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Retirement $ investing
Need a little help here. Recently our son invested some of our money in several Vanguard low risk for retirees. He is a CPA and talked to a few people, did research. Of course it has gone down, not up. But it is for long term. We will have more money in the near future and DH wants it invested only in Treasuries and I am…
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VENT: Managing Anger
Since DH was discharged from the hospital, he has been receiving Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Nursing from a Home Health Agency (HHA). The doctor also ordered speech therapy and a social worker. Earlier this week, the HHA informed me that the social worker would be coming on Saturday 7/10. Two other employees…
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Anosognosia article link
Here is a link to a good article that I bookmarked when I first became a caregiver. I had forgotten about it until I just happened to see it in a bookmark. Excellent for newbies. https://www.agingcare.com/articles/anosognosia-dementia-patients-cant-recognize-impairment-210090.htm
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Do I need some in-home care? How to introduce a caregiver?
I am sure this topic has been covered before, so please bear with me. My spouse has been diagnosed with MCI more than a year ago. He is getting some neuropsychological testing this week for the second time. He seems worse to be by a fairly significant degree than he did when he was diagnosed. Several family members have…
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Unique Hospice Practice
When talking to the hospice nurse today, I discovered an interesting fact. If a loved one is having a heart attack or any incident needing hospital care, the caregiver must call hospice first to get permission to call for an ambulance. They have the right to say "no." I understand their purpose is for comfort care, but…
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Best Alz. Wander GPS monitoring service
Does anyone use Medical Guardian or Angelsense GPS locator wandering monitoring? If so are either any good ? Thanks for any help or assistance in this matter, my wife has just started wandering. Ron
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My worst fear
Does anyone else lay awake at night thinking about what it would mean if we, caregivers, didn't wake up some morning? Sorry, not trying to sound morbid but it's a genuine concern of mine. Nobody is coming to check on us, my DW would not understand, she wouldn't be able feed herself or the dogs or give them water, she…
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Paying for MC
My wife was federal employee for over 30 years. I was late trying to get her enrolled in the Federal Government's long term care insurance. When I answered the preliminary questions honestly they immediately rejected her. We have some money put away into our retirement accounts but MC will take all of that in a matter of a…
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Vascular dementia(8)
Does anyone have experience with vascular dementia? What is the rate of progression, is there a possibility of improvement, is excessive sleep a symptom? I would know what to expect with Alzheimer’s but vascular dementia is a little different . DH’s short term memory is not too bad but his thinking is sooooo slow and he is…
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DH on hospice. Do we need medicare supplemental and part D?
I'm doing my research and am including this group, because you are the experts! DH has been on hospice for over a year and is in a MC facility. He's late stage 7. Bedbound, hand fed, losing weight, sleeping more, has everything done for him. He has medicare A and B, supplemental plan F and part D for Rx. He also has a DNR…
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Ativan vs. Cannabis
NB: This is not a recommendation, just sharing of experience. My husband with mixed dementia has periods of severe agitation, especially when in unfamiliar places. I have noted the triggers and given him Ativan and cannabis edibles (not together!) and noted the following. Ativan seems to slow everything down and make him…
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M1, have you visited lately?
Just wondering how it went for you. The last I heard, you had a reasonably good visit. Hoping you can say the same or better.
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Natalie Edmonds and the holidays
She has a new 5 day series workshop for caregivers handling the holiday season. https://tinyurl.com/48the6h5
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Most difficult times
DH has been in Memory Care for 2 months. In the past 3 mo he has been taken 4 times via EMS to the hospital to the ER and admitted to the hospital 2 times. ( broken ankle, falling out of bed, falling in the bathroom and the other day for Covid ) He was diagnosed with Covid on Monday and the hospital kept him over night as…
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Stressful days ahead.
My mom, 85 and is showing signs of dementia as well, will be moving back in with my DW and I in a week or two. She doesn't know how to deal with my DW's dementia so it was very stressful the last time she lived with us, 6 months ago, and will be stressful this time as well but we'll get through it.
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I could use a little feedback
After my wife passed, I investigated the possibility of volunteering my time so other caregivers could get a little time for themselves to get a cup of coffee with friends, do some shopping, or whatever. But after talking to others, including a relative who is a lawyer, I decided against that. I was not interested in…
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And now?(1)
Almost 1 month… I took the 3 days leave could have for » familial event ». I used them to prepare the ceremony and the next morning because my mother was still home. Since then I have worked a lot. I have moved a lot for my work (now I can). I was late I most of my tasks… and I am still late. I am also in my souvenirs. On…
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Hospice Accepted My Husband
After my DH's evaluation yesterday, hospice accepted him as a patient. The nurse said that his loss of weight, sleeping more, being tired after small activities, increased agitation, and choking at times were some of his contributing factors to his acceptance. He does present well with strangers, so I was worried he'd have…
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Eoad Timeline
I know that it is a question when you begin this journey and I also know that each Alzheimer is different, but I just wanted to draw my partner journey in this disease that lasted 3.5 years from diagnosis to death. We learnt at the end that it was a frontal form. 2015-2017: first signs May 2019: diagnosis, MMS=20 From mid…
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So much has happened
The week before last we were planning a visit with my soon to be 103 year old mother, in Iowa. DH started coughing about four days before we were to leave. Our son and his wife, an RN were going and driving our son's car. I was concerned, but in May before a trip to my mother's, DH had a less serious cough, which did go…
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Update to kicked out update
DH is still in geri psych—day 11. Still not taking his meds regularly. He called me yesterday and we spoke for the first time. He knew who I was and said he missed me. Tuesday night I went to hear a doctors speak who specializes in dementia. He was fantastic! He believes in really helping families by determining a more…
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What happens with bad behaviors
As I’m about to place DH in memory care I am so worried about “behaviors that can get him kicked out.” If he is overly sexual or aggressive and gets kicked out what happens next? Where can he go?
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Neurologist’s visit
My husband had a follow up Neurologist visit yesterday. His last one was at the beginning of July when they had noticed some improvements over the previous visit which we had attributed to an increased dosage of Memantine which he had been taking for about 2 years, 5mg in the morning and 5 at night. They had added an…
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I don't understand his thought process
I really want to understand my husband's thinking. For example, he watches the neighbors and makes up scenarios he believes are true. For example, he doesn't see a particular neighbor (who has had many surgeries) drive by our house recently so he figures he must be in the hospital having surgery. Every time the wife drives…
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Arm Measurement
Today the palliative care nurse practitioner visited. He does arm measurements since my husband is unable to stand and be on a scale. Does anyone know that a significant arm measurement drop is? The circumference of my husband's arm dropped from 37 cm to 34.5 cm in two months. That equals to about an inch. He is going to…
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is marijuana helping or hurting the situation
DH has smoked marijuana for much of his life beginning in his teens. Recently he has increased his intake of marijuana. I think it is making his balance worse and I am frustrated. He senses my frustration and becomes agitated. Historically the weed has helped his anxiety and agitation. I have witnessed the improvement in…
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IS Spouse Grief Counseling Needed? I Think so.
Has anyone heard about grief support resources after the passing of a spouse. I believe many years of caregiving create very unique needs for support after your spouse's passing. Perhaps individual counseling is the best approach. However, I learned much and greatly benefited from my years of caregiver support groups. I…
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Those mean people
I have a living room camera and an Alexa echo device so all I need to do is an Echo Drop-in if I'm away for a little while. She doesn't have to worry about trying to answer a phone, I just speak to her directly through the echo. I can always tell something is up by the tone of her voice. She's been crying because…
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The long haul
We are all in this for the long haul.
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My first post from 6+ years ago
I'm just home from visiting DH, and in a reflective mood. Not a good, reflective mood. I looked up the date I joined here - 5/22/2016 - and realized that there are very few people who have been here longer than I have. Crushed comes to mind, and Gig Harbor has been here about as long as me. I remember saying, when I first…