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I just don’t know?!?!
Enjoying dinner with former work friends tonight! Oh my such a wonderful, full of belly laughs time. Paying bill, ready to go and friend says isn’t that your husband coming over? Well I was dumbfounded! Apparently he was sitting at the bar drank not sure if he ate and staggered over when he was leaving! Friends were great…
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Feeling guilty about hospice and husband passing away
My wonderful husband passed away August 3rd. I miss him terribly. He was 71, and he had been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s about 9 years ago. He also had diabetes and vascular dementia, along with some other health issues. I am fortunate that I was able to keep him home the whole time, and I was able to work ( I…
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Elopement and MC Assessment
My DH had a MC assessment today and things were going ok until the elopement question. Does your DH wander? I told the truth that occasionally he wanders (with me following him). I told them that DH wandered last week at night. They asked if I was able to bring him home and I told them I had to call the police for an…
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Meds for Spouses?
Sorry - kind of long but looking for advice for how to manage my own emotions. My 68 year old DH - probably stage 5-6- was placed 3 months ago due to aggression, high anxiety, not sleeping, wandering, and extreme agitation. New meds, the skill of the MC nurses, and the fact that he can wander about the hallways and talk to…
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Testing MRI with contrast dye?
my DH is supposed to have 4 MRIs today— one with contrast dye. I’m reading about possible problems for elderly patients with dementia and/or heart disease with the contrast dye…he’s frail and I don’t want to put him through nausea/rashes/increased cognitive issues —- I’m thinking of having him do only the three MRIs…
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Humor even in the late stages
My son and I share a penchant for really bad jokes. I heard three last night on a TV show (see below), and I sent them to him with the predictable response. I thought about telling them to my partner—but then I thought no, she probably wouldn't get the punch lines. But: she was having a really good day today, was actually…
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Memory Care or Keep trying at home
Is there some magic way to know when the time is right to have your loved one in a Memory Care Facility? A tipping point? I don't want to, for some reason. But I'm exhausted . I feel it would be more for me than him if he went there. Is that the right reason? He is still considered early stage. But the care needed is…
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What if money tight
What are your options if you financially can’t afford care at a facility??
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My 74 yo husband is my caregiver
My mother died from Alzheimers about 5 years ago. Knowing that can be inherited, I got a world class neurologist and had a spinal tap to see if I had the gene. I did. I am now 3 or 4 years into this and am taking a drug that I inhale called Prevagen. It seems to be working but I’m still having some emotional ups and downs…
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Nail biting
My DH started to bite his nails way down. This is a habit he never had in the past. He tells me he can stop, but minutes later he is back biting. Worries with cold, flu seasons and germs he may pick up.
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How to get prescription meds in the first place
My husband refuses to be tested and dislikes taking meds. He desperately needs meds for obsessions and anxiety. He is a great show timer at the doctors office. I have talked to him about his anxiety. He says he knows himself better than anyone and he is not anxious. I keep reading how others hide the medicine in food. A…
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Nothing but trouble with antipsychotics
I am starting to feel sorry that I ever started my husband on antipsychotic drugs. Since we began in late May, he has been on two doses of seroquel and three doses of risperidone. Seroquel made him incredibly sleepy and unsteady on his feet and did little for his agitation, so his geripsych and I bagged that after a month.…
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Sorry for the ramble.
Sorry for the ramble about hospice. It was my mom's hospice company I felt that way about but I'm sure they are good caring people. Tried to delete this but couldn't find where.
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Need to clarify about earlier post
I was referring to my mom's hospice company when she passed. I'm sure it was just me and they were kind and caring people. So far I have nothing but good things to say about my wife's hospice company. I need to clarify a bit better. Sorry for the
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Clothing for inappropriate urination
My DH, now in memory care, likes to pee out the window of his 3rd floor room. This has been going on for a few months, even with a commode in the room and regular trips to the bathroom by staff. It's become an issue for residents on the lower floors. The staff recommended getting him overalls, thinking he wouldn't be able…
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How to encourage spouse to get memory test done
I am interested in recommendations on how to encourage my spouse to get medically tested for dementia. Friends and family say I should "trick" her into getting tested. I have no good ideas how to arrange this. She insists there is nothing wrong with her despite not being able to recall personal information such as…
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MCF Had to Call 911 Again
I can't sleep. So here I am. This post will come across as ramblings because it probably is. DH got combative again when 3 staff tried to change him to get ready for bed. He took his night meds, too. Yet, he fought them and pushed one of the staff who fell onto the floor and got bruised up. DH wouldn't settle down. So 911…
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40th wedding anniversary
So today is our 40th wedding anniversary. Of course my DH now is well into stage 6 and recently put on hospice. He doesn’t recognize me anymore, let alone aware it’s our anniversary. Funny how your mind knows this day will just be another caregiver day. No flowers, no special dinner or weekend away to celebrate. But my…
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My DH was just diagnosed with Alz
My Dh was just diagnosed with early stages of Alzheimer’s. He’s doing well now but we are both overwhelmed with making decision s for the future. Do we stay in our home of 45 years or downsize to an adult community? If we stay put, how to prepare to make home safe? How and where do I get help when I need it? What legal…
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Darkness today
Dementia is torture. It is agony. It chips away bit by bit. It will take tiny pieces for awhile and then it takes a big shocking hunk that makes you feel like you can't breathe.
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New definition of a bad day
Found DH on his hands and knees in the bathroom with poop everywhere. He was trying to clean it up by putting chunks down the shower drain. I managed to get that stopped and got him in the shower while I cleaned up the floor and the toilet. Then I scrubbed him thoroughly and got him dried and dressed. Then I started the…
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Memory care outings-hows that work for everyone
I had to quickly make some big decisions this week. My DH had a trip to the emergency room and then admitted to the hospital. He is not safe to return home. I have secured a room for him in a MCF. All he talks about is getting out of the hospital and going home. I'm sonqorried about the transition. His doctors have told me…
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DRESSING UP
Has anyone ever gotten dressed and only find out you have 2 different shoes on or find out your t-shirt is on inside out and your pants on back wards I have. The other night I put my pj's on and my wife said look at your pj's you have them on inside out.
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Update on brain donation and autopsy
I posted yesterday about my DW, aged 72, with the rare Semantic Variant of Primary Progressive Aphasia, svPPA, also known by its shorthand Semantic Dementia. She is still hanging on and I have no idea for how much longer, but hospice advised me to start looking into her final arrangements. I have been in contact with the…
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Understanding new sleep patterns
DH has been in "Memory Care" for 4 months, and has progressed significantly in that time. I use quotes around Memory Care because I have never been so disappointed in our health care system and society overall as I am with where he is residing. Nothing I was told when moving him there has been done to make his stay…
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Intelgenx shows cognitive improvement
In April I posted here about the Emory University montelukast Alzheimer's trial. The trial results showed that one group of participants showed cognitive improvement. However the results were suspect because the group showing improvement was the placebo group. The group supposedly treated with montelukast continued to…
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Running out of steam
my DH is in Alzheimer’s stage 6b according to the doctors. We’re about 7 years in and I’m questioning being able to proceed to the end of this journey. I feel so guilty and selfish when I read about all of you who are lovingly caring for your loved ones beyond where I am. I am 62 and still working full time. I can mostly…
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I made it through my first day and night.
I want to thank everyone who posted to give me prayers and encouragement as I struggled through placing my precious Tommy in his new home at a wonderful memory care center. It was one of the toughest things I ever did but I had so many friends who texted and called and came to visit I feel like it’s going to be okay. He…
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Can’t believe it
DH took a shower today without being asked cajoled etc etc etc. It has been at least 2years since this has happened. I am happily dumbfounded. I complimented him and he replied “It doesn’t take much to make you happy does it?” I answered Yes, it doesn’t take much. Praise the Lord!
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Uncomfortable question
My DH watched his parents both go through Alzheimer's/Dementia and it terrified him. He always said "if I ever get like that please let me take my life". He was serious. Now he is at the beginning of this awful disease and on numerous occasions he has said to please let him take his life and "please don't let me live like…