my dad has alzheimers

[Sassy]

It's easy to say don't put your family in a nursing home, but I work in one, and when alzheimers progresses, alot of times they become a danger to themselves, and the people that surround them. They wander, they do things that normally they would know better not to do, they can fall and break a hip, anything. And its hard to have someone to watch your family member 24/7. Ideally, I think family SHOULD take care of their own, I hate seeing abandoned people at my work, because they are messed up, family leave them there to forget. But realistically, sometimes its just impossible to take on what is basically an adult sized toddler, when you have your own lives, kids, jobs to take care of.

I?m a home healthcare nurse who works with the terminally ill. Prior to this I worked in a nursing home. I?m fully aware of how a debilitating illness effects the entire family. I think you will agree, however, that there is help out there in the community. You would be surprised at how many families have not fully explored this avenue prior to placing their loved ones in the nursing home. It isn?t because they chose not to, it?s because they are ill informed on what?s available and how to attain such services. As you said, ?the most important thing to do is be informed.? I believe when, and only when, after all approaches have been exhausted, then place them in the nursing home.


You and I are both are disheartened by seeing ?the abandoned clients, because they are messed up, and family leave them there to forget.? I always encourage the family to visit and I?m sure you do to. However, I don?t agree on 24/7 homecare. I found when this is provided that the family pulls away much like they do in a nursing home. The family needs to be involved, whether that be in the nursing home or in their own home.