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Baby Doll or Fidget Blanket
My Sweet mom is in a nursing home and is beginning to fidget with her hands. She likes to try to fold her clothing protector, and my one sister wants to get her a baby doll. My other sister suggests a lap blanket with things on it for her to play with. Does anyone have any thoughts on which is better? Thank you!
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Rivastigmine
anyone have experience with Rivastigmine daily patches?
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Constantly organizing and starting over
It seems to me what I'm about to describe is a common behavior, but I didn't see it on the staging tool. It seems akin to the hunting and gathering in early stage 5 but I'm interested in input from other folks. When looking for a check book recently my DB's wife mentioned she had to be careful with her stuff. DB was…
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I don't need help video
This popped up in my feed and I thought I'd share.
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Absolutely CRAZY in the mornings
Every morning now since a month or so .. She is totally confused, agitated, shaking, paces back and forth in the kitchen , crying, does not want to live anymore, terrified of not understanding her surroundings, does not know what to do … Then slowly she calms herself , we supervise her while she makes her coffee, her…
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Hint: preparing food in oven is less stressful
I cook most meals for PWD, unless it's takeout. I found that using an oven causes fewer problems, since using a cooktop will often encourage PWD to "help", which causes more problems and poses danger. With an oven (let's say it's baked cod on a sheet pan), you can quickly prep, put into oven and wait until done. While this…
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Is there any early warning system for dementia?
I am worried about my grandmother and grandfather developing dementia. Although they don't have any clear symptoms yet, they often forget small things, which concerns me. My great grandmother passed away due to dementia, so I am even more worried. The dementia screening tests seem too simple and unreliable, and it feels…
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Suggestions for software for keeping track of everything
I think I should start keeping stuff organized and am wondering if anyone is using any particular software that they find useful. So far, everything I have has just been written down in a book and the stuff that's printed off is in a folder. I would love to just get everything into a program that will make it easy for me…
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Support group?
I am 22 and a caregiver of my grandma with dementia and looking for a support group chat for people who are also a caregiver. I was thinking of making a discord server or instagram group chat. Please comment if interested. I would like to share info I know and get advice from others. 🙏
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Need suggestions!
Hello out there. We are moving my LO into memory care in the next couple of weeks, but not sure how to go about telling her without a complete meltdown. Looking for suggestions/ideas/success stories. I intend to make up a little white lie in order to have it make sense to her as to why she would have to move out of her…
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Forget Me Not
While I have found this site very helpful I have also searched You Tube and found several other very informative sites for caregivers like myself and loved ones that others may find helpful. I found Answers About Alzheimers on You Tube and a very informative and helpful book Forget Me Not by Debra Kostiw. Using the…
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Post from new caregivers group- please respond to poster
@Penny Hansen Penny posted the following on the new caregivers group. Please tag her when you reply. My DH has recently moved to an increased level of memory loss. He does not recognize me or our home. He has a lot of questions, and I am unsure how to respond. Some of the articles I read encourage the caregiver to meet…
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Showering
The subject of a loved one having hygene issues and refusing to shower comes up often. In the NY Times, there is an article dated April 30, 2024 by Anna Gibbs titled "Why Is It So Hard to Shower When I'm Depressed?" I started reading with a hunch that there might be some overlap with what caregivers here experience with…
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In home care recommendations
Hello! I’m new to this forum. I’m supporting my dad who is sole caregiver for my stepmom who has dementia - I’m not sure what stage she’s in but the disease has progressed to point where it’s getting too much for my elderly dad to take care of her on his own. He’s struggling with accepting her true progression and knowing…
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My sister is revising all my parents plans - I just can't deal with it
I moved both parents to an ALF three months ago. They both have gone downhill rather quickly. Mom has stage 5-6 dementia. Dad has COPD and was recently diagnosed with CHF. Both are double incontinent. Dad is showing signs of dementia too. Their living conditions are challenging. Ten years ago, they did their Wills, DPOA…
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Relatively strong appetite in late stage 7?
My mom is in MC and on hospice in what I would say is late stage 7: in a wheelchair, no communication, no facial expression, rigid limbs, super skinny (her hands look skeletal—there is no other word), little or no vision in her left eye, semi-sleeping most of the time, etc. She is in her early 70s, diagnosed with EOAD more…
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Scratching, Scratching and more Scratching
It never quits. She has scared herself and I just keep plugging the leaks. I have tried EVERYTHING. Dermatologist said it was a part of the disease. Googled it and yes there are a lot of Alz patients that do this. I have tried lotions, oils, pills, changed washing detergent to hypoallergenic, don't bathe by 3 times a week,…
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Sundowning
Hello ! I am new here just looking for advice. My mom is 53 years old and in the late stages of Alzheimer’s disease. She starts sundowning around the time I get home from work and I’m looking for tips and advice on how to deal with it. Im so tired after work and I just want to relax so I get frustrated. She is on meds for…
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Suggestions please
my g.m. In law is the one I am helping to take care of. She is 75 and getting more age spots. She believes she is being abused when she sees them and thinks they are bruises. Any suggestions on how to deal with false abuse claims?
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All necessary input relative to the initial discussion about my Aunt received. None further needed.
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Dad with dementia, COPD, CHF now in renal failure-wants no treatment
I moved both parents to an ALF three months ago. Both with AD. Dad has COPD and had been hospitalized to treat new onset CHF three months ago. When he was released from the hospital we moved him straight into an ALF with my mom. The ALF called last night saying dad now shows signs of beginning stages of renal failure. They…
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New Here: Looking for support/community for "secondary" caregivers, extended family
Hi Everyone. My first time here. My sister in law was diagnosed with early on-set Alz about 16 months ago (after about 4 years of misunderstood difficulties) and seems to be progressing very quickly. I'm with her at least two days a week as a secondary caregiver to 1) spend time with her and 2) help take some of the…
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How can I care for my mother on my own without losing myself?
My mother is 61 and has been diagnosed with dementia. I'm young - 33 and dating. I have a life to live but I am also the only person who can care for her. My father died 10 years ago and my living brother refuses to support her care as he "has done enough in this life" after my grandfather had dementia and father died of…
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My Sweetheart never stops surprising me!
whent to dinner with friends last night talking about our aches and pains so out of the blue she says “ I have dimentia and forget things” and then our friend says we all forget , I look at her and said that’s first time you’ve talked about it I’m proud of you. She smiled and we had dinner.
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Comic relief
Lately, MIL has been having pretty lucid conversations - she seems to be understanding a lot more. Even though she remains unclear about a lot of things (like where she is), she’s making so much sense all of a sudden that I’ve been second-guessing my decision to place her in MC last year. Until this happened - we spent 5…
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When Vascular Dementia & Alzheimer’s came to Our House
Hello All, Glad to make your acquaintance. We are the Jacksons’ Just received my husband diagnosis on October 26, 2023. Vascular Dementia & Alzheimer’s ( moderate). Reading 📖 all your posts to become familiar with what’s down the road ahead.
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May seem like a silly question
GM all, I have a question that I’m pretty sure I know the answer to but my wife mentioned to friend that she’s feeling depressed, now understand my wife head spins when you mention Nurologist, so do I need to speak to Nurologist about this or if this something her primary Doctor can take care of ?????
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feeling helpless
My wife was recently diagnosed with early onset dementia probably due to AD. After seeing a Neurologist for 2.5 years, including an inconclusive spinal fluid analysis they now think they can diagnose it as early onset dementia. As I type this, there has been no course of treatment for her prescribed by our Neurologist. He…
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Staying up all night and wanting to go home
My wife has recently been getting up at night and asking to go home. I ask her where she means and it's usually her childhood home that she's been out of for 50 years now. I started her on Melatonin which my doctor said was ok to give her. It worked a few nights but then she had her worst episode last night when she stayed…
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New Article Sent by my CELA: 5 Medicare benefits consumers should know about. TRUE??
Hello fellow caregivers, My CELA just sent me an article titled, "Alzheimer’s disease and dementia care: 5 Medicare benefits consumers should know" because she wanted me to know that it looks like Medicare Part A will pay for up to 35 hours of in-home care per week for dementia patients who are homebound and require…