Right! There is a plan of action. I have discussed mum's growing violence with both Greg and Rachel, and we all agree that:
  • we can't leave things as they are
  • we should at least try medicating the problem away
  • I shall contact Dr Humerus, the psychogeriatrician, tomorrow
This problem has suddenly assumed such importance that if Dr Humerus says that medicating in combination with Aricept is ill-advised, I shall discontinue the Aricept. Though it may be having positive effects on mum, they are small and not ameliorating the most pressing problems.

Yesterday I asked dad if he wanted to live separately from mum, deliberately using a broad and ambiguous form of words. His answer was: 'No. I married your mum. I love her.'

So, keeping my metaphorical fingers crossed, we see that we have everything already set up for the medication for mum: the daily nurses' visits, mum's usual agreement to take medicine, dad taking his tablets without trouble. All we need to do is slip a different chemical formula into the system.

And if the results are that we can quite openly and cooperatively arrange cleaning, laundry, and all the other subterfuges that are currently happening in the wings, outside mum's little world, then there is much to look forward to.