I have taken over control of our banking, not so much because of my husband’s cognitive state but more because it’s difficult for him to handle physically. Phone calls, balancing accounts, making sure everything gets paid on time, just the general stuff that it takes to manage our home have become challenging and it is easier for me to take care of those tasks. That doesn’t mean he isn’t part of the process, we discuss how and where our money is spent and he has input on all the important decisions.

This practice involves negotiation and compromise, respecting that each other’s opinions and needs are equally important. Also, as his Parkinson’s symptoms progress, I sometimes find the need to invoke executive control. His reasoning and decision making can be impacted by PD even in the absence of other signs of dementia. Granted I know his disease slows thinking processes, but the uncertainty inherent in a life with PD also seems to make him more hesitant in making some decisions.

I would love to be able to split the duties again, have him be in charge of specific things while I manage others. Unfortunately, those days are gone. Instead we are facing a time when I will be making all the decisions and simply telling him about them. I am not looking forward to that and hope it is a long way off. In the meantime we keep talking, negotiating and working things out as best we can.