This post is really just to let of steam, I'm an only child and my poor fiancé has head it all 100 times over.
I'm so worn down by the endless complain of my mum. I love her dearly but she's just not the woman she was, she used to be so positive and active, give anything a go.
Whenever I ask her how she is, if she's been out, etc all i get is "nothing ever happens here, I'm bored, your dad is annoying me etc etc." I chat to her every day and call her once a week. Its just quite depressing.
I know its the Alzheimer's (she's been diagnosed a year, still independent, on memantine) and she's lost loads of confdence from that. There is nothing I can do but gosh its just a bit wearing to hear someone you love so sad all the time.
I have tried to encourage her to do thing, go to the several groups/lunches/pop ins she has locally, to call her friends if she's bored, or try a jigsaw. I've bought countless puzzles, large print books, etc. She just takes it as a personal attack on her rather than a solution to her situation. I've stopped suggesting things now.
She goes out once a week with her friend which is good, but as she's lost the sense of time now i think for her this feels much less regular than weekly. I love an hour and a half away so I can't pop in either.
I know there are know answers but its just hard sometimes. I wish I had someone to share the burden with.