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Talking to Medicare for LO
Has anyone had good luck speaking to Medicare on behalf of a PWD or is there yet another form I need to fill in before they will speak to me? I am my LO's PofA and Medical Proxy. I need to call Medicare on their behalf and get to the bottom of a bill my LO has received from the surgeon who did their broken hip surgery. Has…
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Palliative care vs hospice, chronic foley vs Suprapubic catheter
Dad has been living with us since March of 2020. Hes had dementia longer, but after a mild stroke, he has not been able to live alone anymore. This past year seems to be one of major decline. Since August I think we have counted 9 falls (yes, he uses a walker). He went to rehab for a month between September/October- 3 of…
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Suggestions for preventing 83 year old father from marrying new girlfriend
My 83 year old father most likely has dementia. Symptoms: No short-term memory. Tells me he has showered but no sign of use of shower and terrible body odor. Convinced neighbors are throwing rocks at the house in the middle of the night. (Multiple properties...keeps moving to get away from a neighbor only to find that…
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Wendy Mitchell has passed away
She wrote three books on her experiences having early onset dementia. I haven't read the last one, but I read the first two. Both of those books helped me understand how to stand in the shoes of someone with early onset. My sister Peggy stopped being able to read very early on, so I read the first book to her. When I told…
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Tam Cummings just called!
Several of us have been discussing the FTD staging tool and had a question. I sent the question through the "contact us" form on Tam Cummings' site. 10 minutes later Dr. Cummings called me directly to answer it. She is kind and knowledgeable. And I feel like I just met a celebrity.
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It seems she feels free!
My DW has been in MC now for several days. She's happy, she's kind to everyone, almost as if she can just be herself now. Her sister went to visit her yesterday and she was jovial, they danced. Maybe she somehow knows that everyone there is like her so she feels normal, she feels safe both physically and mentally. She's in…
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Just a rollercoaster - I think I just need to get it all out
Mom who is probably stage 6? But most of her symptoms are physical, not as much cognitive, other than short-term memory loss. She has regular blood tests so that she can continue to receive her RA medications - the last two blood tests have shown blood counts/ hemoglobin/platelets to be very low. We were making plans to…
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Strange Jewelry Choices
I probably know the answer, but just wondering if anyone else has seen this behavior and how they feel. My wife likes to wear jewelry but lately she's been making these odd choices in what to put on. She's hanging ear rings from her shirt, mixing bracelets with necklaces, etc. I know it shouldn't matter and that's probably…
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Devices for blocking calls on Land-line?
My apologies if this has been addressed already, I searched the site & couldn't find anything. We recently moved my Mom into Memory Care; she's never been able to figure out cell-phones, but I'd like her to have a land-line so I can call her on days that I can't visit her; she also has siblings/cousins who would like to be…
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Article on discrimination against caregivers - Stigma, and worse
I have personally experienced this and it is so wrong. As a spouse, the disrespect, stigma and disregarding of my wishes, decisions, and role is like salt rubbed in the wound when my DH cannot advocate for himself and is disregarded as well. PWDs are treated like they have no rights. And their caregivers can experience the…
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Changing an Alzheimer patient's home base
:s Hi community! I'm new to the discussions and am so glad this exists. My husband and I are becoming caregivers to my mother-in-law who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's-Dementia a few years ago. She's at the point where her short-term memory is mostly non-existent, but her long-term is still mostly sharp, give or take a few…
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Case Manager Conversations
Looking for some advice I have a meeting this week with the case manager/social worker assigned to my husband by the Medicaid managed care insurance company. It's our quarterly check in. I'm not sure how open to be with her. She's our gateway to services so I'm inclined to share with her, but I also know that she works for…
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I need to take a breather
I usually stop in on the site once every couple of days even if I don't post. But I think I need a week or so to regroup - and make plans. Today I got news from hospice that just smacked me in the head. The care manager told me that if Peggy keeps on her current trajectory (not eating, drinking very little), she has weeks,…
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Hospice in our future?
see 2/14 update to this update in the comments Update on our situation: While I was on vacation in Florida, Mom requested to go to the ER with chest pains a week ago today( Monday). She was promptly checked out and released because the pain was from her previously injured ribs which just have to heal on their own. Which we…
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UCLA Caregiving Series
This looks like it will be a good series of programs (sent by Michael Ellenbogen): We are pleased to share that the UCLA Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care (ADC) Program will be hosting Better Caregiving for All, a new monthly virtual series accessible via Zoom and will be delivered live and recorded for on-demand viewing. The…
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Alz stages?
My husband was diagnosed by AMRI with Alzheimer's a few months ago. He is 81 and comes from a family with Alzheimer's. I don't know what the stages are. I see them in many of the post. Can someone help me figure out where to find them?
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Planning a Family Forum
Hi, everyone. I am in charge of planning a support group for resident's families, but I have been working in memory care for only about 5 months now. Yes, I have learned a lot about dementia and Alzheimer's and have a range of topics I would like to talk about at this family forum, but I would love to hear what other…
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Our walk together is over
They were the hardest years of my life. At some of my darkest moments I looked to this community for wisdom and support. You never let me down. So thank you Alzconnected and fellow care-givers for helping me on what seemed like a walk with no horizon. May you all continue to walk to your horizons in the knowledge that here…
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It never ends starting Radiation Therapy next week
All I can say is.thank God my wife’s not in bad stage yet as we starting 6 weeks 5x a week Radiation Therapy has to be fitted for mask today, cancer is in top of nose PTSCAN shows no advance.
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I Cant go on caring for my mom..
Hello, I am new here and just need to vent/ask for advice and resources I can look into to help me better care for my mom, who has been diagnosed with dementia since 2019. Like many, she began by repeating herself, forgetting to turn off the stove, etc. Since 2020, to keep her safe from COVID-19, she moved in with me and…
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suggestion to avoid watching news on TV (of bad events)
I noticed that a PWD may see something bad on TV news (bad weather, accidents, war, etc.) and not recall it was shown earlier that day/yesterday/last week/whatever. But each viewing can turn into repetitively stating "how horrible" and can be upsetting to PWD. So when a PWD want to catch up on news, I try to use YouTube to…
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An Old Question With Many Answers
When I took care of both my parents at home, I certainly did not always make the right decisions for them and for myself. I understand everyone here must find their own way and no one should criticize. I tried to do my best and certainly there are many here who are doing the same. I often write about and admire loving,…
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Medications
Hello, I am new here, but I’m a caregiver for my mother who is in the moderate to late stages of Alzheimer’s. My dad is her primary caregiver. I am seeking any advice on what medications may have worked for others. She sundowns everyday around 3 or 4 pm wanting to go “home” trying to walk out. She gets angry and…
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What causes Alzheimer’s?
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We need guidance
My Grandma is probably in mid/ early stages of stage 6 VD. She has been in a nursing home since July. After putting it off for years we decided to put her in a facility as 24/7 care was not available any longer and she needed that. The nursing home she is currently at has been a nightmare. I can't even begin to write it…
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Getting my LO into bed
My LO is in late stage dementia. She can no longer stand without a walker and assistance. Getting her into bed requires lifting her off her commode chair and, while holding her up, pulling on her pull-up. I then lift her onto the bed. She often resists or slumps in my arms. There must be a better way. The pull-up is a real…
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No doubt - stage 7
A few weeks ago I wondered whether Peggy was at the tail end of stage 6 and/or the beginning of stage 7. Well, I'm not wondering anymore. She's definitely in stage 7. Not only that, but I'm not seeing only 7a, I'm seeing b, and even some c. Things seemed to accelerate in December. I'm reeling, it's happening so fast.…
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Has Your Loved One Ever Had Behavioral/Cognitive Changes from Both UTI & Medicine?
Hello, Recently, my sister, who has Alzheimer's, was started on an anti-seizure medication. Shortly thereafter, she started exhibiting extreme behaviors and the staff at her memory care unit were concerned she had a UTI. I took her to her neurologist who said it was the anti-seizure medication that caused her symptoms and…
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Stages of Alzheimer's Disease Seminar
Information on this interesting seminar comes from Michael Ellenbogen The Stages of Alzheimer’s with Dr. Marwan Noel Sabbagh – How Does Dementia Really Progress? DATE: Thursday, February 15, 2024 TIME: 1pm ET/10am PT (please adjust for your time zone) An online search for “Stages of Alzheimer’s” will result in articles…
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Selling automobile
I am a caregiver for my BIL with memory loss. We have a caregiver M-Sat from 8-5 who takes excellent care of him. He stays alone on Sundays. So far without incident. We are coming up on a year with this arrangement. Anyway, I need to sell his auto. His PCP has told him he can’t drive because of his stroke and health…