Long worn out, and the roller made of stone: Only the elm butt tops the nettles now. This corner of the farmyard I like most: As well as any bloom upon a flower I like the dust on the nettles, never lost Except to prove the sweetness of a shower. ~ Edward Thomas ~ Every time we venture out to pick nettles, Sime always goes on about this poem! Anyway, thought I'd share with you the article I've written for next month's Parish Magazine... Our hedgerows are coming alive with food aplenty, but hardly anyone really notices the nettles that surround us, they grow quietly while using their juices to produce a medicine that can bring health. Anaemia, arthritis, rickets, tuberculosis, respiratory diseases, colds, catarrh and lymphatic problems can all benefit from this wonderful wild and free super food. Nettles are rich in ca