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Trouble walking.....
For the past few months, my LO has been clutching doorways and not letting go. She seems terrified of walking these days. Does this mean her ability to walk is coming to an end?
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Beginning Stage 7 - big changes, all bad
Last week I did something I probably shouldn't have done, but I did it anyway. I went into memory care every day to see Peggy. I got there right around noon after lunch, and I stayed through dinner, ending at around 5pm. I never do that. Typically I go in a couple of times a week, call her a few times a week, and then take…
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Won’t Go to the Dr./won’t get an assessment
I am curious what ideas people have for facilitating an assessment for someone who probably understands that something is going on, but refuses to go to the doctor, and likely doesn’t want to do that because she is aware an assessment would happen. (the phrase - “you are trying to commit me has come up quite a bit…
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Can't get Mom to talk to the Dr. about dementia symptoms.
Hi all of you wonderful people. I've been trying to find help and resources ... basically just advice about how to get my mom to talk to a doctor about her memory loss. I mean its no longer just memory loss at this point. Her behavior is volatile and paranoid, at times delusional. She is withdrawn. Makes wild accusations.…
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Wife With Alzheimer's Won't Change Clothes or Bathe
I'm new here. My wife, who is in the middle stage of the disease, refuses to change her clothes, dress for bed or bathe. I am in the process of having some plumbing issues repaired in the bathroom with a tub in which she liked to use to soak and relax. We also have a shower in another bathroom that she could use. She used…
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What is the difference between palliative care and hospice?
I am asking a general question. My 91 year old frail neighbor without dementia but with congestive heart failure was refused palliative care from the Palliative Care Clinic of her HMO. Instead she was told she could apply for hospice. This was after a telephone consultation, not an in-person evaluation. I am wondering why…
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SUPPORTING THOSE WHO HAVE LOST SOMEONE section
I recently noticed that there's a section of the forum dedicated to those who have lost someone. I don't think it gets a lot of traffic. I wanted to ask if people could check in on it once in a while. Our fellow caregivers need some support and I would hate for them to get lost in the forum structure.
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Beginning
My mother (59 years old) was officially diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment caused by Alzheimer’s disease on Monday. I don’t really know where to start with how to feel or what to expect with this diagnosis. I feel devastated and confused- unsure if this is something that can stay the same or if it will always…
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Dad called, said mom asking God to take her, wants me to apologize to sister
I woke up this morning and noticed a voicemail my dad left at midnight. I had not heard my phone ring, but figured something happened. I listened to the message and my dad said that mom (who has dementia) had been crying all day non-stop begging God to take her out of this life and she just wanted to die. Both parents live…
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Risky walking and ALF/MC
How do you balance your LO's desire to walk when it's risky, with the MC / ALF desire for them to always stay safe? Mom is in a wheelchair following a broken hip. She's done a lot of PT / Rehab but is usually only able to stand for a moment and transfer from wheelchair to bed, or wheelchair to toilet, or wheelchair to a…
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How to Start Part Time Help
Hello, My mother has (undiagnosed) Alzheimers and lives at home with my father. I live about 4 hours away and visit once a month, but my father has been dealing with the day today and it's beginning to be too much for one person. We think it's time to hire a part time companion/health aid. The problem is how to present…
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Holding back the tide
Just wanting to ask if there are any exercises for the brain, that can delay dementia. Anything positive you can do to hold back the tide? I feel my memory fading and just little things make me believe I’m in the very early stages. I’d like to do something to help myself, if there is anything one can do.
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Identification Docs for Late Stage Dementia/Alz
Hi! I'm hoping you can give me some good advice. My mom has advanced / late stage dementia / Alz, and, takes her purse everywhere (even in the house, to each room). At what stage do you take government IDs / credit cards out of wallet - and - what do you put in it's place? God forbid mom roams/gets lost, I'd like her to…
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Any idea for games?
In serious need of some new games for variety. My mother has significant short term memory loss so they have to be simple or explain game play continuously. Right now it's just dominos and gin rummy (needs constant reminders during game play for both). Have tried yahtzee, monopoly, life, skipbo, scrabble, five kings.…
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Uses for dry-erase whiteboards
I've read about how people use dry-erase boards in the forum. So it seems that you can use it to write whatever you want -- reminders, reassuring messages, etc. Any interesting ways that you can share here? For the PWD, I am going to use it as a reminder for meds, day of the week, etc. Incidentally, I suppose just…
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I Need Help - Early Dementia/Paranoia
Hello to all! I am currently the grandson of my nana who I am led to believe that she is getting the early or moderate stages of dementia. She lives alone at a senior living apartment complex. However, for the past year or so - she keeps claiming multiple things. From someone drilling into her apartment, People are after…
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Trying to figure out a full liquid diet
Hi again. I'm sorry I'm posting so much, recently, and not really contributing to answers. It's been an overwhelming week. In the past month, my LO (mom) has gone to a full liquid diet. She has a DNR and we cannot do a catheter or feeding tube, so I'm limited on options I can explore. Right now, she really likes the Boost…
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Broken arm
one of the residents in moms memory care has broken their arm. The swelling is really intense. They can’t cast it till the swelling goes down. She keeps forgetting her arm is broken and takes the brace off and it keeps swelling more. Her sweet family has tried all they know to keep the brace on. Cut sleeve over her arm, a…
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Colitis/explosive diarrhea/bidet brands
Hello, My Mom has Alzheimer’s and has colitis with explosive diarrhea. She is no longer able to wipe after a bowel movement and gets her hand in her depends and smears it everywhere. My Dad is trying to watch for signs of a bowel movement but it seems like she’ll feel like she needs to go and then bam, she doesn’t make it…
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Separating parents in AL
Anyone have experience with both parents being in AL but needing to be separated? My dad has CHF with stage 4 chronic kidney disease; he also has droopy eyelids and dry AMD that affect his vision and depth perception and cause hallucinations. Mom is late stage 5/early stage 6 dementia/Alzheimer's. She just returned from a…
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National Emergency Alert System Test October 04
May be upsetting to Loved Ones with dementia: ALERT: For those who are unaware, tomorrow, Wednesday, October 04, there will be a massive testing of the National Emergency Alert System on cell phones, radio stations and TV stations across the entire U.S. The cell phone sound should be rather loud or vibrating or both. See…
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Can't find previous discussion.
I'd posted about when to know to move somebody from one home to another....my LO is constantly being sent out to the hospital, and they don't want me to visit her or take her out for a while....says it agitates her when I leave. Is this reasonable? She was so sad the last time I saw her (in the hospital), how can I not…
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Can't figure out the site.
I posted a message, thought I saw that there were some responses but can't figure out how to see them. Cannot find a phone # for any assistance.
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Choosing a facility for memory care
I’ve been taking care of my mother for the past three years. Although I raised concerns to her various doctors about her cognitive problems since at least 2017, she was only diagnosed at the beginning of this year with mixed dementia (AD and VD). I am at a point where I will need to make a decision on placing her in a…
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Making changes to routines better sooner than later
I read in the forum that it's better to make some changes sooner than later, since a PWD can still adjust to it. Examples: use of a bidet, use of safety equipment, senior's telephone. Thus learn to use those before you're unable to learn. I was under the impression that a PWD can only/mostly recall things from many years…
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Good article about Alzheimer's & music - and a recent music experience I had with Peggy
I saw this article about music and Alzheimer's, which spoke to me, so I thought I'd share it along with some music news about Peggy. The article: Still there: Alzheimer's has ravaged his mother's memory, but music brings her back This is the same for Peggy. We were listening to Madonna in Peggy's room the other day, and I…
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Late Stage / Hospice
I'm looking for insights from anyone who has experience with hospice care, particularly for someone with Alzheimer's disease. My sweet 91-year-old father has recently experienced a significant decline. He has lost a considerable amount of weight because he has almost completely stopped eating (a couple of bites a day for…
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OT Musical break
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Nighttime sleep disruption
My DH with Alzheimers has recently been experiencing disruptive sleep. He will awake feeling quite anxious and restless, feeling like he can't get a breath. He will get up and wander around, turn on lights and then return to bed. No sooner does he lie down and the pattern repeats itself less than five minutes later. It…
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Bible Verse to Lift You Up 9/29/23
*Friends, As always, thank you for your comments. May God bless each one of you. Ronnie FAITH OR SINK Matthew 14:30-31 New King James Version But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him,…