-
Estimating time left?
I previously posted that my step-dad was accepted into hospice a week and a half ago. Neither the hospice nurse nor the AL nurse would give me a time frame. Does anyone know a website or PDF that I could try to estimate a timeframe with? He might drink one regular sized Ensure or water - total- a day - maybe. He’s probably…
-
Bible Verse to Lift You Up 3/4/24
COURAGE Genesis 1:1 NIV “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Joshua 1:9 NKJV “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Jeremiah 31:3 NIV “The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: ‘I have loved you…
-
Just starting journey…
My MIL has not been formally diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, but her mother had it and we have no doubt. She lives with my FIL, and we just went to visit after about 3 months absence. I had my doubts that she knew who we were before, but now she absolutely doesn’t know us. She calls us “hon” as a general catch all. She does…
-
Covid boosters
In case you missed it, on Wednesday the CDC recommended a second covid booster this spring for those over 65- I was able to get it today so they are ready to go with no delay. This will apply to many of as well as our loved ones. There have been stubborn outbreaks in our MC all winter so I was happy to see the…
-
FTD - Frontotemporal Specific Staging Tool (by Dr. Tam Cummings for FTD)
-
Making rooms off-limits
Many people recommend making rooms safe for PWD and locking of hiding things away. and in some cases preventing PWD's from going into unused rooms for preventing rummaging or doing dangerous things. This includes locking rooms, or putting up signs. I wonder how far one can go in making rooms off-limits - don't go into…
-
Delusions, verbal abuse, small child in the home
-
Socially conservative caregivers
Hi all! I usually post of the spouse board, because my spouse has Alzheimer's. Now my father is also showing signs and I'm thinking forward to placement. The place I have my dh is wonderful, but religiously run, and caregivers throughout my community tend to be socially conservative. I have kept from bringing some of my…
-
posterior cortical atrophy
My brother was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's in 2020, with PCA ,We believe his symptom's started in 2018, He started having aggression and hallucinations about 1 1/2 ago where he thinks people are following him, he also can't seem to find the right door, he was placed in memory care in August 2023, As he needs…
-
Violence against my DH in an AL facility
My DH is 92 yo, frail, and in a Broda chair. He lives in AL. He has early Stage 7 ALZ (though still somewhat verbal), stroke damage, and CHF, with an estimated less than 3 mos. to live. Today there was an incident in the special needs dining room at lunch that has me very concerned. While the residents were eating lunch,…
-
Issues with Getting LTC Insurance to Pay?
My mom has an AMAZING long-term care policy through TransAmerica. But we first filed a claim last September to have them cover her in-home care (we have caregivers with her from 7am-10pm every day and then monitor her movements with a Ring camera that alerts my sister and I if she gets up in the night) and they still have…
-
updates and checking in
Hi everyone, wanted to say hi and post a few updates since today is a wonky one over here. My mom has officially started her new job (still working from home) and I'm going into the law school twice a week for work. We've hired Brightstar so we have a sitter coming in the days I'm not here during work hours so my mom can…
-
Upcoming Geriatrician Appt; questions to ask?
My mom has her appt w/ the geriatrician coming up on Wednesday. The day before, I'm scheduled for a phone appointment with a social worker. I have some general questions, but am wondering either what questions you wish you had asked or what are good questions to ask at a first geriatrician appt? I know primarily the appt…
-
MRI and early signs
Hi, I am new to this board. A few weeks ago my spouse, age 70, had a cognitive workup and an MRI. He wanted this done because on a recent trip he had forgotten/lost some significant items which is not like him at all. I had noticed a change in his frustration level with me and his response to me. He had a cognitive workup…
-
How do I answer the question, "Why can't I remember?"
I have been a caregiver to a lovely woman in MS of Alzheimer's since April 2023. One thing she's been doing more of here lately is asking me why she can't remember things. For example, just today, she was talking about her father and how she wasn't sure whether or not he was still alive. When I confirmed her suspicions of…
-
Sometimes I forget some very important things
Hii my name Mohan yadav and I’m 32years old All the most important tasks, how much money was given to whom, for how much, where was it kept and some other things, I often forget people's names, some in two days, some in one day, some in 5 days.
-
How to find a good memory care facility?
Hi all. My Dad is almost 88 and probably early stage 6 GDS with Alz/VD. He's currently living in an AL facility. They called today wanting to have a discussion with me about memory care. It's scheduled for Thursday afternoon so my sisters can join the conversation. How to find a good memory care facility? The AL facility…
-
Items missing in facility
I'm positive others have been through this, but how do you work with a facility when just about everything you bring in for your LO goes missing? They tell me to have clothing dropped off with the staff to be labeled, but whenever I check her closet there are nothing but some shirts in there. I understand there's an…
-
When disagreement is unavoidable
I understand these rules. 1) Don't Tell Them They're Wrong About Something: To let the person save face, it's best not to contradict or correct them if they say something wrong. There's no good reason to do that. If they're alert enough, they'll realize they made a mistake and feel bad about it. Even if they don't…
-
I can't get involved with family!!!
Hello, Alzconnect family. I can say how I feel about my Mom's Alzheimer's and give suggestions to anyone here with what I have experienced for the past 7 years plus what I have learned from this support group. But my family that's out of the question. So a family member who is the prime caregiver for my mom keeps sending…
-
Anyone wear a medical alert bracelet as caregiver & what do you put on it as limited
I feel as caregiver in case something happened to me while out what do you put on brackets as seems limited to what you can print.
-
Stay Sharp Memory Kits
I got the following press release from my county library. New additions to our collection! Have a loved one who deserves to keep their memories bright and their mind sharp? Check out our new Stay Sharp Memory Kits! Stay Sharp Memory Kits The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that nearly 6.7 million Americans are living…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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.
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…