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Medication Refusal
Hello, I am looking for advice on what worked for others when their LO refuses to take meds. My mom is refusing unless I make the trek over to her small group care home every morning and night. She will only take them if I talk her into it. She can swallow the pills fine, she just says that the doctor told her she doesn’t…
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Electrolyte Imbalance
Hi all, Mom was recently hospitalized twice (first time for 5 days, second for 6 days, and only 3 days apart). The only thing that the hospital could determine is that she seemed very dehydrated and low on potassium and magnesium. She has Congestive Heart Failure, but that has been managed fairly well on lasix and…
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THANK YOU FOR CARING!
CAREGIVERS WHO REALLY CARE tend to be the best people among us, and they never regret their sacrifice of love and care. Thank you!
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Home Safety Checklist Tool
Here is a helpful 2 pg Home Safety Checklist From the ALZConnected Resources tab on this forum site. And here is the link to the overall safety webpage with more topics.
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Mom's decline
My mom is my dad's caregiver who has dementia. But she too is having cognitive decline. I'm the only person who helps and monitor both their needs. I wish I could be their POA but I can't because I'm on SSDI. My uncle in Canada is the current POA but Mom thinks he's too far and old to be POA. The only choice is to appoint…
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Stages
I saw a question in one thread about the dementia stages. I just added a thread in the new caregivers group to capture a couple of staging tools I've found useful.
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Young onset
My 55 year old husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's 11/2023. We have will be married 31 years this April with 3 children and 7 grandchildren. Previous we had were separated for 2 years due to him checking out of life with everyone. We got back together last March 2023 for one last try. His behaviors were more bizarre,…
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How do you use technology to stay sane?
I'm wondering what tips and tricks people have found to help them stay organized, even if it's not technological in nature. I'm not looking for warnings of the pitfalls of technology in general, data mining/sharing risks, etc. I'm fairly well-versed on these general concerns. Of course downsides to any specific…
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I’m new here
I’m new here to post but have following this for quite awhile. My DH has AD and is mild-moderate in his progression. I really haven’t noticed huge differences although , of course, there are things that are subtly changing. My question is this: is there anybody out there that doesn’t experience all of the awful things that…
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Chosing a facility
Questions to ask before choosing an assisted living facility (msn.com)
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A caregiver for my father who was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia/Alzheimers
Hello everyone, I am 22, a caregiver taking care of her father at the age 58. This is my first time really giving a shot at something like this. I am just happy to know that I am not alone and that there is a community of people who are going through the same thing. If anyone has any advice for me, I would be more than…
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Is there an explanation of why short memory would be effected before long term ?
Just curious you’d think you would forget things from years and years ago first. Nothing makes sense with this illness.
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From WaPo: Article About the New Medications in Black Patients
New Alzheimer’s drugs bring hope. But not equally for all patients. - The Washington Post An interesting read. I'd love to see a companion piece on women. HB
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From the NYT: Naomi Feil, dead at 91
gifted link https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/24/health/naomi-feil-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Qk0.mXNA.xPXReqf3GQ7z&smid=url-share
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New adult child caring for parent. My long intro.
Hi everyone, I'm new here and relatively new to being a caregiver. I myself am disabled and have had several family members with disabling conditions. Along with working in social work, this has given me a bit of an advantage at least in understanding some of the resources available (and not so available). I noticed some…
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New York Times Daily podcast: A PWD's new personality & desires
A podcast on "When dementia changes a relative, how much should they accommodate their new personality and desires?" Link to podcast on NY Times site, but can be heard on other places Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music The original NYT Magazine article
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Dad With Vascular Dementia with agitation/anger
Hello. Im new here. Just signed up. I’ve been caring for my father, who is 85 and physically healthy except for the moderate dementia with agitation/anger. I go to his apartment 2-3 times a week to make him take a shower, clean his apartment, take him to doctors visits, run errands. He lives in an independent facility for…
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Delusions that are scary
Hello all, This is my first post and I look forward to learning from you all! My father lives in a memory care community and has advanced small vessel disease diagnosed via MRI with advanced dementia. We moved him in over the summer on level 1 care, he is now at level 2 and has moved once within the facility. He no longer…
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More comic relief - we need some!
Yesterday I visited MIL (she sees me at least once a week, sometimes more). When I walked in she lit up and opened her arms for a huge hug - all 80 pounds of her - and said “this is such a surprise! I’m so glad to see you. What made you decide to come see me?” We chatted for quite awhile. It was a very pleasant visit. I…
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I guess we got lucky with this cancer scare
My poor DW out of nowhere a pimple appears inside front tip of nose, had treated for about 5 weeks nothing have biopsy done CANCER , wife and me freak out. Goes for PETSCAN best day thank God nothing now to Oncologist. It never ends.
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Hospital prescribed Zyprexa for agitation and combativeness...am I wrong to be Pis*ed off?
I am POA and while my mom is in hospital, dr prescribes Zyprexa after my mom became combative when they tried to bathe her. Nobody told me they were doing it. They now have her on a regular dose of 5mg and she's been on it for 2 days. She's a totally different person than when she went in. No words are making sense and she…
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From ALF to SNF but attempts to get out of wheelchair
Mom 9 months in ALF. Lost ability to do most if not all ADLs. ALF suggested MC or Hospice or else can't stay. Chose Hospice and stayed at ALF. Qualified for Medicaid in December to pay portion of ALF. Mom's personal money runs out in several months unless I sell her house which I'm still staying in. Fell out of wheelchair…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…