Recently my 80 year old father who had been diagnosed with mild dementia has become fixated on his finances. So much so that he is convinced that my mother has been stealing his money for years (which is not true and we have presented attorneys, case workers, psychiatrists, etc. to explain to him otherwise but he is convinced of this.) And it has now culminated into his request for a divorce. My mother who is his primary caregiver is fed up and doesn't want to argue with him anymore and is granting his request. I understand that this is quite common but I was hoping to get any further insight from others that might have been in the same position. Thank you.
Oh, and, by the way, is he has been 'declared as having lost testamentary capacity' how come he is wielding that powerful a credit card? Who has power of attorney for him, and who is taking care of him?
Blimey. Has the SAgf got any family you can enlist for support at their end?
Now, he wants a divorce from Mum so he can marry his SAf girlfriend . they both have dementia. Dad has been declared as having lost his testamentary capacity.
Can he divorce? Can he marry again?
Create a document that states that X and Y are divorced. There are probably some online forms somewhere that simulate a real divorce decree. Give a copy to the spouse who wants a divorce and tell him/her it's been all taken care of for them as a couple.
The question then is whether that spouse wants to move out, and where would he/she go?
Could you do something ceremonial to give your father the satisfaction of thinking that the marriage is dissolved?
Also, could some other caregiving arrangements be made so your mother has less face to face involvement with your father? I can imagine how difficult this must be for her, and she needs help as well.
This happed so often that my mother decided that it was time for them to sleep in the middle of separate beds. Their ages were 76 and 74 at that time.
My stepdad had prostrate removal several years ago and the sex has been non existent.
My dad now has Lowy Body Dementia. It's in its severe stage and he is taking 3 different medications to help bring him out of depression, hallucinations and improvement in his cognitive ability, however, they haven't made much difference. Because it is Lewy Body Dementia he has the Parkinson systems that accompany this type of dementia. He has to use a walker or he'll fall. He even falls with one,so we have to spot him when he is up walking.
The biggest problem is: My dad is insisting on sleeping with my mom again. My mother refuses because of her own inabilities. Because she won't give in to his demands, he wants a divorce based on the fact that he believes that they have been married for 33 years (its actually 23) and they have never had sex, and she has always locked her bedroom door at night. This has only been for the last 2 months because he keeps waking her up for kisses and to fondle her breasts. He wakes her up whether she napping in her recliner or on her bed. My stepbrother and I have to block him from her door because he will just stand outside and keep knocking and calling her name over and over again.
2 weeks ago he told us that he wasn't happy and wants a divorce from my mother because she won't lay with him, be fondled, get hit in her sleep or take the chance of either if them falling off of the bed.
He insists that he doesn't want to fondle my mom but he sometimes admits that he does. A few nights ago my sister-in-law and I were dealing with him Sun downing and trying to get to my mother. At one point he became difficult to handle and as we walked out of the room he yelled out that he want to F*** my mother.
She has Durable power of attorney over his health care and finances. We are well aware that he can leave and we can't stop him if he want to.
His Geriatric Psychiatrist has written a letter stating; he is not capable of making decisions on his own. She has taken that letter to the bank, his financial advisor where he has his annuities and her attorney along with with the signed and witnessed documents POA documents.
Now comes the question:
If he leaves does she still have control over his finances and health care since the POA papers were signed 10 years ago before the dementia started happening, and has the signed letter from his specialists?
Heaven help us all! I want to be better at this but right now I want to take a looooong walk and lose my way back.
Ballgirl, I guess we better get used to playing along, perhaps we maybe able to get a chuckle out it or at least maintain our sanity!
I'll use the idea of "making plans with the lawyer" then give her the hefty price. It's a very old and worn threat that I've heard for as long as I can remember...it's time for a divorce... I've actually told her they should have done it 40 yrs ago! You're leaving this world with each other now so get over it. Then it's laughs chuckels
As to the divorce, can you play along? "Oh mother, I am so sorry things have come to this. If it is really what you want, I'll talk to a lawyer." "The lawyer appointment is next month, Mom." "I talked to the lawyer but I didn't want to go ahead until we discussed what it is going to cost." Etc. etc. agree with her but just keep putting it off.
My heart goes out to you. I hope that at least Dad isn't hearing all this dreadful talk.
Today Mom tells me that someone put trash in her Depends while she was sleep. This stuff really scares me because her paranoia is her truth, I'm afraid that she will accuse me of taking all of their Social Security money (which goes to Nursing Home Care) or will accuse someone of doing something criminal to her...she has a lot of hang ups about sex.
I pray for Dementia to DIE! It's a slow death for the sufferers and their loved ones. in the meantime, is there a Dementia Language? I'm not communicating well with my Parents and I feel so lost and hopeless.