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Anyone heard of potential benefits of Kefir?
Hi Y'all, My wife was diagnosed 3 years ago with dementia, she is still very much with me, but I have seen many examples of her slow slide due to this horrible disease. Our GP prescribed two medications when she was diagnosed, Memantine and Donepezil. We have no idea how much they've helped. We have a good friend who's a…
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Who can I trust?
Hello all, it's been a while. My bf (46yo EOA) is a very active stage 7b. He is still mobile. We have entered the stage of not wanting to shower but I can get him in there (not fighting l, yelling or scratching tonight). Here is my predicament. I have been trying to find an Adult Foster Home but there aren't many around. I…
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DH with dementia no longer shows hand preference
My husband is in approximately late stage 5 of dementia. I noticed recently that he no longer shows a hand preference when eating, holding a pencil or reaching for an object. What does this mean? He was always left-handed, but will now try to eat with either hand. He requires assistance eating, but tries to do it himself.…
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Short term memory loss
my LW is currently in a nursing home for PT after surgery for diverticulitis. Happily, she did not need a colostomy bag. On the dementia scale, she is in the lower middle. She also has short term memory loss, which compounds her negative outbursts. If I am with her, I witness her anger at staff for slow responses.…
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New to group
Hello I just wanted to introduce myself. My husband is 56 year old. He was diagnosed with PPA and frontotemporal dementia about 5 years ago. I believe we are now entering ALZ as well. This week I had to finally take away his right to drive and it was heartbreaking. I tried to blame it on the insurance company knowing he…
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Still Here
I haven’t posted in a while, I am struggling with the situation here. DH is now on day 47 of not eating, over a month with no heart meds, and he’s refused fluids of any kind since Monday. The Hospice nurses are astounded that he’s still as strong as he is. He’s non-responsive to everyone but me…if take his hand and talk to…
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Slow motion in Stage 8
Dear Forum mates, I am just checking in as the dust begins to settle (sort of) following my beloved DH's peaceful passing a few months ago, ending 6+ years of our devastating dance with dementia. I have thought of you all so many times, but have been alternating between some days of doing nothing but breathing and…
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Rexulti and increased confusion and restlessness?
DH has been taking Rexulti for 2 weeks now and he seems to be more confused, wanting to go see his parents, wanting to go skiing, more restless. I don’t know if it’s coincidence or is this a result of the medication. I don’t think it’s had any effect on the agitation so I’m inclined to stop it. His doctor said to go to the…
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Just wandering
MY DH ,THAT HAS VD AND ALZ. PROB STAGE 3 OR 4 , SEEMS SO NORMAL RIGHT NOW. OR IS IT THAT IM JUST SO USE TO IT? I MAKE SURE THERE IS NO STRESS IN HIS LIFE, EVERYTHING HE NEEDS OR WANTS HE GETS . HE TAKES ALL HIS MEDS. HE STILL WONT SHOWER ,DOESNT EAT RIGHT LIKES SWEETS OR ONLY SMALL PORTIONS. I SUBSTITUTE WITH BOOST MILK…
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Mild Cognitive Impairment and Pain
I googled "Can Mild Cognitive Impairment result in pain in the body?" The response was, "Yes, Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) can be associated with bodily pain, although the relationship is complex and not fully understood. Research suggests that individuals with MCI are more likely to experience pain, and this pain may,…
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Help with bringing in help
Hi All, My DW is putting up a fight about brining in a caregiver in our home. Probably Stage 5 but I don't feel comfortable leaving her for extended times. I would like a break as well. Anyone have a good therapeutic fib for why So-n-So is coming in? Any stories that you've used to bridge the resistance? Thank you
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Defecates on himself, refuses to shower
Husband defecates on himself and refuses to shower. Even with Depends a stain will come through. I cannot get him to shower. I don't know what I'm going to do, but I can't take much more.
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I need a safe space for me
please allow me to vent… I am so tired. My head constantly aches. I don’t sleep well. My DH has AZ and, I am beginning to think, another form of dementia as well. We see doc in two weeks to discuss. He is all over the place some days. Some days hallucinating. Some days body temp out of control. Then he sits down and reads…
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Near the end
We are down to the last hours. I am lying in bed with DH, music in the background, window open to sun and breeze. I am so terribly sad while being so grateful that he will be free. my heart is breaking.
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Dentist trip
I’m taking my DW to the dentist next week for the first time since she was diagnosed 2 years ago. She is currently in stages5/6. Has anyone had any problems with their LO at the dentist? Trying to prepare myself before I take her.
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Screams At Night
My DW has now had a few loud screaming events at night. She doesn’t remember if she has had a nightmare, but thinks she has. None of her meds list this as a side effect. Is this another of the joyous things that can come with dementia? Anyone else here experience this and found any solution?
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Taboo subject of divorce
Ater reading others post and knowing my own situation I am just wondering if anyone has considered divorce. I hear and believe it is the disease but also think that no one should be treated the way some are. If we are only staying out of obligation are we doing the right thing. In my situation after giving my wife a last…
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How to get rid of urine smell
My DH's MC room constantly has a urine odor. He changes his wet pants as needed and the aides put them in the open hamper in the bathroom. Laundry gets done once a week and by then the odor is so strong and permeates the room. I just brought home his laundry because I want the room to smell clean for visitors for Father's…
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What is "Quality of Life?"
Definition of Quality: "The standard of something as measured against other things of similar kind." Long story short- My wife was diagnose in 2019 with AZ. At this time she was still lucid and could understand the road that laid before her and me. At the time I asked her, "what are your wishes? What do you want me to do…
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Executive functions
my DW has lost a lot of her executive functions. It is my care responsibilities to take care of all decisions. She sometimes demands to know what is going on and i try to explain even though she won’t remember. I use DARE everyday as much as i can and also redirect, but it is a struggle. DARE is Do not ARGUE,REACT or…
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Wandering
Why do they wander. I just can’t figure this out. My DW wandered for the first time about 5 months ago. With the help from local PD, we got her back home safely. Fast forward to this month. No wandering until last week when she left house (while I was showering) and walked about 2 miles until PD found her. Had to be talked…
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Mild Cognitive Impairment
This is my first post. In July 2023 I noted to family that my 81 year-old DW was having significant memory problems. In January 2024 she was diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). I am particularly interested in others who have a LO diagnosed with MCI and for how many years or did it eventually progress to a more…
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DH home from respite care
Dh is to return home today from a 10 day respite stay at a great place . I am having conflicting feelings and thoughts. I am at some level looking forward to having him at home again and then I wish he could just stay at this memory care place. It is a great place. He participating in all the activities they have and seems…
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100 days and news
After the discussion yesterday about having my DH home for 100 days, today's news is…not ironic, but maybe serendipitous? The hospice nurse visited today and says DH has one to two weeks left based on all the new behavior. I am all over the board. I'm horribly sad, stunned at the end being so near, grateful that he does…
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Rexulti
Has anyone experienced an increase in blood sugar while taking Rexulti ? It is one of the warnings and DW has had increasing readings since she started Rexulti. No other change in meds or diet.
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I'm Hitting My Limit
I am so lost right now and really need to vent. I don't know that I can take the complaints, shadowing and delusions anymore. Perhaps it's because I keep hoping for something back, even though I know my DW can't offer anything back. I feel like a complete failure in this caregiving and wonder what kind of person I am that…
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Stuck in the middle
My wife has been in MC for a little over a year. Our marriage was not great for the last 23 years but we are still married for 50 years this August. I still feel a commitment to her. How do I move on and have a life while still anchored to the past? I go see her almost every afternoon and some of the staff has become…
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100 days
My DH has been home from Memory Care for 100 days. Early on it was very good. We took walks, snuggled at night, watched TV and sat on the deck watching birds. It has progressed to where he no longer knows me or home, wanders the house talking to people he hallucinates, demands to 'go home' and wants to see his mother. My…
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Female spouse w/young kids looking for mom in similar situation?
I'd love to find a caregiver like myself to exchange texts with, like our own mini support group. This is likely too specific, but ideally it would be a woman whose partner is in the early stages of Alzheimer's (like, very very early stages where most people can't tell) and whose kids are still living at home (our kids are…
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Informing others of diagnosis
I was wondering if I should mention to acquaintances that my DH is showing signs of Alzheimer’s. Sometimes we meet up with friends we haven’t seen in a long time and my DH has gotten to the point where he has very little to say or when he does say something it shows his memory is not normal. I don’t know whether to mention…