After 44 and 1/2 yrs of being together, he has had a difficult time adjusting to being apart from me. I'm not able to take care of him at home any longer, even with caregiving help, going to a dementia day care program and hospice services. 24 hr. home care wouldn't work because he would be looking for me and wanting me to help him. Our children and his close family supported his placement. Our 3 children still say, "Mom, we know that you'll make good decisions." He was better for a few weeks about me leaving the facility, but last night he begged me again, "Please don't do this to me. I just want to be with you." That used to happen a lot for the first 5 weeks. I've been back and forth with hospice saying we (sister, her hub and me) should refrain from visiting for a few weeks (which wasn't a good decision), and now, visit often, but don't take him out too much. His sister, who is beside herself over his decline, is having a lot of trouble, as am I.
Hospice and the facility feel that he shouldn't leave the facility grounds too often so he is able to see the facility as his home. We should try to only take him out to lunch or off the premises once or twice a month. His sister and hub would like to do that more often, and take him to their home, where we spent many fun times. As far as the facility, the grounds are beautiful, as is the facility, and there are ample sitting areas inside and outside where we can relax and enjoy the weather or take a walk. Over the holidays I took a week away to visit family, and they took my hub to their home. On Christmas Day, they took them to a family gathering. It was probably too much, because he didn't eat much and kept his eyes closed on Christmas Day. Today I called hospice and asked for a family meeting with his team so that everyone is on board. I agree that taking him off the premises too much isn't good. He doesn't always recognize the people whom he used to know, including our children and grands. The world is confusing and there is much that he can no longer do, like using eating utensils, seeing and identifying nearby objects, using the bathroom alone (he wears pull-ups), etc.. His hospice RN said that he will feel safer in an environment that he knows and I get that. She told me that family tends to want to do things that make us happy, but aren't necessarily good for our Loved One. We project our wishes on them. I think that's true. We dearly want to give them good experiences and return to our former days of joy, but their world is no longer the one that they knew. It's very hard. I love my s-i-law and her husband. But I feel like I'm between a rock and a hard place, and frankly, they're upset and I am, too. I don't want to destroy our relationship, and I'm lonely and need their support. Any suggestions, dear ones? It's a horrible, horrible disease!
After this family meeting say to your SIL exactly what you told us here, you feel stuck between a rock and a hard place, this is so difficult for you to accept too because you want more time with your foursome and you want more "living life" time with DH but you want to do what is best for him and you really need their support. You miss It feels so lonely making these decisions without DH and not feeling like you have their full support either. Maybe even ask SIL for her opinion after hearing the professionals opinion, is it better for him if you join his current world and find ways to enjoy time with him on the grounds or keep taking him out and encouraging him to remember your world?
It is a horrible disease for everyone involved, sometimes I even wonder if it's harder on us than it is on the patient once they get get to that "own world" point. My thoughts are with you and your family, sending you lots of positive strength.
Somewhat I feel that your SIL is afraid for herself, that she will also get this disease and thus wants to pretend that it really is not happening at all or that it is not as bad as everyone else thinks. She is trying to make herself feel better.
Yes, I so agree with the hospice, he needs to stay put, this is his new home and he needs to acclimate himself to it.
It may take some time for your SIL to accept what is actually going on, in the meantime you will have to support Hospice, this is in his best interest. What I would say is "For now, I have to go along with what the trained professionals recommend, I am sure that they will notify me if something improves",