RE New one here/Walt

[Guest guest]

Hi Walt, well I am even more glad for you that you do have one sister

who is on your side. You are right on the money about family being a

problem to other members of this group. I am lucky. My sister and I

are both on the same page with respect to mum and we both want to do

whatever will help her live as comfortably as possible for the rest

of her life. If she or I had to battle with family also I think it

would mean the looney bin for us for sure!

You mentioned that your mum is antisocial. Was she always that way? I

ask because mum is becoming more and more antisocial herself, which

is really different from the way she used to be. I know a lot of it

is because of her " voices " which we call her crew, and the things

they tell her. She has become very paranoid over the last year or so.

Of course it wasn't until we found out about LBD that her behaviour

began to make sense. We have both made suggestions about mum joining

in activities, but she always has a reason why she can't.

Mum is also convinced that her money is being given away. Both my

sister and I have joint POA for health care and finances for mum, but

as long as she is still able to sign her name, we ask her to make out

whatever cheques she wants to write. My sister takes her to the bank

on a regular basis so she can get her account book updated and take

out some spending money. This always makes her feel better, but then

the crew start thanking her for the money my sister has given them

(which of course she hasn't). Its a tough one.

Thankfully, mum is really happy where she is. She has a lot of her

own furniture in her room and her pictures on her walls and it really

feels like home to her now. She really doesn't remember where she

lived before this, but like your mum thinking she is still in her old

neighbourhood, still thinks she owns the cottage that was sold many

years ago. Some days are good, like the past couple of weeks, while

others are like a nightmare. All you can do is roll with the tide,

and have a good sense of humour about stuff.

Take care,

.

P.S., have you considered having your sister read some of the posts

in this group? Maybe if she sees some similar symptoms and

behaviours, it may just open her up to the fact that there really is

something going on with her mum. Just a thought.

[Guest guest]

I agree with ; you ARE lucky that you have one sister who supports

what you are doing! You are even luckier in that you are the one in charge.

Believe me, it is really tough when the two people who have POA are (1) the

person who always has to be in charge of everything but will not even take

her mother to the doctor twice a year as requested by the doctor and (2)

someone who is still somewhat in denial and in any case, never likes to

" make waves " so just goes along with what the other sibling says! Even

worse, the person who is the 24/7 caregiver (ME) has no say whatsoever.

Fortunately I am not averse to the occasional white lie and outright

trickery in order to do what must be done!!!

carol

[Guest guest]

Walt and ,

I am not so sure it is anti social as much as they have been hiding the

disease longer than we know. They discover they can not hid it any

longer.

Before Mom moved to MI with me, she had people who would stop by to take

her to church. Some times she knew she had made plans to go to church,

but she did not know what day was Sunday, and she did not know how to

get ready at a time they would be there, without getting up real early

and sitting and waiting. So she began to say she did not want to go

today, or she was not feeling good. She would never miss church

otherwise.

So I think the antisocial is a way to try and hid the disease some more.

Anyway that seemed true for Mom. They are very clever at covering.

Donna R

Do you want to read more about Lewy Body? You can also read the

Thistle, the LBD Newsletter. Just click on:

http://www.lbda.org

[Guest guest]

donna surmised:

So I think the antisocial is a way to try and hid the disease some more.

donna, i think you hit the nail on te head on that one, i feel that being

antisocial is a way out for my dad to keep from humiliating himself. as he

knows

there are things he should do and either cant or doesnt know anymore what to

do. my dad always had a houseful of people at his house paryting and having a

good time, dad too was the life of the party but since the disease noone

comes around. now one frined who is also an alcoholic, pities himslef because

he

has lost 3 friends to 'dementia' he whines about the frineds he has lost but

doesnt care enough to be there for his friends boy am i glad he is not MY

friend. anyways dad's birthday is nov 28th and i am gonna inivte jennie, and

melvin and a couple up the street that always ask about dad to have cake and ice

cream with us, just a little party for him,

hugs to all sharon m

a smile a day keeps the meanies away!!!

laughter is a breath of fresh air!