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Always seems mad and quiet nothing to say
I am the POA for my dear friend who is in an Alzheimers unit. Formally, funny, sarcastic, friendly, she often seems just mad all the time. I visit her and we often sit in silence watching TV. I asked random things to make conversations and she just stares at the TV and gives me one word answers. Or doesn't answer at all.…
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How Do You Mentally Deal with Sending Big Checks For Care?
Since my sister moved in with me, I have been very careful with her money, squirrelling away every penny I can for her future. She's only 58 years old and could live a number of years yet. Because of a fall, she spent some time in rehab and is now in a memory care unit, hopefully for only a month or so. The orthopedic dr…
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Comic relief
Doctor: Do you know why you’re here? MIL: It was highly recommended.
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Urinary Issues
Hi All. My MIL has been in Depends Maximum Absorbency for about a year. No bm issues so far thank goodness- just incontinence. Getting her to change them is a fight every. single. time. There's name calling, hitting, arguing that leaves me shaking and exhausted. I consider it a successful day if I can get her to change…
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Bed situations
Mom's been rolling around in bed a lot lately. She starts the night by being on the right side of the bed then throughout the night she travels all over it, sometimes onto dad or the floor via the foot of the bed. Not sure if this is the disease or her new medication Clonazepam. Since we have hospice now, we're thinking…
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Explaining Dad's condition to him
Hi everyone! My father has had 3 "episodes" in the last 2 weeks where he is delusional and aggressively combatant. I had the State police take him to the Emergency Room during one of the last ones. I had taken him to the same ER 4 days prior. The doctors advised that there is nothing medically wrong and that I should take…
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Emotionally draining
I'm a 58 year old single man caring for my 92-year-old mother who was diagnosed with dementia 2 years ago. Mom is doing remarkably well but is emotionally draining for me seeing the changes occur. I'm all alone working and coming home to care for Mom, how do I relate my emotions to other family members who are distant and…
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Home Help
Hi, I am a 21yo and I live with my Grandma who is late stage in dementia. I need help finding homes. I am in constant therapy for PTSD from the abuse and need guidance. I feel like either I go into a psych hospital or find her a home. If there's any recs that someone can give me I would be most grateful.
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Neighbor with dementia is physically and otherwise inappropriate
I rent an apartment. There is a gentleman on the floor where my apartment is located who has both been aggressive with me (trying to push his way into my apartment after offering to help me carry in groceries), physically grabbing me with both of his arms once in the laundry room and this evening, trying to kiss me. There…
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Another ER visit at the worst time
Mom fell out of bed today. The AL called me at 4:45 because she was having trouble breathing and pain. Her BP was 81/66. ( it’s higher now). So she was loaded into an ambulance and transported to the ER. I had had trouble getting to sleep, so I’m operating on 3-3.5 hours of sleep. As I write, it’s 7:03am. She’s had blood…
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Staying Informed When Sister Not Helpful
I moved back to the area where my mom and 2 older sisters live because my now 89 year old mom has Alzheimer's. It is her short term memory that is the problem for the most part along with anosognosi. Even though I was the 1st in the family to notice/speak up about it, since I lived out of state my 2 older sisters have been…
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Description of losing their words?
Losing their words is a term often used in a discussion of dementia symptoms. Can someone clarify that term? Does it mean strictly forgetting the names of items? Does it mean substituting a different name - calling an item by a totally different name - a fork instead of a book for example? Does it mean becoming non-verbal…
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Tissues Recommended: Commercial Beautifully Done Re Alz's
Perhaps not entirely realistic for many, but heartfelt and meaningful; beautifully done in its own way and meaning. Done with input from Alz Assn.: https://www.yahoo.com/news/finance/news/tears-streaming-down-face-chevy-003621454.html J.
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Dad is going downhill fast and he is mom's primary caregiver
My dad, the "good one", is mom's primary caregiver for the last six years as her dementia has continued to progress. He has COPD which he has had for 20 years and until about one year ago was managed well with medications. The last year however it seems no medication the specialist prescribes is effective. I visited them a…
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some updates - meds, guardianship, new behavioral patterns
Hi everyone, hope the holidays were smooth and enjoyable for everyone. I attended my family's Thanksgiving without my Mom which was strange. I really, really like our hospice nurse and the entire staff. Through all of this experience they've been the most supportive and like... comprehensively attentive out of all the…
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Important (free) e-book for new members
Forum mates - This e-book used to be recommended frequently to new members. It helps explain many of the behaviors and experiences reported on here. It provides valuable insight into how we can be more compassionate caregivers by understanding what our PWD LOs are going through. Even in early Stage 7, I refer back to it…
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Crying (and perhaps losing Anosognosia for a while)
A PWD cried a lot, saying "why am I living this long?", "I'm being such a burden to others", etc. In a few minutes, crying stopped and was content with regular activities and did not seem to remember the event. (I made no further attempt neither to recall the event, nor further console for fear of starting it again) This…
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How to transition LO to MC
My LO has lived with us for 4 years. We're in the process of moving her to a MC facility. She has ALZ and is early stage 6. Any words of wisdom on how to tell a LO they are moving? We've mentioned it a few times but it's quickly forgotten. Thank you all for sharing your stories.
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New admission to memory care
We just admitted my dad to a memory care facility for 30 days of respite after an accident (he is ok). We have known that he needed more care but my mom was hesitant to make the move. We plan on keeping him in memory care because everyone agrees it is too much for my mom at home. It’s been hard to know where my dad is in…
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Special Dementia Training Webinar via Michael Ellenbogen
Here is the information on the webinar: On January 16th, 2024, from 1-2 p.m. ET, the National Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center will host the webinar, Strengthening the Dementia Capable Workforce: Dementia Training for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Providers. A description of the webinar and…
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New Client. Need first step help
I am a caregiver to a new patient that I believe needs a whole new team of doctors. I have cared for many other patients also currently care for an FTD patient. The poor husband is 76 and is going crazy he has just brought us on board to help. I am not one to medicate however she needs medicated and quickly...she is very…
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Scared of the Future
Accidentally put this under the wrong subject. I am starting to feel a little scared of the future with my mom. She mentioned today that she doesn’t remember our Christmas’s of when my brother and I were little. It seems her memory is slowly slipping more this year. I fear this may be one of our last holidays that she…
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kikippa, a TV speaker for listening to gamma waves
I saw on TV a"kikippa", device that modulates gamma waves, through a box that resembles a sound bar, and was used for cognitive care for elderly in Japan. [1] Gamma wave modulation is said to help with some elderly cognitive therapy. [2]. It takes audio (like from a TV), and alters it to include the 40Hz sound that is…
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Finally! Much Needed Family Meeting.
My sister suffered a fall followed by 4 days in the hospital and a rehab stay. She's set to discharge from rehab soon and the plan has been for me to bring her home with temporary ramps, etc. Then we had our follow up visit with the orthopedic doctor. Based on what he said, I believe my home has too many obstacles for my…
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Speaking of music ... music therapy
I saw this article on The Guardian (from the UK) today. I like it. From the article: Music therapy has been found to ameliorate symptoms of dementia, such as anxiety, apathy, depression and agitation. Its impact is similar to exercise in releasing endorphins, with recreational group singing in particular leading to…
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Caregiving Apps
Hi there, I just downloaded the free app, Carely, to see if we can organize care and visits for my aunt. Her husband is her full-time caregiver and we are trying to make it easy for him to let us know when he would like a break or help. Have any of you used Carely or other app? Any good tips? Thank you.
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New Here & Need to vent - Mom has Alzheimer's and Dad is stubborn...
Hi Everyone - I am so happy to find this community as I am definitely struggling with many things! I mostly just need to share and vent and I appreciate the space to do so. Here goes. My parents (married 60 years) live together in a 55+ community (independent - no outside help except family) about 30 minutes from me. My…
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Temporary Mc stay?
My sister, who lives with me, recently fell and fractured a bone in her foot. She is currently in rehab set to discharge this week. The original plan was to bring her back home with me, but,.now I'm not so sure. The orthopedic Dr has waffles a bit about how much weight she should bear on her injured foot. My home is…
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Help
I’m thinking I’m a bad daughter bc I am not a patient person and when my mom ask me the same question 16 to 18 times I start to get a little mad. I know it’s hard in her and she doesn’t understand but working full time and taking of her . Let me fill you in. I took care of my step dad and my mom . My first husband died 20…
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Brother with VD, diagnosed in July '23
Hi. I am new to this. My first post. My brother is newly diagnosed with VD, but a neurologist just said he is in mid stage. She said to keep his brain active but I'm struggling with finding an option. He hates puzzles and solitaire and is not computer savvy. He used to do wood working but we need to keep him away from…