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His Battle Has Ended
The love of my life, my DH Joe, lost his battle with dementia on October 31. He was diagnosed 15 years ago and progression was slow until the last year when he was in memory care. It broke my heart to move him there but it got to the point where I couldn't keep him or myself safe. Hardest decision of my life. In Aug/Sept,…
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Just need to talk to my friends (212)
Time to go to bed and watch tv a while. It's been a long day. Hope all of you have a good nights sleep. Thought I would start 212 while I thought about it. Good night.
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Take your own care seriously…
I met a woman yesterday that was pondering placement of her husband in MC. She was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and is now undergoing chemo - surgeries including a hysterectomy will be following. She told me that for 8 years while she took care of her husband, she neglected her own health, not getting mammograms…
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I wonder if I am seeing things not there
My wonderful husband of 49 years was diagnosed 2 years ago with MCI, he is slipping more (forgetting conversations that just occurred, throwing out items we need, personality changes, etc.) and I anticipate at our appointment with his neurologist later this month, he will "upgrade" his diagnosis. All of this being said, my…
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Exhausted and Bewildered
It is 522 AM and I have been up since 1AM trying to deal with my DW. She woke up claiming some men were raping her. I tried to calm her and tell her I was here with her. She when accused me of watching this all happen and that I did mothing. I tried denying all this , tried to assure her this was not happening and that I…
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Angry
My DH has been diagnosed with Vascular Dementia almost a year ago. Recently he’s become easily agitated and angered. I spoke to his neurologist about it and he denied all of it. I was hoping to change his antidepressants. She said she thought it wasn’t necessary. She thought pain might be the cause since he has chronic…
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Declined fast because of other health issues
My DH is 56 with EOA. He had memory issues for about 4 years and was diagnosed this May. And then I discovered this forum and began asking questions. I'm guessing he was about Stage 3-4 a month ago. He has changed in just one month. He is currently in the hospital for a colitis flare-up and blood clots in his legs. At this…
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The pain of living with ALZ
Tonight was the hardest night so far. Which makes it the hardest day. Of the hardest week. Of the hardest month. Of the hardest year. So far. He forgot me for the first time. He promised he wouldn't, but I knew he couldn't possibly keep that promise. It just came so much faster than I was prepared for.
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Update on DW
I haven't been around in a while but thought I'd post and update on how my DW is doing. She has been in MC and hospice for over a year now and on comfort meds. MC has been both good and bad, usually short staffed. They take reasonably good care of her. My DW has been bed or gerri chair bound for a year, stage 7, and has…
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Significant other confusion
My DH thinks that I have a twin. I am the only one with him but he is always asking where the other person is. Has anyone else experienced this with their significant other?
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Input requested for oxygen use on very late stage dementia
My DW has been in Stage 7f for about a year. She is minimally conscious and I am told that her cognition at this point consists mainly of core brain stem functions, her only obvious action is a primitive feeding response. She makes no other movements or responses to any outside activity. She has been starting to exhibit…
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Approved for hospice
DH has had palliative care since early this year. At the last visit 10/29/25, the nurse told me he is at 6e on the FAST scale. She called me the following day and said he now qualifies for hospice. I told her I would call her back to let her know if I want to sign him up. I know it's my decision, but I wanted to know what…
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In Loving Memory of “Jo C”
I’m reaching out, again, on behalf of my beautiful mom, Johanna “Jo C” Richardson, a passionate Peer Volunteer for nearly 20 years. Many of you knew that Jo C had been diagnosed with a progressive lung disease a couple of years ago. The disease did progress and Mom passed away peacefully at home the evening of June 19,…
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How many caregivers are keeping their spouses at home until the nightmare ends?
I’m absolutely determined to see my DH through this nightmare. I am determined to keep him home until the end. Are there others out there that are doing this and have you managed to keep your sanity through it? My husband is in stage late 4/early 5. He’s always been extremely calm, kind, gentle, helpful, loving. I just…
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Incontinence?
My 63 year old husband is in the middle stages of Alzheimers. Although he is not exactly incontinent, there is definitely an issue with bowel movements. He goes to the bathroom, however, much of the feces does not end up in the toilet. It ends up on the floor, the toilet rim, and definitely on his hands. The hands are a…
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COVID Vaccine Side Effects
Is anyone else’s LO’s dementia adversely affected by the COVID vaccine? My DH becomes even foggier than usual, falls a lot & becomes more hostile for about 2 days, then returns to baseline. Trying to avoid hospitalization this time.🤞
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Hospice and another fall
Well, I did it. I signed DH up with hospice. Early this morning, around 2:00 am, I woke up to go to the bathroom and found DH at the end of the bed, sitting on the floor. That makes his 10th fall this year. It's impossible for me to get him up. So per the hospice instructions, I called them first to report the fall. Then I…
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Queen of my Castle ?
Long Rant Sorry I’m waiting to be that “Queen of my castle, Large and in charge”. - reference to Bill’s wonderful essay a few years back! Right now I feel in charge of nothing - playing heat police once again this season as DH keeps turning thermostat up, he refuses to open drapes or blinds b/c he’s cold, he won’t stop…
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Scared
My wife is 54 and was just diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s. I’m scared for her and myself. The changes I’ve seen in the past year now has a name. But that’s not much comfort. I think I’m still in denial. But I know I can’t stay in this place and I need this support. 👍
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Yin and Yang
How can i be so happy and sad at the same time. It’s our birthday’s mine is the 8th DH 9th we have always celebrated together. It’s always been such a fun time of family and friends parties and dinners. Now it’s too uncomfortable to go out to dinner DH needs to be fed and food falls either on the floor or down his shirt,…
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Am l really losing her now?
My DW is 72. She was diagnosed MCI 12 years ago. The last two weeks things are changing. She asks if I’m her husband, sometimes with a frightened look on her face and sometimes with an embarrassed look. Some mornings I then spend a couple of hours sitting with our coffee convincing her that we are in fact married and this…
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Hubby in MC wants to come home. Help!
I stayed away one week. Hubby happy to see me but crying. Wants to come home. Very difficult to redirect. I’ve been bringing cards games which helps but then he starts up he wants to go home. We are letting a doctor dictate where he can live. Anyway any suggestions how to handle this. Maybe there are meds for him to take…
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Bathing-when the water feels wrong - not refusing-afraid..
I saw this on a Facebook post and hope this helps someone caring for their loved one. In the book "The 36 Hour Day" it lists some reasons your loved one doesn't bathe or shower: Fear, not remembering how to shower (there are steps), water too hot or cold, room too hot or cold, fear of falling, the water may actually hurt…
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Just starting infusions
My husband has early stage Alz and is seeing a Dr. to hopefully begin the Kisunla™ (donanemab-azbt) infusions. Can anyone share their experiences with this treatment? side effects - anything we should know about the experience - etc.
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Just when you think your loved one is no longer able to understand....
My DH is nearing the end of his journey. He has difficulty swallowing and is losing weight quickly. His speech is usually slurred, and he can't hold any kind of conversation. When I am feeding him, I remind him to swallow (or else he starts coughing violently) but I try to keep it light and smile a lot so he doesn't think…
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Caregiving Rookie
We don't have an "official" diagnosis yet, but after two years of doctor visits, medical tests, and eventually specialists, it appears likely that my DH is in the early stages of Vascular Dementia. I feel blessed that he currently acknowledges that something is wrong, but I can see his acceptance beginning to wane as the…
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My DH is wanting to spend every minute with me
My DH is recovering well from knee surgery. I have been caring for him and not leaving the house for 4 weeks. He gets around with a walker and I can take the dog out for a walk now. He gets mad if I am out longer talking to neighbor. Doesn’t know what to do with himself. I looked into having a caregiver come to our house…
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Early On-set sadness
My DH seems to be advancing rapidly in his disease; he is only 61. I feel guilty that it's because I can't provide the level of care he needs. We've made too many trips to the ER lately. Most recently, he fell out of bed, tripped on a metal step stool, broke it, and then snapped the stabilizing bar, and it stabbed him in…
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$300 speaker
my DW threw away a nice Bose speaker while taking out the trash. I know there’s nothing I can do about it now. Just venting.
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Early onset at age 60
Hello, my husband was recently diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer's at age 60. We live in the Erie, PA area. The support groups in the area don't seem to fit our demographic. Although we do enjoy the company of folks older than us, some of the challenges we are facing are a lot different than if we were in our later…