Harry's Story

Inquiry

We received a call from Harry's adult children concerning their parents, Harry and Joan. Harry had been diagnosed several years ago with Alzheimer's disease and lived at home with his wife. Joan had been the primary caregiver since his diagnosis. The children described a progressive decline in Joan's physical and mental health. Lately, she has been having difficulty sleeping at night.

Aging Well Consult

Mary and Nancy met with Harry, Joan, and their adult children. Harry was distracted and quiet during the interview. Joan was tearful and expressed chronic fatigue and anxiety. She described feeling overwhelmed by her care giving responsibilities. She reported that Harry was awake at varying intervals during the night.

Plan

Mary and Nancy arranged for Harry to attend an Adult Day Program to provide socialization and structure to the day. Arrangements were made for overnight care giving to relieve Joan. A psychiatric consultation was arranged to address Joan's sleep issues and depression. A local volunteer organization was contacted to provide assistance with lawn care, snow removal and minor home repairs. A schedule of weekly family meetings were arranged to assess and modify the plan.

Outcome

Joan began to sleep through the night, assured that Harry's overnight needs were being addressed. Harry's sleep interruptions diminished with a full and stimulating day. Joan was able to re-connect with old friends and her mood was markedly improved. Eventually, she discontinued all sleep medication.

"Thank you for listening and helping me. I couldn't tell my children how difficult it was taking care of their dad." (Joan)