-
I can't do this again.
I spent 7 years as a caregiver for an elderly parent and their spouse. I had to give up the majority of my social life to see to their needs. Every time I TRIED to schedule something for myself, an emergency would pop up. I gained over 75 pounds, and my mental health was suffering severely. Near the end, COVID hits. Due to…
-
Richard Restak's book: How to Prevent Dementia: An Expert’s Guide to Long-Term Brain Health
Dr. Richard Restak has a book published late 2023. "How to Prevent Dementia: An Expert’s Guide to Long-Term Brain Health" The title is a bit of wishful thinking, but according to the description, it recommends good diet, exercise and other behavior to try to stave it off. I'll read it, but if you have already read it and…
-
Oof - she was found wandering and in hospital now and then going to MC
My mom has been status quo for a while now with severe short term/immediate memory loss and confabulations. She stopped bathing and cleaning the house. We've been dealing with that fine. Then Friday someone in her neighborhood found her wandering in the cold with no coat or ID. He called paramedics and I got a call a few…
-
Dramatic variations in cognition, capabilities in Stage 7
My 97-year-old mom has been in late Stage 7 of Alzheimer's for over a year now. On bad days she can't sit up, needs to be lifted into and positioned in bed, needs to be spoon fed pureed food, chipmunks food, often chokes, and when she speaks her words come out as gibberish. Her limbs thrash. About four months ago an old…
-
aspiration
HI, everyone i've been a caretaker for my grandma for the last stage of her disease for the past 3.5 years. Everytime i think she was about to give up she has successfully recovered. But we are now in a phase where I honestly can't tell whats going to happen. She has begun aspirating out of the blue. She is on a PEG tube…
-
Recent events update
For those of you following along with my life: Mom was getting better from her Dec 4th fall that fractured her ribs. Right up until Jan 12 when she fell again and annoyed those same ribs. No hospital visit this time. Last time she fell out of bed. This time she fell just after getting out of bed. Staff said her rollator…
-
Self Care Resource - Adult Coloring Pages
I just ran across this website while scrolling through Pinterest just for fun. (Doesn't take much to entertain me, as you can see. Homebound for 2 years with a PWD LO will do that to you!) There has been a little relief in the homebound status at least for part of the last year plus and I'm very glad I did not give up, and…
-
Public Comments on Alzheimer's Disease
Michael Ellenbogen wanted to encourage anyone interested to make a public comment so that the Advisory Council is better informed about the concerns, suggestions, and insights of caregivers and people living with dementia. ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT The next meeting of the Advisory Council on Alzheimer's…
-
Is Asking for Help Always Worth It?
I quit my job at my adult children's behest to stay home and care for their father, my husband. We have limited means so our oldest child (son) moved in with us and he gives me money monthly --barely enough to pay my bills. I have no more savings. I am not able to plan for my future. I am 50 & my husband is 80 with an…
-
Bible Verse to Lift You Up 1/15/24
OUR HOPE IS GOD’S UNFAILING LOVE Psalm 147:5 New Living Translation 5 How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension! 11 No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love. When the winds of sickness, stress, anger and fear are strong and…
-
Home hospice???
I am looking for your comments regarding personal experience as the full-time live-in caregiver. Home hospice, positives and negatives are? Eg: Is home hospice an interruption in your day that you could do without? Is home hospice annoying because they want to make as much money as they can by sending every discipline they…
-
Just another set back
It never ends for my DW. After finally getting rid of car and wife ok with Ali felt breathing room but was wrong DW just found out has nasal cancer going to see oncologist next week getting PetScan tomorrow. I’m thinking maybe radiation as surgery is big deal and may mess up nose. I know anytime may DW goes under…
-
Agitation
I have not written in a long time mostly because my mom settled in to AL / MC well. She will have been there for two years in March. We just celebrated her birthday and the holidays and she was thrilled. She has been a favorite in the facility as she is spunky, sassy and very with it (considering she has Alzheimer’s). It’s…
-
Vascular dementia
How can I get past the guilt of not being able to take care of my husband anymore at home
-
Alcohol related dementia
Does anyone have experience with alcohol related dementia? My son was just diagnosed and still in hospital awaiting placement (3 weeks). It seems very different from the AZ and VAD my husband had.
-
I’m. Just. So. Damn. Tired.
I have been caring for my mother who has been declining with grace for years. Now, at 92, she is very frail, and often doesn’t remember how to stand or sit. She can communicate sometimes. She can feed herself but eats little. Lately, she has been getting up without assistance and has fallen. Now I sleep with her to keep…
-
Types of Interventions that Can Help
This is a useful article about types of non-pharmacological treatments for Alzheimer's disease that can help: "Addressing the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia can include options other than medically based pharmacological interventions. Scales et al., (2017) identified multiple sensory and psychosocial…
-
Selling Mom's Car with POA
I'm POA for my mom, who has mild cognitive impairment. I tricked her into moving to a CCRC near me per doctor's strong recommendation. (Thanks to members of this community who helped me pull that off.) She's in independent living, and many of her neighbors still drive. Her doctors have said she should stop driving and…
-
UTI test strips
Does anyone use the OTC test strips to test at home? Are they remotely accurate? I'm sure a culture is more effective but I was thinking they may be handy in a pinch.
-
Hello everyone
:) I am new to the group , I am a full time caregiver to my mom who has been diagnosed with severe alzheimers/dementia on top of a brain injury and a few other things I didn't know about she has been declining for years they kept saying it was mental health , well Last 3 months I have pushed to find out what's wrong with…
-
Problems chewing
Hello everyone. I’m new here. I care for my grandma with dementia. She’s 97 (98 in April) and is in surprisingly good physical shape for her age, but her mind is going more and more. Recently while eating she forgets to chew her food before swallowing and it gets stuck. She ends up throwing up little bits at a time until…
-
Identifying a real request such as "I'm hungry"
Sometimes, I hear a request such as "I'm hungry" that isn't for real. Let's say a PWD wants to eat lunch at 11:00 am, so I prepare, even though it's a bit early. When ready, I hear "It's too early, I don't want to eat". I think for meals, it's better to stick to a regular schedule, but there are other times when it's hard…
-
Automated toilet flushing sensor?
My mom with Alzheimer's still lives at home with my dad. She was diagnosed 4 years ago and is in the moderate stage now. She can still take care of some of her own personal hygiene, but of course we are starting to see those decline (e.g., doesn't shower/bathe anymore but still washes her hair in the sink). Over the last…
-
Step-dads doctor appointment
Here’s a summary of what I put on someone else’s post last week about an upcoming doctor appointment for my step-dad: ==I will be taking my step-father to the doctor on Monday for what will basically be an appeasement appointment. He told me that ‘everything hurts’ and he wanted to go to the PCP. He complained about his…
-
Alzheimer's Disease Research Workshop
From Michael Ellenbogen: HYBRID PUBLIC SESSION Research Priorities for Preventing and Treating Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias January 16, 2023 | 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET January 17, 2023 | 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. ET The National Academies' Committee on Research Priorities for Preventing and Treating Alzheimer’s…
-
Sharing post by rachelj28 from the new caregivers group
rachelj28 Member Posts: 1 Member 3:06PM Hi - I'm new to this group, DH in process of confirming Alzheimer's diagnosis. Doctor feels strongly this is the diagnosis and has spoken to me about Leqembi and a clinical trial. Lots of information for me to digest and was curious if anyone else has any experience with how to…
-
Early Onset Symptoms... What was your story? How did you tell your loved one that you were worried?
Hello everyone! I'm new here. My aunt reached out to me to let me know she was starting to become concerned about my great-uncle (who is in his early 50's.) He's been having some memory lapses and increased anxiety/frustration. His father had early-onset dementia, and this has us especially worried. We're trying to work…
-
Skilled Nursing Facilities
Many of us could write a book! I have been a caregiver for my brother for the past year when he 'crashed' with Dementia. He's been diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia. He was repeating himself for years but 1500 miles between us made me quite in denial I guess of how he was progressing. In september '22 I flew to him…
-
finally bringing in caregiver help
Hi everyone, back after a bit of an absence! My Mom is starting her new job, and I really ought to start going back into the office when I'm able to, so we've finally reached the point where we need to bring in outside help to keep an eye on my dad and be available to help when we're not able to. My parents' house is tiny,…
-
Talking to self in mirror
My DH with Alzheimer’s has been greeting himself in the mirror and I was wondering what people’s thoughts are about this. He also says hello to birds that fly by and waves hello at things when we drive by.