Smoking issue

Mojisola

antilles wrote: »

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.

PasturesNew wrote: »

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.

This might work with someone without dementia but probably wouldn't in this situation.

Primrose

It,s a difficult one because you also have to consider the health of the other family members and if he is getting forgetful you also need to consider the serious fire risk of bim wither asleep whilst smoking or dropping a lit cigarette on furniture or carpets causing a fire. Do ensure your smoke alarms are regularly tested and and also that your contents and building structure insurances are kept up to date.

If he is disabled he is onviously relying on yiunto buy bis igarettes for him so cut down gradually on the amount yiu lurchase and try e cigarettes and nicotine patches.

meritaten

I too would suggest 'distracting' him. when he asks for another ciggy - cheerfully say 'Yes luv, as soon as I've Made the bed/picked up this/swept that/put the dinner on..........any excuse really.
and I find incense sticks help with the smell of nicotine - air 'freshener' sprays don't seem to do any good at all.

Jagraf

Why can't he go outside in a wheelchair? He can sit in the sunshine then.

jackomdj

I shouldn't joke, but you could continually remind them that they have given up :-)

On a serious note, I would try to ration in some way

meritaten

my nan never smoked - but before she went into care she continually forgot she had just eaten - if the family had let her she would have eaten all day. distraction was the only thing that worked. rationing doesn't work - all you get is a distressed relative who thinks you are being mean to them. reminding them they just had one doesn't work as they think you are lieing. dementia patients are tricky - their brains do NOT work in a logical way and they live very much in the moment or deep in the past. and often its difficult to tell just 'where' they are.

missbiggles1

Who's buying cigarettes for him - can't you stop them doing this?

meritaten

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Who's buying cigarettes for him - can't you stop them doing this?

That would be cruel - and cause the carer a lot of problems. cigarettes are still legal you know.
you obviously do not understand dementia or how to care for people with this who are at the end stage of life.

suki1964

jackomdj wrote: »

I shouldn't joke, but you could continually remind them that they have given up :-)

On a serious note, I would try to ration in some way

Actually this worked for my friend. Her mum had dementia and was a chain smoker (80 a day) then she had a hospital stay where she couldn't smoke. When she came out they just didn't buy her any more. It worked. She remained smoke free for her last two years

onlyroz

Are you receiving all the help you are entitled to from social services? E.g. I believe you can get helpers in each day to help with general care and provide the rest of the family with some respite.