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Refusal to shower and bedtime pressure
Hello, New to the message board and the org. My 88 y.o. mom has Alzheimers and my dad and I care for her at home. She has zero short term memory, but still physically capable and dresses, takes meds, articulate if engaged (but not initiating conversation much) and can operate TV...the BEST at wheel of fortune, etc. Looking…
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Soft Meals
Hello. We prepare soft food for my mom who has a hard time for chewing. Here are 2 questions for giving her nutritional yet tasty food. She loves Mexican food. Any recommendations for Hispanic food that can go into a blender that is also nutritional? Any ideas for meals for an individual who is bed bound, low muscle mass?…
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Incontinence alternative
I just learned about the PureWick female external catheters now used in hospitals. It might be useful for some of our members. My neighbor used it after her surgery and said it was great! Iris
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A few things…
1. Mom is officially being discharged from hospice and their services cease tomorrow at midnight. Daunting… I’ve got to get some equipment in, bed, low air loss mattress etc…Got a virtual appointment with moms PCP tonight to see what we may be able to have covered by Medicare. So glad I didn’t leave that practice. Her…
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Testimonies of doctors and caregivers about Simufilam
Simufilam is a new drug with a new mechanism of action. A phase 3 is now open with 150 locations recruiting in USA. Latest results show no side effects and improvement in cognition for 68% of patients. Here are some testimonies of caregivers and doctors with relatives taking the drug. I suggest you take a look if a loved…
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2022 National Alzheimer's Summit Alzheimer’s Prevention, Detection, and Treatment The Power of Us
Please donate to this great organization. They are the ones bring much of the change you see today. https://www.usa2summit.org/?sourceid=1073707&emci=9da55103-2a47-ed11-b495-002248258d38&emdi=cb12a20e-e148-ed11-b495-002248258d38&ceid=5966765
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Bible Verse to Lift You Up 10/8/22
A SERVANT’S HEART GOD THOUGHT: Mark 9:35 “Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, ‘Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.’” VICTORY THOUGHT: Jesus calls me to serve others and put their needs above my own. PRAYER: Make me a servant, Lord; one who is humble and meek, and empower…
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Neurologist in Baltimore / Howard County Area?
My wife has seen a couple neurologists about Mild Cognitive Impairment (which I believe she has), but I haven't been impressed by either of them. When I research online (and get references from our primary care physician), I am also unimpressed. I'm hoping to find someone who gets good reviews AND specializes in dementia /…
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Pill Cutter
Hello, Having difficulty cutting pills in half evenly. I tried a few different pill cutters but am still having the same issue. Does anyone have a pill cutter they recommend? Thanks!
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Mild Cognitive Impairment - What to expect?
My 92 year old mom was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment a couple of months ago, but has been having noticeable memory issues since having a heart valve replacement in July 2021 (she was under anesthesia 2x in 2 weeks). The CT scan she had several months ago did not indicate Alzheimers. Two weeks ago, my sister and…
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Cutting back on visits
Because of moderate stage dementia, my dad is at the best possible facility for long-term care. I can't take care of him myself for various reasons. Since I trust the facility, talking to clinical and administrative staff often, and keeping in touch with dad, it seems the necessary hovering I did up until a week or so ago…
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won't go to appointments
Well my brothers neuro testing was to be tomorrow. He won't go. He says there is something fishy about it and he isn't going to go. I can't make him. He doesn't want to go to any of his appointments. I have no POA so I can't make him. What do you suggest? I waited till he was in a good mood and til the day before so he…
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seeking residential care suggestions near Boston/Quincy, MA, WITH INSULIN SHOTS
Hello, I posted here once before but didn't get many good suggestions, and perhaps my subject line was confusing, so I am trying again with a clearer subject. My mother has both Alzheimer's and diabetes, and is at the stage where she can't be trusted to take her own meds (really, hospitalized and nearly died this past May,…
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hubby not doing so well
he's had episodes of what nurses from hospice think are TIA's. Twice this week very unusual. He was awake 70 hours straight, was giving him lorazapam, haldol and morphine, after 4 doses of morphine over the day yesterday he finally fell asleep around 10 pm. Sleeping most of today, no meds given at all but his breathing is…
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We're all REALLY lost and worried we're too far behind the curve
Hello all, I apologize for the length in advance. First time poster here. I've spent the day desperately trying to find support & I'm so glad to know this resource exists. My grandparents (86 and 84) have both been diagnosed with dementia. Unfortunately, we are not sure the type, what stage or much of anything really. We…
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First Time Poster Searching For Support
A very long vent …. hoping someone has some words of comfort and wisdom I am new to the board, but have been lurking and reading posts for years. I decided to join because I have come to the conclusion that you can never truly understand what we as dementia caregivers go through with our loved ones … unless you have lived…
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She's missing her grandparents
Lately, mom has been stuck in a loop of missing her family. For a while it was her parents and now it has changed to her grandparents. I sat with her this afternoon and she kept bringing up her grandparents, saying things like "I wish I could go back" or "it isn't the same" and getting teary. I'd talk with her about it for…
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Dad has aspiration pneumonia, not treating, stopped sustenance 3 days ago
For someone I didn't always like when he was well, I'm surprised how hard this is. My dad last ate some thickened liquids Monday, kept choking, today is Friday. He's got aspiration pneumonia, is on oxygen and coughing up gunk that I wipe away and my stomach is turning but I don't want to wuss out and leave him alone. So…
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Hallucinations(23)
Please excuse me if this post shows up again somewhere else because it' my first time here and not sure I'm adding post correctly. My aunt appears to have early stage dementia. She is 86 and has become mean and hateful and has memory issues. My brother lives with her. Recently she has started getting up in the middle of…
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Saliva choking and looking ahead?
Hi everyone, I'm looking for some advice about what to expect with aspiration of saliva. Mom is late stage Alzheimer's, in a SNF, on Hospice. She's no longer walking, but she isn't bed-bound. She is up in her chair and visiting with others on a regular basis. She has had a long-standing cough (last ~3 years) which was…
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Cancer Diagnosis and Hospice
Last week, my LO was early Stage 6. He was happy and maintained some independence. Then he fell and broke 5 ribs. After 3 ER visits and poor communication with the hospital, I discovered yesterday while looking in his online chart that he has a 3.5x 1.5 cancerous mass in his neck with metastasis in his spine (C1 Vertebra).…
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Brand new here- Father in law Just diagnosed
Hi. I’m new here. My father in law just got diagnosed just last week with Alzheimer’s. What tools, tips, advice can you give? Thanks in advance, Alicia Roark
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Cold Autumn Day
It's a cold and dreary day here, rain on and off. Mom's been sleeping for most of the day. Still not eating much but everytime she wakes up, I offer her water and a pretzel. She takes one or the other, not both. We got in touch with a lawyer to get the guardianship process started. We're going to try and do it ourselves…
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Medication Suggestions for Sundowing
We have reached a pretty emergent situation with my FIL. MIL has extreme burnout and can't take caring for FIL anymore. We have been looking at Adult Family homes and Memory Care Facilities to move him to but haven't found a place yet. He is on the wait list at one facility. In the meantime we have overnight caregivers 4…
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It feels hard to find good help...
Hello, everyone: I'm a caregiver in the Denver area. I work for a couple in their 90's. She's very active, still and he is the one mostly affected by dementia. He just loves to sit and reminisce. He still can do all of his activities of daily living, but he doesn't take any initiative until prompted. I do a good job. I…
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Looking at the bigger picture
Hello. There was a topic posted recently about some conflicting feelings regarding the death of their LO with ALZ that really sparked off some thoughts for me. I was thinking that the reason that we have so much trouble emotionally dealing with ALZ is not always because our LOs are confused/upset with their situation(see…
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Losing Mom...my first time here - Hospice time?
Good evening, This is my first time posting. I have tried to find a local in person support group but there are not any in my county. My mom has had dementia/alz for 1 1/2 years. It feels like it went so fast and I have no more time with her. I am an only child which is great in making the decisions but bad because my…
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Long night
My husband is getting so sad. He's afraid I know. Changes seem to be happening so fast.. Until now I have been able to help him but don't know what to say to him to reassure him. After awhile he will act like everything is fine. I'm left with sadness and helplessness. Just need some understanding
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Father Unwilling to Help my Mom
Hello. My mom (76y/o) was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2014. She currently resides with my father whom she's been married to for 40+ years. Over the past year, her decline and dementia have gotten worse, and over the past month, it's been the worst yet. I take my mom to al her appts and get her involved in…
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My father is burnt out
My grandma was diagnosed with ALZ several years ago. Since then, she has lived in several minimal care facilities. Mainly they provided meals and housekeeping duties, but no actual health care or medication help. Since she moved into these facilities from her home, my father has taken it upon himself to be there for her on…