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'no man's land' (AL/MC)
I touched on this issue with a reply to someone else, but it is where I find myself. I believe my LO is 30+% (could be close to 6, but just not sure) into stage 5. At this point I think they are easily beyond AL, but just not 'ready' for MC. It seems we are in 'no man's land.' I also think they are going to need a…
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Bible Verse to Lift You Up 8/25/21
BLESSED WITH PEACE * GOD THOUGHT: Psalm 29:11 NIV “The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace. * VICTORY GOAL: When I feel defeated, I will focus on the Lord who gives me what I need to keep going. * POWER PRAYER: Dear Lord God, forgive me when I think my own strength is all I need.…
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LO with Alzheimers / Dementia and trying to treat Osteoarthritis
Has anyone had to deal with a LO with Alzheimers / Dementia who is telling everyone that they have pain but based upon physical examination you can't figure out if it is real or perceived based upon how their LO's brain is functioning? My 84 year old mother has had some leg swelling and pain over the several weeks. She is…
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teleCalm
Has anyone used teleCalm? What has your experience been? Pros and cons? My situation: I'm conservator for my aunt and looking for a way to protect her. She LOVES talking on the phone - she will call people and talk for hours. But - she will talk with anyone about anything. For example, I spoke with her insurance agent a…
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Hospice/ meds
We’ve placed our mom on hospice, learning a lot about the offering. Once placed on hospice, all dementia meds are quit - if the loved one is on hospice because of dementia. Sooooooo, my question is do you all really thing the meds help? My Fam doc says not much. I’d love to hear what you all think.Thanks, Saya
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A snuggly dog for LO in OKC, OK
My name is Kobe. I am great with LO who have dementia. I am a snuggly, stay by your side but not get in your way, little dog. My dog pal of the past 12 years has a cancerous tumor that has made him out of sorts. My family took me with them to visit a friend, in Texas, with cancer. I loved being able to sniff around the…
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How do you solve the pocketing problem?
Mil pockets food in her mouth. If I take her plate away and give her a chance to chew she loses interest in her food (or gets mad) and goes back to bed. She basically only eats what fits in her mouth each meal. I don’t like her walking around with food in her mouth. We’ve already moved to mostly finger foods.
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Mom had a bad day!
My mother had a rough day, she wanted to leave. Kept talking about land that she thinks she owns and the people that she left there to work (she does not, and never has owned any 'land'). My sister says that mom was wandering around the house last night - sundowners I would guess. Mom is a stubborn woman - always has been.…
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Correcting vs. Reassuring?
My grandma currently has trouble remembering names and relations in the family, other than her deceased husband and her parents/siblings. I know this is normal for her stage of Alzheimer’s. However, she still has short moments of clarity during the day where she does remember that she has 3 daughters, sometimes telling me…
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LO self-awareness/extreme anxiety
Hi all, I'm hoping someone has some useful advice on a situation we're encountering with my 85yo Mom with late stage 6 dementia (guessing, not a diagnosis). She's receiving 24/7 care at home with hospice (no ADLS) following a pretty harrowing couple of months of surgeries/hospitalizations/rehabs due to a fall. She's having…
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Physical Abuse
Hi All, A new wrinkle to our situation, mom has begun to get physical. I was slapped in the face a few weeks ago and just yesterday she grabbed my hair and wouldn't let go. Had to get DH to come into the bathroom and pry my hair from her hands. She has also grabbed her nurse by the throat the other day while trying to get…
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Severe mistrust of doctors
I have about 1000 questions/concerns running through my mind since moving in with my grandmother (who has dementia) this week, but after reading many posts here, I feel like our #1 priority is getting her to a doctor for an eval. The problem is, she thinks the doctors/being in the hospital 3 years ago was what caused her…
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Hospitalization questions
How do you go about having LO hospitalized? MIL has not been diagnosed because she refuses to go back to the doctor. She has medications but refuses to take them. She is constantly angry and yelling at everyone. She has not become violent but it’s all day screaming some days. At this point we’re thinking hospitalization…
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Conditions That Mimic Dementia
- Infections including UTIs - Medications including but not restricted to: antihistamines, antibiotics, BP meds, sedatives, cardiovascular meds, asthma meds, corticosteroids, pain pills, antidepressants, anti-anxiety meds, herbals and supplements, many OTC meds and more. (Never stop meds without MD input and guidance.) -…
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I could use your advice
I'm the primary caregiver for my mom with Parkinson/dementia, my sister helps out when necessary but I'm responsible for day to day and giving medications. I've never dealt with someone with dementia before, I have lots of questions. Here goes! 1. Recently my mom was prescribed Remeron (for appetite stimulant). She has…
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What to do about bad caretaker spouse
We know that some people are better at caretaking than others. I get that. What I don't understand is when they are pretty aware that caretaking isn't their thing, why won't they get help? And is there a way to convince them that the PWD NEEDS more help than can be given by the spouse. PWD is stage 4-5. Examples: 1)…
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Rest in Peace Mom
Wednesday afternoon Hospice told us that mom was non responsive and that they would be starting her on morphine that evening. Dad had spent an hour with her that morning and he said it just wasn't her laying there. He spent that entire hour just holding her hand and talking to her believing that although she wasn't…
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Skilled Nursing challenges for dementia patient
Mom passed away in June but this is an issue that needs addressing. I believe that Mom's "dementia" was mostly aphasia. She was not officially diagnosed. She could read out loud accurately but she couldn't string words together, on her own, to make a meaningful sentence. I believe our speech was probably garbled by her…
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stairs
Good morning, My dad was doing well getting up a full flight of stairs with minimal assistance for the past year. All of a sudden, he is just collapsing on the first or second stair. Is this sudden change in ability normal? Does anyone have suggestions for how we can help him? Should the focus be on trying to get him…
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New diagnosis. How much do we tell mom?
My mother was diagnosed with general dementia last month. After her diagnosis, her geriatrician spent 30 minutes on the phone with me, but I've thought of a million questions since then and we don't get to see him again for two months. The doctor never explicitly told her she has dementia, rather it seems to be our…
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Absolutely crazy week.
Friday - I drive 8 hours to Baton Rouge to help oldest son move home from a summer internship. Saturday - Packed apartment and drove home. Ate some amazing food. (Elsie’s Plate and Pie is amazing!) Yelled “PIVOT” and laughed a lot. Arrived home at midnight. Sunday - 8 year old started running a fever. 15 year old injured…
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Nursing Home Admittance Challenges - any ideas?
Hello, I am hoping someone can give me advice or tips regarding nursing home admittance My brother was diagnosed 4 years ago in his late 50s, and the doctor said he could not live alone any more. He never married, and has no kids, so overseeing his care falls on me. He started to develop incontinence after the 1st year of…
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Tips for Move to AL
Hi all, Mom is in stage 5 approaching stage 6 and after a couple of years of taking care of her - along with working full time and raising small kids - our family has identified a facility for her and we are moving her within the next couple of weeks. My questions are - what tips do you have for this transition? My biggest…
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OT- How can you mend a broken heart?
Not the song... forum mates this is off topic but there is such wisdom and experience here, I am seeking help on behalf of a non- PWD loved one. They asked me for any help or suggestions, so I’m turning to my go-to sources. Almost 30yr old is devastated and really struggling after engagement was called off out of the blue,…
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Caregiver Certification
I’ve heard of folks getting caregiver certification in order to assist with a LO in a Memory Care Facility. I would love to do this. My LO was placed in Memory Care about a month ago. I have to make an appt to see him and it’s only for a half hour a day Does anyone have any information about this? Thanks so much!
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help, decision to make(1)
Hey everyone, I am moving my father closer to me. Currently he is 3 hr and 40 minutes round trip from me. He is currently in AL but seems to be declining some. I'm not sure if he is bathing, brushing his teeth and when I was there a few days ago he hadn't shaved in a few days or more. The are quarantined to their rooms at…
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Leaving her be once in awhile
PWD (my mom) lives with me and my family. We remodeled our basement so that she has her own space (bedroom, full bathroom, living area with big tv, etc., lots of space!). You could argue it's even nicer than the rest of the house. If mom is left alone, she will just sit in her recliner and watch tv/listen to music all day.…
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LO with dementia refusing to go to doctors
My mother started having short-term memory loss 5 years ago. We were able to get her some testing 2 years ago, but at that time they felt she only had mild cognitive impairment and depression and otherwise would not give a diagnosis. My mom refused to go back for follow-up because she blamed them for her memory loss, and…
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moving my dad from MI to MN
I'm hoping someone has some advice about how to talk to my dad about moving him from Michigan to Minnesota. My dad is currently in assisted living in Michigan, where he and my family are from. When he was first diagnosed, he was living at home and became unable to care for himself. We didn't really understand what was…
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Continuing doctor's visits?
Hi All - I am new to this forum, but I've been reading through your posts and the advice has already been so helpful. Taking care of a LO with Alzheimer's is overwhelming. A little background... My mom is 76 and was diagnosed with Alz 4 years ago. I guess she's in the moderate stage now. She still is able to do most daily…