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What to do when simple affirmations are not enough?
DW around stage 5 has increasing confabulations, a mix of real current events in her life and confused random bits from her disease. Today she came up with some story about a woman who approached her and gave her a spare pair of glasses. She is indeed using some spare glasses temporarily in preparation for a vision…
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Risperidol
Has anyone’s Loved one had significant side effects with this drug, and if so, what were the side effects?
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Nova this week on Alzheimer’s research
Just saw this ad, airs here on Wednesdays. Likely pretty interesting
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Skin Picking/Stimming/Repetitive Behavior
My DW has recurring lesions because she cannot leave a minor blemish alone to heal. Bandaids are the only cure, but she can't keep one on for more than a few hours. It's hard to watch. If she's in my field of vision, I can see her picking at her chin. There are times I have to drive with my right eye closed because seeing…
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Seroquel(Quetiapine)
My DW Dr has her on 4(25mg) seroquel for sleep at night, which is working great. Prescribed by her psychiatrist. Her Alzheimers Dr wants her to get off because it could be making her digress faster. Wants her also off her Cymbalta(120mg) which she has been taking for 30 years so she can get on amitriptyline to help with…
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gets worse and worse
OMG. Now on top of everything else, the treating psych who made all the medication errors and whom I have asked be removed from the case: this morning on rounds she told my partner that I am the reason she can't come home. No discussion with me at all. Unbelievable.
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The National Imperative to Improve Nursing Home Quality: Honoring Our Commitment to Residents, Famil
https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/26526/chapter/1 Cahpter 10 is the recommendations
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Every stage is hard
Every stage along this journey has been hard. From not knowing what the problem was for years, to his anger and walking on eggshells, to obsessing over fixing everything, to the crying, the wanting to go home, the not knowing where to pee, the up ALL night.... and now memory care. This isn't the worst stage, but it's…
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politics not science drives Aduhlm campaign
Inside a Campaign to Get Medicare Coverage for a New Alzheimer’s Drug The Alzheimer’s Association has pushed relentlessly to get broad access to Aduhelm, despite safety risks and uncertain evidence that it helps patients. The association’s campaign makes little mention of Aduhelm’s safety risks and uncertain benefit,…
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Coming off donepezil
DH has been sleeping for 14 hours a day and complains of being exhausted all the time. He has been on donepezil (5mg) at bedtime and mementine (10 mg) twice a day for over 6 years. Both have tiredness as side effect. His geriatric psychiatrist and pcp have decided to ween him off of donepezil but are concerned it may send…
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Update on cataract surgery
Well it's been a week and we went back for a checkup,my wife has 20/20 in the eye that had surgery, praise the Lord. Last night she was upstairs looking out a window just before dark and saw the brown pitcher she uses to put bird seed out under an arbor. I was shocked she saw it. I knew her sight was better last night. The…
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How many caregivers actually die before their loved ones?
I've seen a wide range of "statistics" regarding how many caregivers die before their LOs. The one that seems to make the most sense to me says that caregivers are 63% more likely to die before their LOs, as compared to non-caregivers. That is different from saying that 63% of caregivers die before their LOs. Another said…
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Just need to talk to my friends (168)
Morning, I was having a hard time getting on the thread so thought maybe it was getting too long - so will start 168. Ron - how great that you're getting your hearing aides before your trip to Big D. I remember when Charles would get his new ones it was like a new world had opened up for him - and me - he could hear the…
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When to tell family of diagnosis
Just wondering when is the best time to tell family/friends the diagnosis of mild to moderate dementia?
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Stewing and stressing
My DH was diagnosed with MCI about 5 years ago and it is slowly progressing. We just drove 6 hours to the beach for 10 days to meet our daughter and family. It was up to me to pack everything for the two of us, make arrangements for being gone from the house for 10 days, and including him in the planning as much as he is…
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Grief by a 1000 cuts
DW diagnosed two years ago, now about stage 6.6. Family helpful but no one lives in Chicago area where we are. Married 43 years, met in high school. She will start day program 3 days per week next week, will be a big help. Dementia is the road to hell with no information as to how long it will take, and what ultimate…
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recent new signs of progression
DH has been diagnosed with mixed dementia this past year after a brain injury in 2010. He was put on aricept for a few months, but started to lose too much weight and was taken off. Now he is wetting the bed nightly when he was getting himself up and going to pee at night previously. He has also become somewhat of a slob.…
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Happy delayed birthday Iris,
Hope you have many more!
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Cruel and Unusual Punishment
Guilty - Alzheimer's and Dementia
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Buying shares in Clorox and FebreezeI
It was my husband’s birthday today so gave him a piece of chocolate and a bowl of frozen yoghurt. Bad idea, he had another accident, luckily he was wearing depends. However, there was a big mess on the floor.On went the blue heavy rubber gloves, I got stuck in and cleaned the floor up with toilet paper. I washed the floor…
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female resident infatuated with my husband
just need advice on what to do- caring for my husband with alzheimers have gotten too much for me to handle so I made a decision to put him in memory care just a week ago. on the 3rd day- the nurse and the caregivers told me that this female resident has become infatuated with my husband -wants him sitting next to her all…
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Seizures(4)
The last few weeks have been crazy. My wife in MCF had a seizure last week and was in the hospital. I was with her in the ER for 24 hours until there was a bed available. ER seemed cognizant of dementia, but inpatient floor was totally ignorant. I was there in the ER for 24 hours and then 8 hours on the floor. Six hours…
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Hospice guesstimates DH has 2 - 3 weeks
Dh stopped eating and is having difficulty swallowing. The hospice nurse estimates DH has 2-3 weeks before death. I will be surprised if he lasts that long. He is so miserable, that if he goes sooner I'll be okay with that.......but...... Preparations are complete as can be and I don't want him to suffer another second,…
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Respite Care for husband while on vacation in August
Not the best one to write on public forums but need some much-needed advice. I noticed my husband with memory issues for the last 8 years. It took a few years for his family internal medicine doctor to concur. I also started to have my husband see a Senior Health physician who specializes in geriatrics. They seem very…
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binax covid test shelf lie extended
Binax tests now have a 15 month shelf life 3 months longer than printed on the box January 7, 2022Angela DrysdaleVP, Regulatory AffairsAbbott Diagnostics Scarborough, Inc.10 Southgate RoadScarborough, ME 04074Re: EUA203107/S003Trade/Device Name: BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card Home TestDated: December 8, 2021Received: December…
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The other seniors
Seniors are supposed to retire to encore careers or volunteering or extended travel or just doing lots of activity and fun stuff. But a good number of seniors have their own health issues or must become caregivers for their family members with health issues. I am one of the other seniors. I cannot run around like I used…
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I’m crying
I’m trying to maintain my composure, and my sanity, but this morning my husband made that impossible. I just want to vent…and scream. We went to Target for our Covid boosters. His aide joined us. She bought a few groceries and when we came home she started to put them away. Seeing an open refrigerator door, my husband went…
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Young and option-less
Hi all, myself and my girlfriend of eight years are both 24 and we recently began taking care of her Dad who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in early 2021 after being diagnosed with Dementia (not sure what type) for several years prior. He’s quite young at 64, and quite healthy otherwise. We both recently graduated and are…
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Medication success or just a good day?
The doctors added Mentamine to my HWD’s drug regimen, and doubled his anti-depressant about three weeks ago. Today he woke up and is wearing the most radiant smile. We are listening to music (and I now sit with him and we do only that…great to focus) and are having the most lovely time. I hope it lasts. I have respite care…
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His friend is dying
A good friend of my husband and his wife moved to another city about 500 miles away a couple years ago. As his disease is progressing my DH keeps talking about going to visit them telling me they have invited him which isn't the case. I found out today his friend is in ICU with a life threatening disease brought on with…