-
Ideas for Brushing Teeth
i am looking for any ideas for getting DW to brush her teeth which has become increasingly difficult. For a while I have been trying to brush my teeth along with her so she could mimic what I was doing in the mirror but that is not really working anymore. I have tried to brush her teeth myself but she won’t allow me to do…
-
sudden improvement?
My DH has Vascular Dementia (they labeled him mixed) and he had gotten to where he only drank a little and would only eat a couple of bites. Last Thursday all the sudden he started eating and drinking. He also wanted to get out of bed and wanted to get in the wheelchair and come into the living room. He still doesn't want…
-
doesn't recognize home
DW broke hip in late November. After surgery she went to an inpatient ot and pt therapy facility for two weeks. After leaving there, she came to our home where we have lived for 22 years, but did not believe it was home. She continually wants to know when we are leaving there to go home. Hates where we are, has no…
-
Guilt sending dad to MC
Hi everyone I am new here. My dad has dementia that has went to down hill since his hospital stay a few weeks ago for Covid. He lives at home with my sister and mom (who has mild dementia). He doesn’t sleep at night and has started turning the stove on (we have since removed the knobs). He also won’t shower without hitting…
-
Beginning to see …
Last few weeks or maybe more I’ve seen a decline in DH short term memory ! Went for lunch today, a treat for sure, to a place we have been many time before and he has always enjoyed! We sit down, looking at the menu, and DH says to me I’ve never been here I hope it’s good. I didn’t say anything. After getting our lunch he…
-
no family support
My DH has Vascular Dementia (diagnosed Mixed) and now Aspirational Pneumonia. After 1 week at the hospital, and 3 weeks at Rehab my DH will return home. Knowing that he will probably have another bout of this I talked to him on whether he would want to return to the hospital or die at home. He voiced to me that he would…
-
At what stage did you give up on dental hygiene appointments
Yesterday I took my DH to the dentist for a hygiene appointment. For the two days prior to the appointment, he cycled repeatedly through all the terrible things that were going to happen -- they were going to remove half his jaw, they were going to take out all his gold inlays, etc. Constant reassurance that they were…
-
extended travel?
We are considering a longer trip this summer that would be an international cruise. We are experienced travelers, but I wonder about disease progression. Right now, DH is somewhere in mild-moderate area...he doesnt drive but is physically capable of all daily activities, dressing, etc. He has trouble with his pills and…
-
Big decision
I've decided to at least inquire whether I can move my partner to another MC facility. Essentially, it comes back to seeing if my first choice from last year will reconsider her. Despite three or four really good staff members with whom she is tightly bonded, she is just not thriving where she is; she is the most…
-
Latest interview
Our latest interview with you for “Exploring Different Brains" is now released and viewable on our site differentbrains.org, and the podcast version and transcription are both available on the same page as the video. The podcast version is also available on: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud The direct link to the 26…
-
Memory Care(1)
Has anyone placed their spouse in memory care for up to 6 months, and after training and additional care providers were able to bring your spouse back home? My husband is in the middle stages and can still conduct his daily activities. By the way, does anyone know how to flip my profile photo so that it’s right side up?
-
Another setback
DH has been in memory care since mid August 2022. He has fallen many times,had some seizure like events and many other problems.We live in NC and the intestinal flu has been rampant. Sure enough he got it and along with it, severe diarrhea and vomiting. Several of the med techs and aides got it and....I got it a few days…
-
How old am I?
DH said he is an old fart. So I asked him why he said that. He replied because I feel old. Then he asked me if he is 57 or 58. I then said You are 81. He said WOW. Yes, wow! LOL no wonder he feels old. Oh my.
-
When she's afraid
I came downstairs after taking a shower. I found my wife naked from the waist down, sitting in a laundry basket, and very frightened. She said something about people coming and taking everything and not leaving, some word salad, and something about the dogs. I got her calmed down, cleaned up, and then went to work on…
-
It's over(2)
April 6, 2012: This was the day our lives changed forever with a stroke that eliminated all language, the day I lost all communication with my companion and husband since 1967. These almost 11 years have been a downward slope in every way, and now he's gone. One would think I'd be ready for his final breath, but I wasn't.…
-
Stop them from driving - dirty tricks
1) Cause a police incident. Any interview during a traffic stop can generate a notation of concern by the officer, resulting in a letter from DMV requiring a competency test, making it not your fault. 2) Report your concern to the police expressing your concern, and ask for a police interview at your home. Claim ignorance…
-
Tapping feet constantly
IS anyone dealing with LO tapping feet constantly? Over the last couple weeks my husband has started tapping his feet on floor constantly while sitting. It's grinding on my nerves. I just want to scream "STOP IT"!
-
Here's a smile for you
-
Just need to talk to my friends (186)
Morning, It's a better day - dreamed of my Charles last night. It's sunny but really windy. Toad and Mike came and fed the girls and I was able to see Gray Lady and her new baby, Chucky or Chas (that's what Charles' dad called him). Took down the trash and put a couple of cards in the mailbox even though there's no mail…
-
new to this forum, help please
Greetings, all, We don't have a diagnosis, but there is clearly a profound change in my husband's behavior that has been ongoing for two years. I'm scared. He sees no changes in himself, and blames me for "changing." No one in our circle of influence or family sees any changes because he hides it so well. After decades of…
-
How's your wife doing?
We all get a version of this, and we seem to start with 'fine' in the early stages, and then maybe some of us get fatigued by the question and get snarky in our responses, That's my history, but now I have crossed this new line, and honestly I'm a little stuck. I hear people ask me how my wife is, and they sincerely want…
-
Advice needed regarding antidepressants!
My DH with EOAD and FTD has been on Cipralex since Feb. Started at a low dose and doubled it in April as I didn't feel it was helping much. We started the med because he was having suicidal thoughts and many 'down' days. He still gets stuck easily, especially with losing his license and not being able to drive his…
-
Staying sane in an insane situation
Well DW is moving into the the next level of insanity in this journey. The bolts that are in airplanes are stress tested by pulling on the length and pushing the middle with heavy weight while twisting, heating and vibrating until it fails. That is what I feel like right now. An aircraft fastener being tested until…
-
No Sleep(4)
It’s 6:00 a.m. My husband has had 3 hours of sleep in the last 3 nights. The last two he hasn’t slept at all. Paces all night throughout the house, , turns lights on. Last night he turned on the shower at 3:00. We have tried traxadone, seroquel, melatonin, Benadryl and Belsomra. Put a heater and electric blanket in his…
-
Another insight to my wife's condition
I am both horrified and curious at the same time throughout this journey. Horrified for obvious reasons but curious to learn as much as I can about the disease and her experience with it so I can help us both navigate through it. Today as I was talking with my wife assessing her status a light went off in my head. Her…
-
WOW! Thought I had a handle on things!
Such a hard week. Realizing I don’t have DH to really talk to about our everyday life .. kids, grandkids, financial stuff just everything! I actually tried to talk to him today about why I am so stressed. I woke up at 3 am and mind just kept going. My venting to him, as I finally realized was heard by a dementia mind! He…
-
More advice please
After 2 weeks hospital, my DH was medically cleared, and we found a bed in geripsych to tweak his meds. I will say he did great yesterday showered for the first time in three weeks, and got out of bed and walked around the halls. He is much, much less combative and has been doing OK when the nurses try to change him. They…
-
Possibly changing memory care
When I placed my husband I looked at 10 facilities and ultimately chose a nearly new one that was bright and cheerful. It had lots of activities and was very clean. Their price was low partly because my husband was pretty self sufficient. Fast forward to today. He is incontinent, needs help with dressing and hygiene and is…
-
Have to laugh
We have been having issues over the last few days with how my partner interacts with other residents on her MC unit. The activities director was telling me that my partner still has her lifelong charisma (no surprise there) and that other residents look to her as a natural leader. But that leads to some funny and surreal…
-
Nursing home ?????
I placed my husband in nursing home last Oct. He has been on Seroquel 50 mg per day which really helped him. The nurse told me they cut it back to 25 per day today did not say why, they called me and said they found him in the bathroom looking for a razor to commit suicide or wanted a gun. His depression is really bad…