-
Ethnic Differences in Amyloid Levels
It turns out that not only are fewer African Americans and Hispanics being recruited into Alzheimer's disease clinical trials, they are being excluded more often because they generally have lower levels of amyloid than Caucasians. And herein lies the whole problem in Alzheimer's research for decades. If amyloid is the…
-
Peggy's funeral was this last Friday
I'd been dreading it for all of the obvious reasons, but I was happy with the way it turned out. Peggy's friend M and I did the bulk of the planning, and we were on the same page from start to finish. Honestly, I don't think I could have done it without his help. I was determined to keep the eulogy as light and cheerful as…
-
Today is going to be rough
I could use a little strength and grace today. No need to reply but maybe send some positivity my way? I slept badly last night and then started the day at 4 am when I had to change and shower my husband. Why the bad sleep? Today is the day I make my husband's funeral arrangements. I know it needs to be done. And I know…
-
Allowing myself a snarky moment
MIL’s stepdaughter talks the talk but does not walk the walk — she rarely visits MIL in MC nor does she offer to help me with caregiver responsibilities. She finally visited her stepmother in MC and told me “I really should visit more often because she lights up every time she sees me”. Actually MIL lights up for everyone…
-
Mom was moved to MC side but not MC wing she is refusing to stay in room
Due to my mom's needs, not eating and blood sugar dropping dangerously low (44 once a week), continually calling for various "needs", and most specifically wandering at night she was moved to the MC side of AL. She is not specifically in the MC wing. She is terribly, terribly angry with us and refusing to stay in her room.…
-
Actual supplemental oxygen use
Question for you all. What’s the likelihood that someone at stage 4 will wear the supplemental oxygen as often as they should? and does the possession of a Inogen bring that likelihood percentage up? Mom had an 86% oxygen level on 3/27 and an 84% level on 4/11. It had been over 90 in late February. PCP prescribed…
-
Sex is not my friend
DH has been quiet about this for several months now. All of the sudden now he wants it again (he also has ED and things were not going well before). He grabbed a beer when we got home from church and then wanted to get all frisky. Unfortunately, I made the remark that he looked like he was more worried about getting a beer…
-
Is this typical advancement?
Unlike previously, for the last couple of months my DW no longer has been asking to go home. She is no longer clingy or shadowing. She has also stopped trying to leave the house. Have others seen this same progression with the disease?
-
Two Story Reality Check
As I see it, DB is in Stage 4 per Tam Cummings. Though, "begins to have stumbles or falls", is one of the behaviors, DB has not shown that yet. Although YMMV, the guidance is the phase is 1 - 4 years, and let's say he's in his 2nd year. Also he is EO, and I have read this often progresses faster. DB and his wife live in a…
-
New Here - Lots of Questions
First time posting, I just joined. My situation may be a bit different but I am still reaching out as I need someplace to share. My partner and I are not married, we have been a committed couple for 25 years. He is 69 and I am 71. He has admitted to me just this year that he is experiencing some short term memory issues. I…
-
Say you'll do this, and then you do that
I'm not sure what to make of the following two behaviors. The first, it seems I can chalk up to short term memory issues. We went out to breakfast yesterday. After we're seated, with menus in front of us, I asked if DB had any favorites at this restauraunt he suggested. He said it had been a couple of years since being…
-
What products have you found that are helpful?
Hi all - just wondering what products or tools you have used that have made life easier for you/your LO? As an example, someone on this forum recommended the HERO machine for dispensing medications, and it was a game changer for us. It sends a text to my phone if my mom hasn't dispensed her dose within 15 minutes of it…
-
Highly Paranoid MIL Refuses Help
New here, big venting coming up. Sorry and thanks: My 92yr old MIL has been getting consistently more symptomatic over the past few months. Her PCP called it "age-related dementia" and left it at that. She has since come to state that she's never visited that doctor (she was actually a patient for nearly two years) and is…
-
I’m totally stressed out
Arrgggghhh! Another almost sleepless night. The guilt, the anger, the hopelessness of things ever calming down…And, yes, I know it’s still early in our journey compared to everyone else still trying to settle son’s estate. All that’s left is giving figures to the estate tax attorney and then notifying the court that we are…
-
A small vicotry
@harshedbuzz In another discussion you had posted, "It is not unusual for PWD to recall information that has a strong emotional content. Dad couldn't recall what he'd had for breakfast or the state in which he was living, but he absolutely could remember vividly being told by his neurologist that he could no longer drive…
-
When you take care of family members with AD,what can cheer you up or bring back old happy memories?
Sometimes I feel frustrated when taking care of my grandpa with AD.I don't feel like he's the same him anymore, and we seem to be the most familiar strangers.I wonder what will bring you guys the old happy memory that cheer you up to continuously look after your family members. Hoping to receive some kind answers to help…
-
Anything new is very rough!
I got a sweet cat for my daughter yesterday which I’m bringing to her tomorrow, as I’m visiting her for two days. DH has had a really hard time the last two days and I realize that anything new is totally disorienting for him. Monday we went to the senior center where we’ve gone a few times in the last few months and he…
-
Are we just destined to endure a long slow decline?
This sounds harsh, but is there such a thing as someone getting ill for 1-2 years and managing sufficiently, then just taking a sharp downward turn for a few weeks or months and shuffling off this mortal life? By contrast, the last seven years my parents have just declined slowly and steadily while losing cognitive…
-
Bible Verse to Lift You Up 4/9/24
GOOD FRUIT Galatians 5:22-23 New International Version “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” THINK ABOUT THIS: What fruit do you need the most help with? Why do you think this one is more difficult?…
-
Music - Putting on the Hits to Arrest Anxiety
Been battling anxiety with DW for roughly the whole way since she began showing symptoms 7 years ago. Though we've had good results with medication combos over the years, she spikes and most recently for a prolonged 2-3 week period. Ruling out health issues and stabilizing meds, I recently began reintroducing music again,…
-
Beginning stages of incontinence
Hello, new to this forum. Looking for some advice. I am currently a caregiver to a sweet 93 year old woman with dementia. She has had “accidents” here and there, but seems to be getting worse lately. I find messes in the bathroom where it looks like she’s tried to clean up. Also while doing laundry I find underwear with…
-
TV show that did a good job portraying challenges of Alzheimer's Disease
Several years ago, I read on this forum that the television show, This is Us, did a good job portraying the challenges of Alzheimer's Disease. I recently got around to watching the series and I agree, the show did a very good job. Spoiler alert: In Season 5 and 6 one of the characters has Alzheimer's Disease. The show…
-
Talking with PWD
Hello! My Dad has Alzheimer's and is pretty far along. His MMSE scores have been getting noticeably lower every time and are now in the more severe range. However, there are some parts of his mind that still work pretty well. Dad hears perfectly, which helps most of the time (unless someone doesn't want him to hear!). I…
-
Anyone with experience with Prevagen helping with confusion?
Hello - my wife is in mid stage dementia and her confusion level has gotten worse lately. It does not appear related to a UTI. A home health care aid has mentioned that Prevagen has helped some of the dementia patients she has worked with. I am very skeptical of this drug given their creepy commercials and the fact that…
-
Explaining a PWD's condition quickly to a stranger
If you need to describe a PWD's condition quickly to a stranger, like a repair person making smalltalk, what do you do? There are these "aware and share" cards, that says "please be patient and have some understanding" but that takes time to read. It's not easy. Each description has some awkwardness and I can't expect the…
-
Its Our Turn. Preparing to say farewell...
Posting here as well.
-
When did these things happen for your PWD?
I’m feeling like I’m in a time warp as the caregiver. I see my DH progressing, but very slowly. His main issues are memory, language/communication, and apathy. He has less energy, sleeps more, dazes off for hours, but I don’t see the scary or heavy duty things yet like hallucinations, delusions, forgetting me or the kids,…
-
Great resource (Free e-book) on Caring for a Person with Alzheimer's/dementia
-
Eclipse
NASA will be live streaming the eclipse on Monday April 8th. Iris
-
I’m concerned about my loved one
I have a loved one who I am very concerned about. A few of my family members seem to think he may have Alzheimer’s but this has not been diagnosed by a specialist yet. His doctor has referred him to see someone in the next few weeks for his memory issues. He has gotten lost while driving by himself on several occasions. He…