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I finally cried
I had a call from the chaplin at the hospital. After talking to me for several minutes, she asked me if she could say a prayer for us. I don't consider myself much of a religious man, but I agreed. When she finished, I had tears running down both cheeks. Through her words, I could see our whole lives together, up to and…
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Cell phone for DH with Alzheimers
My husband of 35 years has mid-range Alzheimers. He can still communicate well but cannot figure out how to use a cell phone any more. I need something very simple, with no passcode, that will allow him to call me and a few others and to reach 911. I also need to be able to track the phone, and him. I've looked at the RAZ…
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Information For Those Beginning Movement Toward NH or MC Placement
The link is an excellent and lengthy overview of so much regarding many NH dynamics; kind of a "how to" model: Chapter 1: Before Your Mother Enters The Nursing Home | Illinois Citizens for Better Care Input from Members: From "King Boo:" However, in the event this information is at all useful to anyone on the boards, here…
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Appt advice
I have my dw scheduled for a doctor's visit. I need some advice about how to handle her. She has a bump on her neck not to bad. It had gotten red and I told her I was going to scheduled a visit for it. Of course she doesn't remember that. I told her the other day again I was going to scheduled a visit and she was becoming…
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Decision made
I have made the decision to place my husband and have plans set in motion. He will have an assessment next week and I have no doubt he will be accepted. He will be in a shared room but for now it will be only him in it to give him time to get used to everything. There are three other men in the unit who are active and one…
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Not sure what is going on with DH
Need advice! The last couple of days DH has been complaining about being really tired. He went to bed last night at 6pm and slept till 8:30 this morning. I know he was sleeping because I have a camera in his room. This morning he seemed more confused than usual and said his head felt like it was in a deep hole. I ask more…
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just an observation
I posted on care.com yesterday to try to find a part-time companion for my partner. Not much response yet--two replies, one not vaccinated, and one wanting full-time employment. But here's the interesting observation---the site has a lot of pages about how to hire, how to plan, etc. But neither their dementia guide--nor…
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Drooling(2)
My DH who is around late stage 6 has started drooling in the past several days. It isn’t all the time, but worse in the evening and before bedtime. The past couple nights he has also been coughing at night, a loud cough. I think it may be related to the drooling. He sleeps on his back, on one of those wedge things for acid…
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That was quite a year.
As a teacher, I measure life in school years. Yesterday was my last workday for the school year. Today I visited DH in memory care, mowed my lawn and I'm now sitting here taking time for myself. Last August, I started the year with 2 caregivers providing full time supervision for DH. Things went downhill quickly. I decided…
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At the beginning of cognitive slipping
I am appreciating reading the threads about all of the experiences I may soon be facing. After a year or two of noticing my SO having cognitive difficulties with remembering names of objects, people, and the historical research (that he was so good with as a professional sideline), to his continued employment difficulties…
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THC
Anybody have any good experience with THC, I have been using CBD for DW to control mood swings but my son suggested looking in to THC. The CBD seems to work on occasion but not always. DW is on Quetiapine low doses three times a day, which also does not seem to help her anger outbursts.
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Care Team
The neurologist has submitted referrals for my LO to see a behavioral psychiatrist, a cognitive therapist and a speech therapist. Said that he has other Alzheimer's patients who have benefitted greatly from that approach. Anyone familiar with this team make-up or parts of it?
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Ativan/Lorazepam
Please share your experience with this drug. Thanks! It worked great intravenously 1.5mg for a catatonic episode in the hospital. Some doctors shirk at the very mention, yet others feel it's good for short-term use. DH is on 1mg up to 4mg per 8 hrs.
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Tip from MCF
I got a great tip today from the caregivers at the MCF. Background; my wife does not like to get up in the morning and shower. Usual reaction is screaming, fighting and punching. The fantastic CNAs have been absorbing the punches with good humor, but I still have been feeling bad. Someone suggested taking a pool noodle and…
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Dear M1
Thinking of you both! Sending you peace and love.
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TV options
We are having issues with our cable provider and I was hoping to change to something cheaper. But I'm not sure my DH can handle a change. Does anyone have a simple set up that provides lots of sports and a DVR option? TV is one of the few activities he has left, but we're currently paying way too much and have had some…
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Ray Liota
RIPI love my life, but on those days when DW is at her crankiest and most uncooperative, I can hear Ray’s voice from Goodfellas reminding me, “Every now and then you have to take a beating,” This morning is one of those times.
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Need Help/Guidance with DW - hard to handle
My DW is in the later stages of Alzheimer’s according to the DR. She does not know who I am which is causing communication problems. She thinks I'm a good friend who is helping her - she doesn't use my name - only says friend. I've not tried to convince her I'm her husband - causes major agitation to her & thens down the…
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witnessed abuse at nursing home
On a couple occasions in the last year I've seen one of the full-time aids on the Alzheimer's care unit where my DW resides be very short and caustic with residents. She has also been completely unwilling to help me with my DW when I've asked and she isn't the aid assigned to my DW: "someone will check on her is a while"-…
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Power of Attorney(3)
If you don't have this yet, DO IT NOW! I can't tell you how often I've used DH's power of attorney in the last few years. I had to have it for reasons I never dreamed I'd need it. We had ours drawn up just after DH's diagnosis, and it is very detailed - pages and pages of details. I honestly thought it was a bit much when…
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getting more restlessness,wandering
Dw is getting more restlessness, wandering more around the house, rearranging things, emotional mid to late afternoon. Came home from hospital with meds of risperidone, 1 .25mg in am, 2 .25mg at bedtime and 1 300 mg gabapentin at night. Was prescribed Atavan by nurse now for mid afternoon but that made things worse. Nurse…
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How to get DH to sign DPOA
Thanks to this discussion forum, I just realized I need a DPOA, not just the Advanced Health Directive, which we have. But I may have lost the opportunity to get it done because DH is so distrusting of me now. I barely can get him to sign insurance claim and authorization release of medical record forms. Just a few months…
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My only post today
Wife in hospital. TIA. Positive Covid test. Screaming to get out. Bad language. Trying to get out of bed. Finally had to restrain her. Probably going to MC when released
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What was the first symptom that really floored you?
My wife had been showing symptoms since probably 2016 or earlier. Short term memory loss, inability to use a computer, do basic math, or use a remote didn't really get to me that much. I guess it was expected. But when she asked me if I wanted pancakes for breakfast, and I said "Yes", she reached in the fridge to get the…
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much needed vacation
I have the opportunity to go on 2 wk. trip with daughter. been taking care of LO with VD for 4 yrs now. Only help I have is from a his son who does not do well with his ailing father. He stays with him once in awhile so I can go over night or sometimes 2 nights to visit with daughter and grandchildren. I come home to a…
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The Brain Health Academy
Free, evidence-based courses to equip healthcare and wellness providers with the knowledge and resources to help people reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s. https://www.usagainstalzheimers.org/brain-health-academy
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WHAT NEXT(1)
It has now been three weeks since my DW went into a MC facility. The first 2 weeks were very difficult as my DW was trying to “go home” and escaped 2 times. Then went to ER once for something called vagal down. At their recommendation she has also had a private nurse for the past 10 days to help her thru the transition…
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Worn out
I am 82 and DH will soon be 92. 6 yrs since he was diagnosed with MCI but went into moderate Alzheimer's since his brain surgery 4 yrs ago. Today I was wondering how long I can do this. We are in independent living and I just talked to the neurologist on the phone for a 6 mo appt and he said DH was doing remarkably well.…
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A Nice Change
Here is a bit of brighter news amidst all the many sad postings recently: Every time I arrive at DH's MCF, I announce my presence. I get there just before lunch; DH is seated in his "spot", quiet, usually with his eyes closed. I stand in front of him and say, "The girl of your dreams is here!" Staff within earshot will…
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Gonna have to watch everything
Today my dw was trying to treat a feral cat that has ear mites bad. So she tried to put the drops in the ear but the cats not gonna have it. So she comes in looking for triple antibiotics to treat the places behind the ears, she goes out and comes back in and asks, is this supposed to go in the ear or the outside, yep I…