Smoking issue

antilles

Hi all

We have a relative living with us with dementia, it's gotten quite bad now and he's smoking quite heavily. His mobility isn't great so moving him outside to smoking is very difficult, and the dementia means he keeps forgetting that he's had a cigarette, so he keeps chain smoking.

The house is obviously smoked out now and it's causing all sorts of family arguments. But hard to do anything about it because of the dementia/memory issues.

Can anyone recommend a solution (apart from a care home). For instance would it be possible to install an air purifier in the house...I've seen some on Amazon but not really sure if they're worth the money.

Welcome any advice!

Slinky

Ration his fags?

fairy_lights

Would an E-Cigarette be suitable, or would his memory issues make it difficult for him to understand?

antilles

Tried rationing fags but it upsets him quite a lot. Also tried E-Cig, same...gets quite upset. Very stubborn!

I think we are thinking of damage limitation now, he is quite ill so it's a case of how can he still be happy in his final months/years, but keep the rest of the family happy too.

fairy_lights

The weather is getting warmer now so could you leave the window of the room he's in open all the time, or sit him outside for some of the day so at least the smoke isn't getting trapped in the house?

Tixy

A good air-purifier should make quite a big difference.
They don't get rid of the smoke / smell altogether, but should make it less unpleasant.

PasturesNew

I'd at least retain his cigs and ensure they're given out to him on request, then stay with him to make sure he didn't drop it/forget and set fire to the house. In retaining them, you could also make a chart to help him to understand that he just had one 10 minutes ago.

There are various portable units available, but how good any are comes down to trial/error, not many will have personal recommendations.

Here's a random google result where cigar smokers are discussing options for themselves. http://www.ukcigarforums.com/archive/index.php/t-12866.html

One link on there leads to here, and it seems to talk the talk: http://www.cgarsltd.co.uk/csonka-original-smoker-cloaker-purifier-p-2888.html at £165.

j.e.j.

antilles wrote: »

Can anyone recommend a solution (apart from a care home).

I doubt very much whether a care-home would allow smoking on the premises, let alone chain-smoking indoors.

I think you've got 2 choices: stop buying him cigarettes, or let him smoke you all out until he shuffles off this mortal coil.

On a practical note, all you can do is open windows, but cigarette smoke does tend to pervade the whole house. If he's in dementia I would also be wary of him dropping it and burning himself/setting the house on fire :eek:

Transformers

j.e.j. wrote: »

I doubt very much whether a care-home would allow smoking on the premises, let alone chain-smoking indoors.

They do allow smoking but in a controlled way:

http://www.cqc.org.uk/sites/default/files/documents/rp_poc2b_100996_20110627_v1_00_supporting_note_-_smoke_free_accommodation_for_extertnal_publication.pdf

missprice

j.e.j. wrote: »

I doubt very much whether a care-home would allow smoking on the premises, let alone chain-smoking indoors.

I think you've got 2 choices: stop buying him cigarettes, or let him smoke you all out until he shuffles off this mortal coil.

On a practical note, all you can do is open windows, but cigarette smoke does tend to pervade the whole house. If he's in dementia I would also be wary of him dropping it and burning himself/setting the house on fire :eek:

Its up to the care home owner if they wish to allow smoking at all.so most don't but some will allow in outside shelters and some will allow in residents room, after all that room is the persons home.
As to stop buying them smokes well easier said than done with dementia sufferers.

For OP if you can just take them outside as often as possible, or use the distraction method. No point getting him all worked up about having a smoke if you can distract him with a slice of toast, what's that programme he wanted to watch, can you shell these peas, would you mind awfully if we tidied up these magazines etc.

carefullycautious

Nicotine patches to prevent him becoming agitated when the craving is bad. GP may be able to help with this.


It would solve the problem in that you could stop buying them for him. It only takes 48 hrs to get out of your system.


I would worry about him setting fire to your property.