Frau Tailler
Mrs. Tailler lives in the western region of Switzerland. She is 70 years old. Her husband, who is 81, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's dementia six years ago. Both Mrs. Tailler and her husband were previously married. Mrs. Tailler has three children from her first marriage, and her husband has four children. Mrs. Tailler worked as a nurse practitioner. The Alzheimer's diagnosis turned Mrs. Tailler's life upside down. Caregiving has made her housebound; she sees her hopes of enjoying life as a retiree with her husband thwarted. She is no longer able to do for her own family what she wishes she could; she lacks the time to look after her grandchildren or to go out for social engagements. The fact that it is not possible to talk to her husband about his illness limits Mrs. Tailler's hope for relief. Mrs. Tailler is supported by her husband's daughters, who arranged for him to be enrolled in a day program, which he has recently begun attending two times a week. He is on the waiting list for short stays in several homes.
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The doctor would have offered great help if he had raised the topic of her husband’s dementia with him, says Mrs. Tailler. As it was, she was unable to address her need for support providing ongoing care.
The doctor would have offered great help if he had raised the topic of her husband’s dementia with him, says Mrs. Tailler. Not calling a spade a spade, she says, is not a relief. Mrs. Tailler believes that people with dementia should be informed about their illness because otherwise negotiating the care situation later on becomes more difficult or impossible. Now, her husband does not appreciate that she needs some formal reprieve from ongoing care.
TRANSCRIPT
Related experiences
Frau Ullmann und Herr Thoma
The medications doses are ubiquitously too high, conclude Mrs. Ullmann and Mr. Thoma.
The transition from one institution to another did not work smoothly for Mr. Thoma's father in terms of medication. Instead of relowering the dosage after the transition was completed, he continued to receive the high medication dose, which severely impaired his speech, mobility, and independence. In the home where Mr. Thomas' father now lives, he receives only half the dose, and his condition has improved significantly. Mrs. Ullmann and Mr. Thoma conclude that "the dosages are set too high everywhere.
What helps? - Caregivers' perspective
Frau Dubois
Mrs. Dubois believes that it is important to have multiple opportunities to receive information and ask questions; when one is directly affected or involved, it can be hard to absorb information.
Mrs. Dubois believes that it is important to have multiple opportunities to receive information and ask questions; when one is directly affected or involved, it can be hard to absorb information. She thinks it would be nice to have a chance to consult with the family doctor and a disease expert together.
What helps? - Caregivers' perspective
Other experiences by Frau Tailler
Frau Tailler
Mrs. Tailler lives in the western region of Switzerland. She is 70 years old. Her husband, who is 81, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's dementia six years ago. Both Mrs. Tailler and her husband were previously married. Mrs. Tailler has three children from her first marriage, and her husband has four children. Mrs. Tailler worked as a nurse practitioner. The Alzheimer's diagnosis turned Mrs. Tailler's life upside down. Caregiving has made her housebound; she sees her hopes of enjoying life as a retiree with her husband thwarted. She is no longer able to do for her own family what she wishes she could; she lacks the time to look after her grandchildren or to go out for social engagements. The fact that it is not possible to talk to her husband about his illness limits Mrs. Tailler's hope for relief. Mrs. Tailler is supported by her husband's daughters, who arranged for him to be enrolled in a day program, which he has recently begun attending two times a week. He is on the waiting list for short stays in several homes.
Frau Tailler
The doctor would have offered great help if he had raised the topic of her husband’s dementia with him, says Mrs. Tailler. As it was, she was unable to address her need for support providing ongoing care.
The doctor would have offered great help if he had raised the topic of her husband’s dementia with him, says Mrs. Tailler. Not calling a spade a spade, she says, is not a relief. Mrs. Tailler believes that people with dementia should be informed about their illness because otherwise negotiating the care situation later on becomes more difficult or impossible. Now, her husband does not appreciate that she needs some formal reprieve from ongoing care.
What helps? - Caregivers' perspective
Dementia
Frau Tailler
Mrs. Tailler says that the doctor was dismissive when she tried to bring up her concerns about her husband’s advancing dementia.
Mrs. Tailler says that the doctor was dismissive when she tried to bring up her concerns about her husband’s advancing dementia. She felt left alone with the challenges she faced caregiving. Her doctor provided no counseling about the disease, which was delegated to the counseling center.
Four levels of communication of the caregivers
Dementia
Frau Tailler
The organization of regular care through institutional arrangements must be done slowly, says Mrs. Tailler. Otherwise, her husband would lose his bearings and she would feel unsettled.
The organization of regular care through institutional arrangements must be done slowly, says Mrs. Tailler. Otherwise, her husband would lose his bearings and she would feel unsettled.
At home or in a nursing home?
Dementia
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