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Getting Started(1)
Friends: I’ve been lurking on this caregiver’s forum for a while, but this is my first (of probably many) posts. I’m thankful the forum is here. It’s encouraging to see heartfelt responses from personal experiences. I hope I’ll find the support I need for my particular situation: After forty years in another city, I am…
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Newbie here...when is it time move to Assisted Living?
Both of my parents who are 82yrs old, were recently diagnosed with dementia and started on Memantine. Both have diabetes and my dad has congestive heart failure. Both have had COVID and the Flu (dad being hospitalized due to this) and it seems that each time they experience an illness, it takes more and more out of them…
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Placement
Update on my father: he is still being held in the hospital with his meds being adjusted. This has seemed to improve his agitation and anger. Unfortunately, his ADL needs have increased while in the hospital to a point he will not be able to come home, while we find a memory care or skilled nursing placement for him. It…
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Quickly losing ADL abilities, including reading ability....
My Mom was diagnosed with probable Lewy Body Dementia in mid October of last year. I think she was having visual hallucinations and runny nose for 3-5 years before her diagnosis. She has had difficulties walking for a decade, and gave up driving 7 years ago. Fast forward to today and she has lost her ability to read or…
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Rapid Onset Dementia Question
After nine months of isolation during the pandemic lockdown, my mother shifted suddenly into cognitive decline with extreme short-term memory problems and eventually confusion and dementia. After a fall six months into the decline, she passed away a month later. My question is how common is it for there to be a sudden…
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Hi Lo Bed
Does anyone have experience with Hi Lo or floor beds? This is a bed that lowers right to the floor- the concept is that the Dementia patient can’t get out of bed at night and wander. We are struggling my Mom wandering at night in the care facility and falling. They have suggested we purchase or rent this bed- want to see…
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Mom starting to have falls - Hate medications - But any truly worked for sleep?
Hello ALZ Connected, Been caring for my mom who has ALZ every since 2018. This April it will be 5 years. Have no idea how I made it except 1) I knew placement was a no-go 2) Took her off all the drugs all the doctors had her on/wanted to have her on. Over the years my mom got calmer and calmer once I got a new doctor who…
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If I get dementia
My wife’s sister posted this on Face Book and I wanted to share it. If I get dementia, I’d like my family to hang this wish list up on the wall where I live. I want them to remember these things. 1. If I get dementia, I want my friends and family to embrace my reality. 2. If I think my spouse is still alive, or if I think…
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Voice Change?
As my mother progressed through cognitive decline, her voice and the way she spoke changed. First she shifted into a low voice and slow speaking style, then later there was a shift into a higher pitched voice. Sometimes she shifted back to her normal voice and speaking style and in her final months she returned to her…
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reacting to delusions
My mom has a lot of delusions. They almost all revolve around my dad -- things she thinks he's doing, ways she thinks he's trying to trick her. I know the advice is to not argue with people who have delusions because you can never change their minds. I’ve tried to be evasive. I’ve tried not to agree or disagree with her…
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This could benefit some of you here
https://www.elderlawanswers.com/becoming-a-family-caregiver-for-an-ailing-loved-one-19539
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The Opposite of Venting
Yesterday was pretty bad. Out of a five ***** which is complete insanity and you want to die...It was a 3 1/2. Maybe a 4. But today, I think I gave up on being angry. Not at her, but with this situation. I've learnt that whatever she says or does, it's not personal. How can it be? She doesn't even know who I am 90% of the…
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Hospital Visit
My father (71 with dementia) was admitted to the ER on Wednesday, after becoming agitated and then 'violent' when wanted to leave the clinic while waiting for my mom to finish an iron transfusion. My mom explained when he tried to leave the room that he has dementia to please not let him leave because he is prone to…
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Hoarding, hospice and respite
Heavy sigh (that's from being exhausted)…The backstory: haven’t posted in awhile because I have been taking care of mom (95 - with dementia but had stroke in early Fall) who has been under hospice care at our home for the past 4 months. My Spouse (who works remotely from home but has to go on short business trips on…
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Transferring to geri psych
My father is in late stage in memory care. The staff are prepping for a transfer to geri psych because he punched a resident last night. He's been getting increasingly aggressive in the middle of the night wandering and refusing re-direction, so it's not a sudden change. Hospice has been trying adjust meds, but obviously…
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back in the hospital
I haven't been on for a while. My brother Jim is back in the hospital. Two days ago he stopped going for walks and was in his room most of the day. I felt something was wrong but he kept telling me he was fine. Then the next day he is call me up to his room. He couldn't walk. We needed to get him down the stair but…
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A friend of hers called the police
A friend of my Mom's (LO?) apparently called the police on me under the impression that I was abusing her. (Note that I do not who this person is; I mean I've never met them or anything.) They came by the house to do a welfare check and my Mom was like "What are you talking about?" It scared me. I explained the situation…
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GPS monitoring devices
Hi Guys, I am in the process of moving my father with dementia into my home. He is coming from a city and LOVES to walk. I live in a rural area and have lots of woods around me. Right now I can track my dad with his cell phone but I would prefer a back up just in case. We also don't have the best reception outside of our…
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Dental Care at SNF?
My dad's SNF no longer has access to a dentist/hygienist who will visit the facility, which means that Dad has gone a year without a dental visit. He gets oral cares every day and can still brush his own teeth, but I worry that a dental issue could go unnoticed and start a cascade of other health issues. I've called all…
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Memories of deceased mother
My mother has suddenly started waking up very sad thinking that her mother is very sick and wanting to go back home to take care of her. Her mother has been gone for over 30 years. How can I help her with these emotions? What should I say when she asks if we can take her home? She doesn't have many activities that she…
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Bible Verse to Lift You Up 2/21.23
2 Translations FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT Galatians 5:22-23 New International Version "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." * Galatians 5:22-23 Amplified Bible " But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of…
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Alzheimer's and home automation
Hi everybody, (a Reddit user suggested I join & post this) My mom was diagnosed spring 2022 and lives alone in a different city, so I started using “smart home tech” to make sure she was ok and can be notified of any issues. While discussing my installation in my local support group, the feedback I received was very…
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Stages of Dementia/Alzheimers
I see many of you posting about what stage your LO is in with their disease. While my mom's diagnosis is fairly new, her doctor has made no mention of what stage she may be in. In your cases, did this information come from the doctor? I don't necessarily need to know mom's stage, was mostly curious about it. Thanks in…
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Asking for help(3)
Alzheimer’s/dementia is hard - especially on caregivers. This past week was so rough on Friday I realized I needed to bring more people into my circle.I asked someone to help make a list of questions for the doctor (next visit in 3 weeks) I asked another person to spend the day with me and my LO Finally, I’m going to an in…
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Chammer
In another thread you talked about your business, and that your husband had a problem with alcohol. PLEASE follow this link. https://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/24/2/231 It's past time to have him checked, and the doctor needs to know about the drinking problem.
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discussion about progressing dementia with dad
My father was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimers at the age of 56 and is now 64 and we are seeing progressing paranoia/agitation/aggression with neighbors/strangers to the point that I'm afraid he is going to end up getting hurt or hurting someone else. I wouldn't be surprised at all at this point if the police get…
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Has anyone followed up on this article from MIT
Brain wave stimulation may improve Alzheimer’s symptoms | MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Interesting and would like to know if anyone has ever tried this method.
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Time to ditch the pants?
So, my FIL refuses to allow his pants/pull-ups to be pulled down or taken off. I know it’s a privacy issue. We have tried keeping him covered, asking him to do it, talking him through it, putting something in his hands, etc. But he gets a grip on those pants before he even stands, and tries to hold them up the entire time…
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Moving day looms for mom
doom and gloom atmosphere continues. Now she is insisting on washing and drying all her blankets. Instead of sorting out all the junk on top of both dressers. The movers called and said they are doing it at 3-5 not 8-9 tomorrow but that’s ok she doesn’t need to move in until Saturday, right? Me. Um no you are taking her…
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From no sleep to lots of sleep?
My mom has lived with me only for a month but while she was at her home, I watched her most of the day via cameras I installed for her safety. She never slept - literally. She would lay down or sit down, fall asleep, and 20 minutes later be up again pacing through the house. When this happened, she would be even more…