Dipex – Herr Wolfensberger

Mr. Wolfensberger is 74 years old at the time of the interview; his wife is 81. The couple lives in the southwestern part of Switzerland. Mrs. Wolfensberger was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s dementia 11 years ago. Seven years ago, she suffered a stroke. Although she partially recovered, her vision, motor skills, and spatial orientation have been severely limited ever since. Mrs. Wolfensberger requires 24-hour nursing care, which places a heavy burden on Mr. Wolfensberger. For the past four years, his wife has been cared for in the mornings by Spitex. The respite service comes three times a week, and she attends a day structure once a week. This care arrangement allows Mr. Wolfensberger to pursue his work. The couple were employed in academia. Mr. Wolfensberger has dementia-specific expertise.

Herr Wolfensberger

Mr. Wolfensberger noticed spatial and visual perception disorders in his wife. She perceives obstacles on the path where there are none.

Mr. Wolfensberger relates that the development of the disease in his wife was significantly slower than predicted by the doctor, which he attributes to the effect of the medicinal plants blueberry and turmeric.

Mr. Wolfensberger mentioned that his wife was receiving a combination of an anxiolytic and antidepressant at very low doses for the night. Previously, she had experienced hallucinations in the middle of the night due to medication.

He would have done writing exercises with his wife, Mr. Wolfensberger says. Writing is an optimal strategy for training the brain.

Mr. Wolfensberger considers music therapy to be something extraordinary. Music, he says, is an expression of life energy. He mentions in the conversation that his wife grew up in a musical family.

Mr. Wolfensberger does not agree with the doctor’s assessment that his wife’s leg paralysis is associated with her Alzheimer’s dementia. He is advocating for further examination by a neurologist.

The long period of care gnaws at him, Mr. Wolfensberger says. He feels exhaustion due to a lack of free time and frustration because his life is severely restricted.

Mr. Wolfensberger brings his wife to the day program once a week. Taking her there and picking her up is time-consuming, and the transition period in the morning is difficult.

Every professional engagement that Mr. Wolfensberger accepts means for him a trade-off between care-free time and invested effort.

Enabling dementia patients to lead an active social life is central, says Mr. Wolfensberger. Nursing professionals should increasingly orient their actions towards supporting this, as should the patients and their relatives.