My dad has Alzheimers/dementia. He was diagnosed nearly three years ago, but it developed earlier than that. He's only 63. So far he's been holding up well, but lately things have been getting more and more difficult. My mum is working still, but will retire in July. I worry so much about what life will be like for them in the future. I think my mum will miss work terribly and things with my dad will get harder and harder. And there's so little I can do to help... especially because I live in England and my parents are in Germany.
I talked to my mum this morning and she was having a hard time with my dad. Since then I've been thinking about it and feeling very very sad and worried. Dh got home tonight and wasn't particularly bothered how I was feeling. He went sort of "there there" but it was as if we're talking about a broken ankle, not a serious incurable progressive disease. He's like "Well there's nothing you can do, so why worry?"
Great help!
While we were getting the kids ready for bed I said to him that he could be more sympathetic. Then he started having a go at me, saying I was like this "all the time" and that I could f* off. !!!!!!!! I haven't cried about my Dad since he was diagnosed in 2002, but even if I did cry every couple of months, so bloody what? I'm obviously only wanted here when I have a happy face.
After he had read dd1 her story he came in and did his usual thing of pretending everything was okay again. (Dd1 had made him apologize for the swearing immediately after it happened.) But I told him that I couldn't believe what he had done and that he should go away.
Am going to see my friend tonight, thank God. Would still appreciate some replies though!
Thanks for "listening"