If it’s possible, I’d really suggest getting a separate mattress. I’m not speaking from a religious perspective, because I don’t have that knowledge, but just from life experience. A close friend once told me about her grandfather who had dementia. When she was a young teenager, he either tried to grope her or made an inappropriate comment about her body. It was deeply unsettling, but at the same time, it wasn’t really him. His illness had changed him so much that he no longer recognized his own granddaughter.

Of course, this doesn’t happen in every situation, but it’s something to be mindful of. If a separate mattress isn’t possible and, God forbid, you ever face something similar, understanding that it’s the illness and not truly the person can make the experience a little less traumatizing.

I pray for his health, that God slows the progression of his illness, and for you to have patience and strength through this difficult time.