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April 30 FDA approved
FDA Approves First Non-Antipsychotic Drug to Treat Agitation Associated with Dementia
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Tips for Sundowning
I see many posts about sundowning but not tips to prevent the behaviors associated with it. I saw this today and thought it might help someone.
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Hope or Cope?
We finally got an "official" diagnosis on Monday - "amnestic MCI with concern for Alzheimer's." DH's next steps are a PET Scan, bloodwork, and another MRI. Now, I just keep swaying between hope for a "cure" (improvement) and acceptance of the diagnosis. Do we fight the disease or do we learn how to live with it? I…
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He is adamant - "don't put me in a home!"
We had that discussion again last night. I will have to re-evaluate when he gets to that point. Hopefully it won't happen, I've got some plans. So far, his neurology team says he is in mid-stage. He has his ADLs, still driving short distances but I have a tracker on him and he's still doing ok. I have pretty much decided…
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Agitaion and Anxiety
My husband in MC has begun getting up at night numerous times and wandering the halls and trying to go into other residents rooms. This goes on all night long. The nurse told me he goes into the day room and sits in one chair and then another and can't seem to sit still for any length of time. The nurse practitioner has…
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Just want to talk to my friends (218)
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Forgetting we are married
My DHWD no longer acknowledges me as his wife. We have been married 30 years and we were very close. About 14 months ago we had an episode when we went on vacation, where he totally did not know me. When we got home after a couple of weeks, he remembered me, but he would occasionally forget. Now he consistently hasn't…
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Getting help through Medicare programs
The last few weeks I’ve been feeling emotionally fragile but hanging in there until last Thursday after my DH’s annual wellness exam. The Dr gave him the MMSE (mini-mental status exam) and DH scored 3 out of 30. I was surprised at how hard that hit me. But on a positive note, the Dr has put me in contact with Home Health,…
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Just need to talk to my friends (217)
About time for bed so will begin 217. Zetta, I could have taken Stormy in and it would have been ok. She is a country girl and is used to animals. Maybe next year. April is a pretty month so maybe we can lose.the wind and get rain. Beautiful sunset, JeriLynn. Happy April Fools Day!
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Please, I need some advice…
My DH who is wheelchair bound due to instability has become very disoriented early (3, 4, 5 am) in the mornings and becomes trapped in some work loop where he insists he HAS to get up right then and get to office to deal with some kind of critical situations. I’m not supposed to get him out of bed by myself for safety…
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Struggling with a dilemma
My husband was diagnosed with MCI 7 yrs ago, has had 3 strokes, CV disease and many health conditions related to that. Dr switched him to palliative care 2 yrs ago. Cognitive testing revealed likely VD from strokes but cognitive decline has been slower than physical decline. The grandsons are growing up in NC without us…
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Hospital stay for medication adjustment?
Hello, all. My DW has been in skilled nursing care for several months. She has later-stage Alzheimers but also physical limitations — needs help with eating, toileting, walking on 24/7 basis. She became more agitated and combative in recent weeks so SNC staff said she needed to go to hospital psych unit for medication…
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Lorazepam/Ativan taken daily???
My husband has developed a periodic urgency about the need to get to school to administer a test (college professor for 30 years) and becomes very agitated that I’m not helping him do that. The hospice nurse recommended I give him a dose of Lorazepam to calm him down. I’ve done this now twice and both times he sleeps for…
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Anyone able to keep alzheimer spouse home until death
I have been trying to find anyone with experience keeping spouse at home with help of hospice until the end. My husband is finishing up stage 6 right now. And so far I have been sole caregiver with no outside help. He is 71 can still walk. Can eat on his own like a 2 year old. I have to shower and dress him. He just had…
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Wedding anniversary...
I might already know the answer to this question, but I thought I would put it out here. My DW's wedding anniversary is next week Wednesday. On most days I'm her best friend and "where is my husband?". Do I potentially stir the pot or just let our anniversary pass going unrecognized? It's sad. I'm leaning toward it going…
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Downsizing
My wife has had Alzheimer's for 8 years and is now in Stage 6. Care giving is difficult, can't even remember when the difficult part started. My plan has been to keep her at home as long as possible since I think she would be happiest in a familiar environment and my undivided attention has got to be better that what…
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Just venting
Yesterday was not a good day for my DW….It was a total delusional day. she thought there was people in the house, her dead sister, father, mother and our sons who live in another state. when no one has been here. She has been started on a new medication which seems to have very little effect, but it is early. She got up…
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To Pee or not to Pee
I thought I was prepared for the day my DW would become incontinent. A couple of weeks ago I woke up to my DW laying in bed unclothed. Apparently she wet the bed and then took off her clothes and went back to sleep. I got everything cleaned up. I had bought pull ups last month, so I removed all her underware and replaced…
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The end is near.
Apri 9th I fell the end is near. They have padded bandages on her elbows now because she sits in a wheelchair all day and can't move. They try to move her hands and she won't let them. I fear she has given up. They told me today, that they have started turning her every two hours to prevent her from getting any more bed…
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Isolation
My sweet DH with VD Aphasia and stage 7 has been more agitated than usual. Because of his Aphasia I have taken to using my phone more and more for keeping in touch with family and friends, doing the accounts, ordering meals and other essentials online (it’s so hard to get to the shops), checking the news (the radio is…
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Bathroom accidents
Hi everyone. My mother is the primary caregiver for my father, who has Alzheimer’s that has been progressing quickly. We need some advice. Over the past few months, he has started having significant difficulties with toileting hygiene. He’ll use the bathroom but is no longer able to complete the wiping process — usually…
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Hoyer Lift in Nursing Home
My DH is in a 5 star medicare rated nursing home. His mobility has decreased to where he needs a 2 person hoyer lift for assist. The aide operated the lift alone and when I questioned it the aide said it's ok. I mentioned it at my husband's care plan meeting and the aide got some type of reprimand. The aide no longer…
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Vitamin B12 1000 MCG
When we went to our Neurologist for the first time in February, he noticed that my DH's Vitamin B was very low so he advised us to take 1000 MCG per day. After 2 months of taking it, I noticed some real changes in my DH. More REAL conversations, less shuffling of his feet and much less napping during the day. We had our…
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Not liking me or DH much these days
It’s very apparent to me that everything and I mean everything my DH does or doesn’t do these days annoys the heck out of me! Trying to get him to shower or change his clothes or eat a decent meal (and not sweets) is always a battle. I take him out everyday and no matter what we do he complains about something. If I leave…
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New Normal or Just Tired?
My DW has been a bit more confused and more tired the last two days. Her gait has also changed to a more half step with some shuffling. She has been going to daycare three days a week and has stayed longer twice so far this week. We’re only up to her staying close to three hours but, yesterday she was tired when she came…
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Hallucinations
My husband was diagnosed with Alzheimers last year. He is experiencing quite a few hallucinations nearly all day. Has anyone dealt with this much and if so what did you do? He is aware that what he is seeing is probably not there but is confused because he really sees it. Just wondering if there is any meds out there that…
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Way forward
Hello, I am here to join one of the worst clubs. I’ve been having a hard time lately, especially because my husband has started to accept—without much resistance—that he needs help. That’s not like him. I mentioned adult day care, and he said we should talk about it. He is legally blind and was diagnosed when he was around…
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New to taking care of DH
My DH has been diagnosed for about 1 year. I recently decided to retire to take care of him. It is a lot harder than I thought. I guess my work distracted me from what was really going on at home. He does have the anger and distrust with me. We are going to move closer to family and at first he said no but now agrees. He…
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Vagus Nerve Stimulation Information and Trials
I would like to know who I can contact or where I can find a research trial for my wife using Vagus Nerve Stimulation therapy to treat her dementia condition. Any help would be appreciated. We live in the Cincinnati, Ohio Metro area. Thank you.
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41 years today
My DW. I’ve never met any of you guys personally. But I feel a friendship with all of you deeper than most people I know. This site has been a lifesaver.