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Welcome! New Forum for Caregivers
This is a new discussion forum for caregivers supporting a parent living with Alzheimer's or other dementia.
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One word.... guilt
We moved mom to Memory care 2 weeks ago. I have 2 brothers and we are all thankfully on the same page. But I am her daughter.... she is my friend. I have talked to her multiple times a day, coordinating who was showing up and holding my breath night after night worried she would walk out her door and get lost. But this…
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A Brain Tumor & Dementia!
My first post & it will be a lengthy back story. Sorry but I am about to stroke out. My wonderful step father of 52 years passed in March of 2023 & then my Dad passed November 2023. In Jan. 2023 found out my Mother had a very large meningioma brain tumor. Only found because she would have what I call absence seizures. She…
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Are digital memory boards helpful?
We have been considering purchasing a digital memory board for my parents. Mom is in LTC and Dad in AL. Mom’s memory is starting to fade. Dad has diagnosed ALZ. Thinking it would help with reminders of hair appointments, activities, share photos, etc. But it’s a good investment so wanted to see if anyone has found them to…
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How long to visit / What to do
Background context: My father has progressed quite rapidly in the past year. I only get second-hand reports from his doctors appointments but they contain the words "dementia", "Alzheimers" and "Parkinsons". Maybe it doesn't matter. He shuffles very slowly with a walker, and needs someone by his side telling him when to…
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Need resources to find occasional in-home care for LO?
My family and I want to hire a professional aide to stay with my mother periodically for a few hours at a time. This process is new to us and we don't know where to begin or what agencies to contact in the Colorado Springs area. We're beginning to have concerns about leaving her at home alone and need to begin our search…
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Moving my mom to a new memory care tomorrow
so I'm on the process of moving my mom to a new memory care in a different state so she can be by me, her daughter and POA. This whole process is throwing me for a loop. She complained non stop about her old memory care and was highly un engaged and isolated. She talked frequently about moving out to be by me. So the day…
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Need resources & ideas
Hi, My dad was diagnosed with Dementia in October of 2025 but it has progressed rapidly and he is living in an unsafe situation at home. He falls frequently at night, has hallucinations and can be very agitated and aggressive. My mom is is caretaker and is with him 24/7. I’m extremely worried about her health and well…
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Repeated Falls: Tell it to Me Straight
My Dad with advanced dementia is in MC and has been having repeated falls, mostly in the night. After two separate week long stays at the hospital, followed by 3 weeks of skilled nursing, we brought in hospice services. He has declined quite rapidly. Last night he fell twice, both times hitting his head. He is on meds for…
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Caring for my mom from afar
It was suggested that I post over here as the "Caring Long Distance" forum doesn't get as many views. I edited this from the original post with some more detail ... My mom has Alzheimer's which appears to be at stage 4. She lives with my Dad out of state and I'm about an hour away while my brother is closer to 2 hours. My…
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Move to MC unit closer to family?
My widowed 92 year old MIL has been living in a MC facility in her small hometown for the last 3 years. She gets excellent care and has adjusted well. BUT it is over an hour and a half from her two closest children. There is only one friend who still comes to visit her there on a regular basis. We are considering moving…
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Nursing facility. Does anyone have advice on mom’s boyfriend who constantly stirs the pot.
I am my mom’s HPOA/DPOA. She has a boyfriend she lived with for 28 years. Since she was placed in a nursing facility 6 months ago after a fall he is constantly stirring the pot. Today she told me she’s getting a petition signed to say she doesn’t have dementia and “it’s a secret”. She has Parkinson’s and related dementia.…
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Needing direction
Hello, My mom was diagnosed with Alzheimers with possible vascular dementia as well. We can't get into a neurologist until July. Is that typical? Are there things a neurologist can do that a GP can't or won't? Thanks for any insight.
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Will I ever be happy again?
I am feeling so hopeless. Ever since my dad died in December I’ve been so worried about my mother who lives alone 2.5 hours away from me, I can barely function. We now have her set to move into AL near me in 2 weeks, and my anxiety is worse than ever; partially because I’m worried about what to do when she begs to go home,…
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Reflection on Progression
I haven’t been here in awhile. Mom is in MC. She’s 73. I have a 5 year old. Husband is away for work. Old pic popped on my phone of my daughter and mom just a year ago. She was in MC then (been there almost 2 years now). I just can’t believe how fast this all went down. In the picture she is smiling with my daughter. Now,…
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Reassure me that I am doing the right thing
My dad passed away in December and my mom has been living alone ever since, 2.5 hours away from closest family (me). She has what my brother and I believe to be stage 4 dementia based on the DBAT assessment. Last month her PCP only diagnosed her with "memory loss," she scored a 24/30 on the MMSE, but he did take away her…
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Dealing with anger
This is my first time here. I've spent a lot of time reading some of the questions and answers but haven't found my specific concern. My father is 90 and has some dementia symptoms (we don't have a diagnosis yet). He and my mom live in their home. My mom does most of the work in the home including cooking, with some…
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The "Trial Period" approach
I posted yesterday about how we are putting my mom into an AL community in a couple weeks. She agreed to go there, thank god, mostly after we followed the facility's recommendation of telling her it's a 30-day trial period. This seems to be a common approach. However, I feel like this is going to backfire on us.…
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Having a hard time about my dads diagnosis.
Preface: (DAD WAS VERY RECENTLY DIAGNOSED & PUT IN A HOME ABRUPTLY SO IM STILL IN SHOCK) Hey! My name is Blair and I’m 28, I have 4 beautiful boys, ages 1,3,5&7. My dad can’t remember their names or how many I have. I’m having a hard time. He was just out into a home in September. He hates it but it’s for his safety. We…
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Vascular Dementia and Alzheimer Diagnosis
My dad who is an incredibly healthy 75 year old (exercises, good weight, good diet, social, optimist) was diagnosed with Vascular Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease two months ago. Right now he is in the mild cognitive phase. Does anyone have someone in their life who has both? I'm trying to grasp any idea of the timeline…
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Holiday decorations
I see a lot of families decorating their loved ones door or room with holiday decorations. Do people with mild to moderate dementia generally appreciate this similar to how basically any child is going to enjoy decorations for any occasions. Or are decorations appreciated or not appreciated more on an individual basis?
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Coping with delusions toward caregiver
My mother is entering the stage where she has fixations and delusions. One day she feels strongly the cats are trying to warn her of some imminent danger. The next day she is certain she’s pregnant and upset nobody will bring her to the hospital. This all ramped up in the last few months and it’s been a challenge. We’ve…
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Placed mom in AL home last week
This will probably be a long drawn out vent. Back in December 2024 my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia. My sisters and I tried to do everything we could for that following year to keep her in her house my mother has begged me and my husband for the last 15 years or more to never never never take…
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Adult family/group homes
I never seriously considered adult family homes as a care option but I recently spoke with a care provider specializing in dementia that adult family homes can be a good option for some people. Thoughts?
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Send me good luck!
I'm transferring my parents to another memory care across the country this so I can monitor her care closer. I'm nervous about all the logistics and praying the airport isn't a disaster zone. And of course we have the actual drop off which I'm praying is ok. And then there is the weight of being solely responsible for a…
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I Feel I’m loosing my mind…
My aunt has dementia I care for her she has no kids. My mother just got diagnosed on top f this last week ( she’s in denial) I’m the only daughter I care for her as well . My husband is terminal ( multiple myeloma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia) I need advice , tips… ideas I’m in a whirlwind I can’t loose control I’ve…
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Hospitalization
My mom (87YO) in MC tried to escape yesterday. She was severely agitated and combative with the staff (pushing the doctor and squaring up against nurses and people trying to help her). My sister and I were called to see if we could come by to try to de-escalate the situation. Long story short…we couldn't (In fact I think…
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Taking away beloved pets
My mom, with mid-stage alz, is currently in an Assisted Living Facility. We placed her there because she is extremely attached to her 2 dogs, and pets aren't allowed in memory care. We were trying to ease the transition so we chose AL. We have been here a week and it is painfully obvious she won't be able to function in…
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Financial Ruin
My mom has Alzheimer's and is in memory care, and we are running out of money. At the same time, my dad is quickly declining with dementia. They do not qualify for Medicaid. What does a person do when they can't afford care and nothing is available?
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Recs and encourgament
My mom is newly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at 62. The wait to see a neurologist is 7 months so we are reliant on her PCP. My father is sadly in denial or just needs more time to accept the situation. There are three adult children, two of which live in town. Sadly it feels like symptom wise, she has stepped off a cliff and…
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On the verge of a nervous breakdown
Hi everyone I am new here and not sure what to say or even where to start I just feel like I am losing my sanity. I do not know if I am the only person this type of situation has ever happened to or if I really am going crazy. It is a complex story; 7 years ago, I moved in with my mom who had had a stroke and was in the…