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How to help parents transition to new facility
Dad was hospitalized in FEB23 for uropathy. Since then, he has to rely on foley catheter for urination. To date, Dad's dementia(ALZ) went from stage 4 to late 6 within 4 months. Not only was it hard on Dad, it was also hard on Mom. Her dementia (vascular) also took a step down to mid stage 5. It is heartbreaking to watch…
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tamper-proofing machinery
My Dad has Alzheimer's and frequently checks the oil on his car, lawn mower, etc even when it doesn't need it. He often forgets to put the filler cap back and has ruined some equipment this way. Does anyone have suggestions on how to tamper-proof machinery so he can't damage it? We don't let him drive the car, but he likes…
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Kicked out of memory care for wandering
My Dad wanders into other people's rooms at memory care. Last week he did this when a patient's son was visiting and the son got very upset, which made my dad get upset and confused. The son complained saying that my dad is creating an unsafe environment. The memory care is now kicking my dad out because they are afraid of…
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Stabbed in the heart….😞
My dh has been in memory care for almost 2 years. Today I picked him up and met friends for breakfast and went to visit his sister and niece afterwards. Brought him home and basically had a good day sitting on deck and cooking dinner. He said “ should we leave early “?, meaning going back to mc… he thinks he works there.…
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Trying to support an aggressive grandfather
I’ve been taking care of my great grandfather for almost two years, the rest of the household is too harsh to him and it causes problems. I cannot convince them to get him help. I am 20, cannot drive and have put everything aside to take care of a three person household. How can I help my grandfather who has gotten worse,…
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VA Website for Geriatrics & Extended Care
Found this link today and it's very helpful if you have a Veteran who has memory loss. It also has some educational videos for caregivers. I read a report by the NIH that Veterans exposed to Agent Orange have a 50% more chance of having Alzheimer's or Dementia. Although it's not on the presumptive list, you can file a…
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Surgery with dementia?
I posted earlier in the week about mom reversing her sleep cycles. On Friday she fell and hurt her head and back. She was released from ED as no fractures or anything out of the ordinary in her labs. Returned to AL where she was unable to stand and get herself off the toilet. When I left on Friday evening she was a "2…
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Caregiving & College?
Hi everyone! I’m a new poster but long time lurker. I haven’t seen any threads on this topic so I thought I’d ask. I’ve been caregiving for more than a year for my grandma with dementia (taking shifts almost with another relative). I started caregiving when I was around 18 or 19 and I had to drop out of college, there was…
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Guardianship Reports (NYC Based)
Good Afternoon, I hope everyone is doing well. I know we are located all over the world, but I was wondering if those near the NYC/NYS vicinity had any recommendations on who could help me prepare my annual guardianship report- due this past May, so very late. I've asked 100 people and no one can help. I think I just need…
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Off Topic - I dodged a bullet - Burning Man
I go to Burning Man periodically, but had no plans to go this year. Peggy's caregiving has been intense the last couple of months. But some of my Burner friends almost convinced me to go with them - they had extra tickets and everything. It really is a place where, with no computer screens, intermittent cell phone service,…
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Kinda OT , 4 legged caregiver
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I Lost the War, but Never Gave Up
It comes with a completely destroyed heart... That my war is over. I never gave up. I tried my best and my best wasn't enough. My mom passed away on Monday the 12th of June at 6:05 pm. And everything about it was horrible. With all the ER visits and sleeping with her in many ICU's, It came to this. It felt like a movie.…
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Aromatherapy and Cognitive Function
This study used a diffuser for two hours a night on participants without dementia. The seven essential oils used separately were: rose, orange, eucalyptus, lemon, peppermint, rosemary, and lavender. https://cnlm.uci.edu/2023/08/01/sweet-smell-of-success-simple-fragrance-method-produces-major-memory-boost/ The 226 percent…
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JO C - Can you reach out to me?
JO C. I wanted to contact you in private about this statement. But don't know how to make contact. Your profile says private. Maybe lost about using some of the forum's features. "It will work out, but remember hiring a good person is one thing; keeping them is quite another, so do be a "good" boss and remember to let them…
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Feel like I'm not good at caregiving
Need some advice on how to handle anxious, negative repetitive talk? My mom goes into this unbearable space when something changes in her routine or when a problem, even a small one, arises. She lives with my husband and I so we are the recipients of this draining space she gets into. I can not soothe her with words, I…
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Caregivers need to know this.
I was deep in it a few months ago. I know what you're going through. I know how hard it is to balance anything in this losing battle. And unfortunately, it is a losing battle. There are no laughs immediately ahead. But as hard as it is to figure out, you need to have a plan when it all comes crashing down. I didn't and it…
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Driving , it's serious
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Peggy chilled my blood this afternoon
She had such a good day yesterday, but not today. Prior to an extra "as needed" dose of trazadone, she was so upset, crying, yelling, and speaking mostly gibberish. I know she felt like she was speaking normally, but I could understand almost no words. Once the medication kicked in, and I was able to keep speaking soothing…
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Not sleeping at night
Mom is entering a new phase where she stays up all night “reading” (browsing on her phone or iPad). The past few years she has always napped a lot during the day; dozing off while reading the paper or watching TV but it never affected her nighttime sleep. She & my dad are in AL and this is really disturbing him both…
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Self-care and decompressing after a day of caregiving
Caregiving for PWD can be like walking on eggshells, as many of you know. Sometimes, late evening is the only time to decompress. I want to share some things that helps keep my mind off of things. If worrying or other things create anxiety and prevents a good night's sleep, it's not good. I realize that everyone's…
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Pros/Cons of being in kitchen
I think an early-stage (ES) PWD being in the kitchen can be helpful to wellbeing, as it is better than watching TV all day. The PWD (my mom) can get frustrated is she can't find things, or makes mistakes, but on the positive side, feels she is being helpful, to be able to contribute and seems to enjoy it. On the other…
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OT: Bob Barker tribute
Bob Barker of "The Price is Right" fame will be honored tonight with a prime-time tribute special. It will show at 8 pm Eastern time and Pacific time. It will repeat on Monday morning, Labor Day.
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Fiblets causing problems later
I have read discussions of fiblets here and elsewhere, defined to be "an untold truth told to a person with dementia to make him feel better" or to make a PWD " is relieved and reassured" Do you see a fiblet causing problems later? Let's say a PWD and I mutually knows a person, who has a terminal disease the PWD is not…
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delusions money
My wife ,age 73 ,is at stage 4 {I think} Over the past 3 or 4 years she has accused me of taking cash or checks from her 5 different times. Yesterday I almost caught her taking $700 from my wallet. I'm sure she has it hid somewere by now. Her memory is very bad , so there's a good chance she will not remember she took the…
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Hospice
How do you know when to call Hospice for an evaluation??? He is Stage 6-7
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Renters Insurance and Liability in MC
When my LO moved into MC , the Director suggested we take renters insurance and liability, mostly in case my LO jammed up and forgot the water running and caused a flood. I let that go and now want to move forward with it since I can definitely see my LO putting things down the toilet or soaking something in the sink and…
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Hearth breaking
So Mother 92 showing signs of dementia, we went to meet geriatric doctor to perform memory testing . After all the testing , doctor said she has a short term memory profile , showing signs of Alzheimer disease with delirious thoughts she was prescribed Risperidone 0.25mg once a day. she does not want to take it … She is…
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Diabetes 3 and can Dementia be reversed with the right diet?
So the human body can run on two fuels, glucose and ketones. Glycogen is stored in the liver and muscles and is the main source of fuel for the body. When the liver and muscles run out of available glucose it switches to ketones. Around 100 years ago they found out infants that had seizures and were put on a low carb diet…
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Caretaking decisions are so hard
in the past year I’ve made so many decisions. Placing my mom in AL (moving her out of state to be closer to me). Taking her to two different neurologists and primary care docs. Taking her to the ER. Placing her in memory care, while figuring out if her NPH is treatable. I am not sure she’s ready for MC. She seems so much…
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Shoes for neuropathy - what a day
Mom is constantly complaining about her neuropathy. Her neurologist for neuropathy ( different one than her neurology NP for her dementia() doesn’t want to increase her gabapentin due to the risk of falls. She’s on 600 in the morning, 300 at lunch, and 600 at night. She is 85 and can’t take more than a couple steps without…