AARPTrish
 
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Background
Gender: Female
Status: Married
Location:
Washington, District of Columbia
United States
School:
Towson University
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About Me

I have been working with AARP's Community for the past year. I love the interaction with the members.

Interests:
I love to read, garden, dance and the beach! I'm a member of OES. I adore world traveling.
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Caregiving of Mother-in-law--Thermostat control

My husband & I are caring for his mother as she has Alzheimer's disease, and is no longer able to live by herself.  Last night when I got home from work, my husband told me the story of the battle of the thermostat!  He kept putting signs up reminding my MIL not to turn the thermostat up, and she constantly took them down, and cranked up the heat.  He covered the control box with aluminum foil, and put a sign over it.  He tried everything to keep her from touching it, but to no avail.  Finally, he lost it last night.  lol  He put a tupperware container over it, and nailed it to the wall, and put another sign over it.  Five minutes later, he checked on it, and sure enough, she had ripped the sign down, and was trying to remove it , nails and all, with her bare hands!  As of this morning, it is still in place, but the defiance of someone with Alzheimer's is amazing.  They are truly child-like in their actions.

Added: December 19, 2007
Views: 597 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0
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  Comments (7)  
mieko
mieko says:

I am so sorry to hear about what you and your husband are going through, i know exactly how you feel. I took care of both my parents, and they each had a different kind of memory problem, and i have short & long term memory loss due to brain damage, so it was all very interesting. Both are gone now and part of me is relieved, but the other part would give anything to have one crazy day with them
Posted: November 24, 2008 1:00PM EST
Twinkness
Twinkness says:

Photobucket

Hope all is well with you.
Karen
Posted: April 25, 2008 7:57AM EDT
AliceR
AliceR says:

Hi I live on the Caribbean island of Dominica. I just finished watching Caring for your parents on PBS and loggedon here after the show. I am the only female in a family of 4 children. My mother is 88. Last year she was sick and had to be hospitalized. She then developed Shingles, which was very painful . It was a very stressful time, ( I wish I had discovered this resource then) but thankfully she has recovered and although she has diabetes Type 2 and High blood pressure, she is blessed to be mentally alert. I can only imagine what it must be like to have a parent with Alzheimers. The photo of the beach attracted me as Dominica has several beachs and 365 rivers.. yes one for every day of the year. Our beaches here are mainly black sand which I know is quite unusual as we are of volcanic origin. Caring for a parent can be challenging and also create renewed family relationships.
Posted: April 3, 2008 4:06AM EDT
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