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My husband was in the hospital. Again.
I can only write this post because my husband was just released from his second hospitalization in a month. Last Friday,after he had been at memory care for only seven days,I I got a call from the nurse. She said my husband was running into walls and doors deliberately, and if he didn’t stop, she’d have to send him out. An…
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Early Onset Webinar
I just watched the Early Onset webinar that Lane Simonian had posted from Michael Ellenbogen. Most of the information is what is discussed here all the time, about signs and symptoms, having to leave work, and isolation. There were suggestions about setting up a support group. Here are some websites. The webinar itself may…
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DH is diabetic, has a sweet tooth
added problem with DH with Dementia is diabetic, lately he sneaks in the kitchen & will eat anything sweet, icecream, candy etc, shoots his diabetes up! i hid the cookies, wont order any more ice-cream,, its hard to keep an eye all day & night. Would rather not put a lock on the cupboard & fridge ! anyone else facing this…
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What kind of safety gate should I use?
My husband is in stage 5-6, still very fit physically. I need to keep him from going upstairs, to prevent falls on the steps. Has anyone found a good 'baby gate' for this? I have solid wood to attach to at the base of the stairs. The latch has to be complex enough that he can't easily open, and it has to be sturdy enough…
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Wanting to go home, when we are home
Everyday my 80 year old husband with moderate dementia, wants to know how he is going to get home. We live in a home in the same community that we have had several houses. We have lived here for 4 years. I try to explain that we are home, he says no. I tell him not today, he says he can’t stay here. I have tried to divert…
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Accelerated Progression from Stage 5 into 6
My DH's Alz has advanced significantly in the last 6 months. Then he contracted COVID and in the hospital for 2 weeks. The illness and hospitalization have made him much worse. He is going to be moved from the hospital into a Rehab Facility. Are there any suggestions on how to lessen the fear and anxiety for him? I then…
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Behavior shift-FTD
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New stage
DH has entered a new stage. He's sleeps almost all the time. We're having difficulty waking him enough to eat. For almost 3 weeks now he's eaten very little, decreasing more by the day. Almost nothing in the last week. His drinking has also slowed over the past 2 weeks, to just a little bit. I've told them that I'm ok with…
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MC facility not communicating about anger issues
I have learned from my DH's staff at memory care that he has been in several altercations in the last month, always in the evening after dinner. He struck other residents and caregivers on several occasions. The only reason I know about it is from the CNAs who are on the floor. Neither the head of the nursing department or…
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Parallel living
Not sure how else to describe this but DH constantly refers to our "Other house"? Which he says is identical to this one, but he wants to take his belongings there. I'm continually putting things in our car for the "morning" to be taken there. After he goes to bed I take them out of the car and put them away. Sometimes…
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DH wants a divorce
My DH is in the advanced stages of Parkinson’s disease and dementia. He has been in assisted-living for two years, and the disease has been progressing rapidly these last months. He has had moments of clarity, but has been confused most of the time. His ability to speak has become very limited. So I was quite surprised…
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Legs are weak....
DH is moving slowly into another phase, he is sleeping some most days and has mentioned several times his legs "are sore." I asked if that meant weak, and he said yes. Some days he works a little weeding and would do more if he could see well enough or could handle tools much….but often he doesn't have very much exercise.…
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Is incontinence around the corner?
I searched through old posts but did not find an answer. My DH does not make it to the bathroom in time for peeing. It seems that every time he is having to change his clothes. I will make the necessary changes to prepare for this but is this how it starts or is this just older men issues? He is aware he has to go but just…
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Not my spouse, but I'm used to you guys.
My big brother, who has a diagnosis of MCI - amnestic type - got it into his brain that he needs to drive cross-country to visit his stepdaughter in Florida. This will be the end of October. She is due to have her second baby on October 10. No amount of reasoning will convince him that this isn't a good idea, naturally.…
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Progression or something else
My DH, 72yo, was diagnosed with moderate dementia this year but has been having memory and word finding problems for years. He started on oral Aricept and did not tolerate so started the exelon patch. About a month ago, he started talking about people being in the house. He was at home alone while I worked at that time. We…
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Any Friends from Metro-Detroit Attending Tam Cummings Event?
In my search for MC for my DH (69) I've landed on the email/newsletter list for several Detroit-Area MC facilities. I don't always appreciate these and have unsubscribed from most, but I received an Eventbrite invitation from a local facility to attend an upcoming event: Dementia Education Conference with Dr. Tam Cummings,…
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Seroquel too strong?
First time DW took it, she conked out (sleeping) just 2 hours afterward. Woke up for 2 hours, kinda spacey, then went down again. I called medical office to tell them. Was told cut the pill in half tomorrow. But I am still concerned — she is small-framed, which could be a factor. Prescribed b/c, although she's been…
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DH was placed in a Geri-Psych program yesterday
What a sad day! My DH was admitted to the hospital yesterday for much-needed medication management. He has been more and more out of control lately and the final straw was when he threated to hit another resident here who was just walking by. My choices were to have him placed in a more expensive Memory Care not a part of…
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Advise from anyone on Medicade in NJ
I’m curious on story’s that happen on Medicade when it’s time. Did they take your home ? When partner is no longer around what happens to you with bills? Anything will help. And has anyone had a Reverse mtg when all this medicade stuff started and what did you do ??
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I have no idea what he means...
Many times I can interpret what my DH is trying to say, or I can give a satisfactory answer to some question even if I'm not sure what he's asking. But a few times lately, he fixates on something and repeatedly mentions it and I have no idea what he means. I take a guess and give an answer but I know the comment will come…
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In Person Support Group & Volunteering Disappointment
My third attempt at joining an in person support group was a bust. In our prior home, the first meeting I went to, no one showed. The second, (different group) I tried, three people were there. The leader monopolized the meeting with her personal journey and no one was a full time caregiver except me. Now in the new…
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Hi
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Problem with Eating
My DH is stage 6 Alzheimer and ten days ago was accepted for Hospice care. He has always used utensils and honestly uses forks and spoons when it would be easier to eat the food with his hands, such as he will cut up sandwiches and use a fork to eat them. So he is still using utensils to eat but the last couple of days he…
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DH Forgot His Own Name
This wasn’t as much of a gut punch as DH forgetting who I am. DH had an appt with his PCP this past week and when we went to check in - which he prefers to do himself - the woman asked him for him name. He looked at me and said “What is it?” I thought he was being snarky and didn’t respond. He looked at me and again asked…
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Coughing and Swallowing
My wife is in Stage 4 ALZ but seems healthy except for serious memory issues. She developed a chronic cough last Winter which persists today. Lately she occasionally has trouble swallowing food. Also her appetite is diminished. I'm suspecting this is ALZ related. Have others out there seen these symptoms?
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Stage 8 fast approaching
I’m sitting in hospice days away from DH passing. I’ve been here for over 2 weeks staying in his room because of his special needs. Feeling I don’t want to go home afterwards, don’t want to sleep in our bed, or go to places we were always in together. I don’t want to stay with friends. I may go to a hotel for a few nights.…
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Just need to talk to my friends (198)
Time to begin a new segment of our thread. Hope everyone is well. Been a quiet day here. Hasn't been too hot but the heat is coming next week. Heat index up to 112. Sleep well. See you tomorrow.
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DW possibly getting ready to transition.
Transition, the word they use now. She is on antibiotics again and she's been really out of it lately and not eating much. They have been hand feeding her for a while now. The nurse said she might return to baseline in a few days or she could be getting ready to "transition". If she continues to eat less and less then it's…
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Sundowning
First episode last night. This new thing is sure does suck. My poor DW. I hate this disease so damn much.
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An Anomaly?
With DH's recent "miraculous" recovery, his PCP now thinks DH may not be suffering from LBD. He thinks DH's psychotic episodes may have been caused by some other unknown disease or Hashimoto's Disease, but DH has been taking thyroid medication for over 15 yrs. He mentioned some test to confirm the theory, but I can't…