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Lumbar puncture?
I have read multiple posts in which loved ones mention their PWD getting a lumbar puncture as a diagnostic procedure for Alzheimer's. My question is this? Isn't that terribly painful and is it worth putting my LO through for a definitive diagnosis?
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I'm sorry for the download. I thought I was typing in another place... sorry. If I don't belong here
→ Shaun has joined S Shaun 16:46:51 first time here But I need help S Shaun 16:48:27 My step-father has dementia, Alzheimer's. S Shaun 16:49:58 we have him in a memory care unit nearby but its REALLY complicated. Not him being there. It's the urge to get him out S Shaun 16:52:29 ok going to stop with trying to make this…
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Caregiver
I started caring for my ex-husband who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s last August. We have been friends since we got divorced over 30 years ago. I sold my condo that I lived in for 23 years and sold his home and we have a mutual home now. I knew that this was not going to be easy, but I really didn’t know how difficult it…
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Pictures from Michael Ellenbogen's Trip to Africa
Attached are amazing pictures from Michael Ellenbogen's trip to southern Africa. Some of you know Michael from his time on this message board. For those who don't, Michael has dementia and has been a global advocate for people with dementia for many years. Enjoy the photographs.
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What to do in an emergency??
it’s me again haha. I play a game with my wife that I’m feeling ill and become unconscious I ask her what do yo do , by the time she even says I don’t know I could be gone. My question is what to do ? Has trouble using phone or remembering numbers or even where those numbers are , even 911 is an issue. She’s very bad with…
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When Does Long-Distance Caregiving Stop Working?
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Does It Matter?
My mom has been living at a Memory Care Facility for a little over a year (but has had dementia for approximately 8 years) and while she still knows people that have been in her life for a long time, she essentially has no short term memory and is "stuck" where she was about 8 years ago (living in the same house, my dad…
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Taking away financial agency and bvFTD
Hi all, My dad is 77 and was diagnosed with bvFTD a few months ago. He always handled all the finances and rarely spoke of money to my mom. When I realized something was terribly wrong about 2 years ago, I started the process and now (thanks largely to advice on this board!) I have DPOA and health care proxy for both my…
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Urinary urgency
My sister is now in an assisted living community. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s a year and aMy sister is now in an assisted living community. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s a year and a half ago. She has always had problems with urgency, but now she wants to go every five minutes. She had a number of falls so now…
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Spouse prone to anger if I disagree
My spouse might be angry about a person or incident and insist that I give her a simple yes or no as to whether I agree with her. I cannot in good conscience agree but if I don’t I know she will be very agitated and angry at me. Or she might be demanding that I tell her I will do something very important to her when I’m…
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Medical Marijuana
I am the sole caregiver for my wife. Entering stage 7. RSO, gummies, or even flower. Will be helpful for anxiety of the patient and stress for the caregiver. I my case, the use of medical marijuana has added a dimension; a depth within myself and a enhanced relationship and empathy with my wife. Don't know how my wife or I…
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bathroom issues(6)
Hello this is my first post and am willing to listen to any/all recommendations for this problem. Has anyone experienced the loved one with dimentia having poop problems? The issue is she seems to some time poop on the floor. She also puts her hands in her poop. Today, I ended up loosing my cool when she had poop all over…
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PPA (primary progressive aphasia) - a type of Alzheimer’s
my sister, age 77, has been diagnosed with “logopenic PPA” and Alzheimer’s - and is living at home with her husband. She can do all the ADL’s, is working out, socializing and seeing a speech therapist. She has no memory loss but struggles to find words, has trouble writing and reading. On Aricept today, however her…
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State Law Regarding Patient to Employee ratio at Memory Care Facilities
Did you know that the State of Florida allows the same ratio of staffing for Assisted Living residents as it does for Memory Care! How is this possible when many of those in Memory Care required much more daily support? As individuals we are helpless without the support of organizations like the ALZ Association and…
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Took part in Alzheimers Research study
My father clearly had some form of dementia but didn't get an actual diagnosis, it was just described as senile dementia. I have never had a great memory, but it was getting worse. I recently participated in a research study looking for the biomarker for Alzheimers. Blood tests showed I have the biomarker for Alzheimers.…
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Need help accepting caregiver
We're trying to hire a caregiver/helper for a few hours a week, but my wife is very private and gets angry at the idea of having someone else in our home. We need some advice on how to resolve this. Thanks.
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This may be crazy question.. but has anyone ever heard of someone staying in say Stage 4
has anyone ever heard of this ? I’m curious or hoping has anyone just at a say Stage 4-5 and never going further. ????
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Frail Elderly Waiver
If your loved one has a frail and elderly waiver, please tell us what services they get through this program. (Bonus points for Massachusetts). Thank you.
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Sibling does not help nor gives support!
I have been a caregiver of my Mom since 2017. Her onset was around age 66. She is now 77 Years. Even before her diagnosis which was offically at 70 years ( I had known she was losing her memory) my twin sister never wanted or even wants today to deal with it in any way. Not only has very minimal contact with our Mom but,…
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End of life?
Me and my brother are both helping to care for my grandad, my nan too and he has carers come in multiple times a day because it's a lot for us to deal with. He's recently stopped breathing, or struggled breathing every day for the last 7-10 days. Breaths every 30-40 seconds and in a lot of pain, he's had care come out for…
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Stepdad with Alzhemiers getting possessive
I am definitely looking for help and not sure what to do. My mom has stage 4 breast cancer and is at home on Hospice. She does not have much time left. My stepdad is also here and has late stage AZ. I have been trying to find a memory care facility for him, but I am not his power of attorney or next of kin so I am having…
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I wrote this essay to help others after losing my father to a long battle with Alzheimer's disease.
After losing my father to a long battle with Alzheimer's, I wrote this essay to give a glimpse into this horrific disease, draw attention to the red flags and signs (there are many people at this very moment who have a family member with dementia and still do not realize it), and especially to help people navigate through…
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Help. No idea how to handle this
My dad, 84, hasn’t been living in reality the past few days. He’s had ALZ for 18 months and the past few days, he’s been packing up his clothes and referring to “they” want him to come home. He just unpacked his bag and is now repacking it. What should I do? I’ve been going along with it. I’ve put him in the car before and…
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Need some advice
My grandfather (77) has Alzimers and early stage dementia. He has been having issues with his memory and I am trying my best to help him. But I'm having trouble getting through to him. For context, I along with my parents, are currently living with my grandfather. We try to keep the house clean, provide meals and assist…
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Interesting observation
The nurse who evaluated my LO for hospice made an interesting observataion. He watched my LO's hands and asked if he had ever been screened for autism. ( I don't remember the exact wording, but he was very tactful) Later, he told me it looked like stimming behavoir, which is common with autism. My LO has no history of…
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Wanting to go outside all the time
I am my DH primary caregiver and he can no longer be left alone. In the past few months I feel that so many things are changing. Since the weather is getting nicer he has started to say "I just want to go in the yard for a few minutes" . He comes back in 5 minutes and does not leave the property. But then he does it over…
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MCI-- treatment with Lecanemab or Donanemab
This is my first post. I am a caregiver for my DW who was recently diagnosed with MCI with an APOE 3/4. We will be having an important discussion soon with a neurologist who is going to present us with the two possible treatment options of either Lecanamab or Donanemab; but we are quite fearful of the possible negative…
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Talking about someone in the 3rd person while speaking to them
We suspect my 89-year-old mother is progressing from early- to mid-stage dementia but don't have a diagnosis yet. Recently, there have been a couple of instances where she's referred to the person she's speaking to in the third person. Like telling her granddaughter, Lauren, about "the basket that Lauren made" or telling…
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Looking for advice on parent who wants to travel but can’t
My mom’s sister recently passed. She lived 2000 miles away from us and had no kin. I need to travel to help handle the estate, etc. My mom keeps insisting she’s going and I have to explain that she can’t travel. She gets disoriented in her own home and needs supervision 24/7. As much as I wish I could take her with me,…
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Hospice assessment
I'm ready to have my husband assessed for hospice. He doesn't meet all the criteria on the checklist, but I've been encouraged to have a home assessment. Any tips for those of you that have done this? I plan to tell him it's an assessment for insurance coverage, without mentioning the word hospice. Anything I should be…