Thanks. It was gradually getting worse but she dropped off a Cliff edge with a urine infection of all things. This morning was the worse though - she didn’t have her key it was still on the inside of the door so Mrs Mottie couldn’t open it with hers, she had the garage door fob and inner door key but that wasn’t working, neither were the two cameras - lounge and front door. Apparently a bulb had blown and tripped a breaker in the consumer unit which knocked them out. Neighbours husband jumped over the fence only to find the patio doors wide open! Mrs Mottie is still down there and has had to knock work on the head for the second day running. She is absolutely knackered. This can’t go on and she and her brother and sister are going to have to sort out some respite care today to start with.
I feel for you and the wife. I had elderly family develop Dementia, it's probably one of the problems with getting old that is best observed with regular visits. My cousin and I agree on the point as we both live 2 hours away from where our parents lived and so we didn't visit as often as we should. Cousin visited her mum on 3 to 4 week intervals, I visited my side of the family at worst, fortnightly but work gave me chance to visit more frequently (employer had an office less than ten miles from family home).
My aunty lost her memory, started emptying her house, didn't know what or when she was eating, was ringing cousin either constantly or not for days.
I had made comment to the doctor about the smell of my fathers urine - rather than taking my word about it he asked my father about it and dad said he didn't think any thing was wrong. Since his death I've discovered that
urine infection is a symptom and precursor to Dementia, obvious sign is strong smelling urine - get you MIL on antibiotics to treat urine infection ASAP - even if you have to stand over MIL to ensure ehe takes her medicine!
I only discovered how bad my dad was when he took up house breaking (into his own house) as he lost his house keys outside. He broke a window, then fell into the house and hit his head. His symptoms were masked by his previous behaviour, he always been very demanding and expecting of me to be his manservant. For the 12 months leading up to his final session I'd been making meals for him ect, doing his shopping, washing and cleaning. Like his sister in the end he couldn't tell me what he had eaten, or what pills he had taken -
he was popping co-codololl like smarties and then complaining he couldn't defecate - that was when I found out that opioids affect the bowel actions - so make sure your MIL doesn't consume to many of such.
(Comment - my highlites for attention from my experience)