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Medical Alert/ICE
Someone else asked about the best medic alert for themselves as a solo caregiver. My question is a little different. My mother has never worn any jewelry other than her watch her entire life. I purchased her a simple medic alert bracelet a while ago because she's allergic to penicillin. She wore it briefly but then once…
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Electric Stove Safety
I’m a care giving for my mother-in-law from a previous marriage. Lost the son kept the mom. It’s an unusual situation but I love her so much that I think I got the best part of my divorce. This morning she woke me up by coming into my room and saying she could not find her lighter. She smokes obviously and now isn’t the…
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Absorbing the news
Hello community - I posted not too long ago about having trouble getting an appointment for my mom to get a diagnosis. Everyone was giving us appointment dates a year+ out, and I could not imagine waiting that long as my mom has been worrying us for a while. I did finally find a private practice that was able to take her…
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Acknowledging Tony Bennett
On the old version of this site I would have put this in "musings", but we don't have that anymore so I thought I'd put it here. I saw the news this morning that he passed away at age 96. From the article: He wrote on Twitter: “Life is a gift – even with Alzheimer’s.” It was revealed that while his cognitive function was…
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Unhelpful
I’ve received a lot of comments from my family and coworkers in the last couple of months. “You must be a saint!” “If I lose my memory, I’ll probably kill myself.” “Maybe the kindest thing would be if he died quickly.” And my favorite, “you need to get a man on the side- you’re still a young woman!” I feel angry hearing…
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Leqembi does not help most women with Alzheimer's Disease
The latest news (actual old news that has resurfaced) is that most women with Alzheimer's disease do not benefit from Leqembi: "Third, the most troubling aspect was no statistically significant result – let alone clinically meaningful outcome – in women on the primary outcome or any clinical secondary outcome…
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From Vox: A new era for Alzheimer’s treatment begins
Another perspective on Leqembi.
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When is it time for assisted living ?
I a new here-My mom over the past few years has had short term memory issues (ie. forgetting keys, etc..) but more recently has declined and has trouble keeping track of what day it is, keeping up with current events and her calendar, forgot how to start her car (so we took away the keys). She currently lives…
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Trust
My dw was diagnosed with ES in 2019. She has been in semi denial ever since ... She is constantly online reading articles about vitamins that help with memory loss or supplements that can reverse Alzheimer's. She doesn't want to have a discussions about her diagnosis stating that it's too stressful so we've never really…
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VA adopts new caregiving techniques for PWD Vets - "BRO" techniques. Validation etc.
This is outstanding news. A big step in the right direction for Veterans with dementia. Advanced dementia patients often need a BRO - VA News
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Need ideas for a person with dementia that is hyper active
My sister is 73 and loves to walk and be active. She is still in independent living but easily gets bored. She can not drive so for the most part I take her everywhere I go. She needs something to do in her apartment besides watch TV and the birds on her balcony. No on puzzles and bingo! She is in the mid stage of…
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If you saw this Help Wanted ad, would you apply?
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Coping with hospice
Hello everyone, I’m new to this community. I (26 years old) have been a caretaker for my 86 year old grandmother for 6 years since her diagnosis was made (aphasia dementia). She has recently been declining, and just this evening my family had made the decision to begin hospice care for her. It was an emotional decision,…
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Need simple companion for someone in nursing home
I need some advice on finding the right companion situation. I can usually find answers to my questions by searching the other posts, but I couldn't find exactly what I needed this time. My mom has late-stage Alzheimer's & went into a nursing home about a year ago. It's a lovely facility with wonderful staff, especially in…
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Seeking Virtual Support Groups (Video or in real time)
Do these exist? Can someone provide links or info? I am going through some things, and I very much need some support. Not in writing, but in real-time conversation. Thanks!
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CBD
Has anyone in here given LO any CBD products? I was curious to see if anyone has had any luck using. My DH is having to use a medication for his anxiousness and thought that perhaps I could use as an alternative to so much medication. Any suggestions? Aroma therapy and massage only work so much…
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medical emergency bracelet
Hello, As sole caregiver for DH, im looking for a bracelet for me to wear n case i need medical assistance for myself. The choices are a bit overwhelming. The apple watch sounds too complicated, i need something where i can just press a button and get help. Any input would be helpful, as my DH wouldn't have a clue what to…
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Medicaid Assisted Living Waivers (originally from Michael Ellenbogen)
Michael Ellenbogen sent me this information on services Medicaid may cover: https://www.dementiacarecentral.com/medicaid/assisted-living-waivers
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The meaning of "Taking care of yourself"
I see a lot of messages about taking care of yourself, and I think I have a better understanding now. It's not just being selfish, but also to help yourself so you can continue being a caregiver, especially if you are a sole caregiver. Many people say not getting enough sleep is very important, but here are a few things…
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MC for my mom soon. Anticipating the guilt, worry, fears, & overwhelm will increase.
Haven't posted or read for a while. No excuses, but a lot of reasons. Honestly, life has just gotten really hard. My mom ( early - mod dementia) will likely be moving to MC soon and i need to share my fears. (She is in rehab community now.) Ive been told that it's the right move, AND that the responsibilities, feelings of…
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Michael Ellenbogen
Dear Michael, I hope you are doing well and that this will be a wonderful week for you. Can you please share any information on the Emergency Room protocols or guidelines you worked on in 2021-22 I believe? Or if they are posted somewhere online could you provide the link or other direction please? Thank you!
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Improving Emergency Care for People with Dementia (from Michael Ellenbogen via Lane)
Information from a group seeking to improve emergency care for people with dementia. https://gearnetwork.org/about-gear-2/
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I'm conflicted
Peggy's been in memory care now for close to two years, she's early-ish stage 7. There have been ups and downs, but mostly she's fit in well there, and she even kind of likes it there. There are definitely a couple of caregivers there who she's really bonded with. Over the last few months she's taken a strong dislike to…
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MIL is in MC but I’m still a caregiver
MIL is in MC and I’m the responsible party. I’m feeling overwhelmed. Family has either disappeared or doesn’t want to hear about it. I’m watching her decline pretty rapidly and need to share my terror which is why I’m writing this post. But at the same time I feel guilty because so many others have been caring for LO in…
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Truer words were never spoken
Like many of you, we are living with aphasia, which is the communication loss aspect of dementia. I am hoping the infographic 7As chart linked below will work, as it was helpful for me in earlier stages to learn so much that I did not know before we started living it. So, my really brilliant public speaker (all his life…
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Choosing a rehab- quickly!
Hi. Moms been in MC for a year and fell this week. She’s probably being discharged from the hospital Friday so we need a rehab for her, likely for 2 weeks. She’s in an odd spot the past 6 months where she can be fairly lucid and aware she has dementia. She can sometimes hold a good conversation and come off as pretty much…
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Experience with stove shutoff / forgetting about a stove.
My mother forgets that that a kettle is on the stove, or that a pot is left on. I got her a simple electric kettle that turns off by itself, but she doesn't want to use it and prefers to use a kettle on the gas stove. Do people have experience with devices like this "intelligent stove shutoff" that notices that a person…
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New lease?
MC has a new owner. Expecting a new lease sometime in the fall. My lease with the previous owner says a 2 person transfer is a cause for having to leave. I’ve been told there’s a hospice exception, but I’ve never seen that in writing. The new owner says the same thing, but nothing in writing. Have you any experience with…
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Getting mom with dementia to a doctor; what other options might we have?
My 69-year old mom has been increasingly showing signs of dementia for the last decade. She never saw a doctor for this (did not even discuss it with her PCP), until the situation exploded: about 18 months ago, she was basically having psychotic episodes in the middle of the night. It got so bad, she ended up in the…
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Look on the bright side?
I was especially frustrated with my DH so I told myself to think of 10 good things in our situation and I thought I would share. I admit some of these are sardonic but it was what I could think of! My DH has finally forgotten that I accidentally erased his entire digital music collection in 2006. I can tell all of my old…