DH has been doing well for 1.5 years but lately he has become totally defiant and cannot be redirected when he wants to do something. For example, when he gets something to drink (can of soda, bottle of water or glass of whatever) he insists on drinking the entire beverage in one gulp. Yesterday he drank 9 cans (12 oz) of diet soda and 3 bottles of water all in one long swill with each galss/container. He has also become defiant when directing him to do/not to do something and continues to do what he wants until it is accomplished by force or he breaks the object. Neither I or the aide can redirect him and today when I was with DH alone (aide on vacation) he became angry and aggressive. I believe we're entering another phase of decline and will contact dr for advice/additional meds but would appreciate any suggestions/tips to help with handling the defiance and redirection.
The thought occurred to me regaring the swilling of beverages--limit availability. Only smaller drinking glasses available. Buy the small cans of pop(8 oz.) Ditto juices, and bottled water comes in smaller bottles. Beyond that, this seems to me to be a small thing compared to anger, defiance, and aggression.
Chosing your battles may help too. Swilling down his beverage would not be big on my list of behaviors to modify, compared to blowing nose without a hanky or peeing wherever he wanted.
Haven"t had to deal with this, thank God. I like carosi's suggestion of smaller containers.
I read all posts regardless if they apply or not since I'm thinking somewhere down this long road I may run across the problem. Thanks to all of you for your help.
The other option is to reuse the bottles and only fill them half full. First buy a few of the smaller soda bottles, then buy bigger ones and refill them. Of course the big one will have to be hid in the back of the frig.
Like you Audrey, I read a lot of post so I will be better prepared in case I need to have ideas when my dh gets there. He has become defiant tho. He is determined his way is right even tho he knows he has alzheimer's. Many times he will follow thru with doing what he wants to and when he is finished, I will have him do it again the right way. Most of the time he does this, rarely he will fuss about having to redo things. Other than this he is fairly easy going about all of the issues. He does get very depressed tho when he can't get his thoughts or words out. He always turns to me to help finish his thoughts or words..... I do. It makes me so sad to see him like this. How I wish he did not understand what was happening, I think he would be happier......Until later, God Bless and hope you all have a great evening.