-
Paying for Custodial Care
When I spoke to the treatment team at the Psych Hospital, they indicated that DH needs "custodial care". My understanding is this is not skilled nursing care. Are any of you aware of assistance programs that can help me pay for "custodial care" in a facility? Texas has a Star Plus+ Waiver program that assists for paying…
-
Social Security Question
Some time ago, there was a discussion of the need to be approved to act as a representative for one's spouse in Social Security matters. Would someone please refresh me on that procedure or perhaps direct me to a place where I can find it? Thanks
-
Question about VA benefits.
I remember reading on here about a special classification for vets who are in later stages. A friend's husband is a Vietnam Vet, maybe exposed to agent orange. Anyone have info to help her get some help from VA. PPeggy
-
Does anybody have this problem with posting
WWhen I post EEvery new line WWill double the FFirst letter iit doesn't matter if it's capital or not. IIt only happens on this board. Has been happening for a long time. Usually I just delete. It doesn't happen unless it's the beginning of a new paragraph in the middle of paragraphs is fine TTHanks SShardy
-
Still Surprised After 17 Years
After 17 years of helping my DH navigate EOAD, I assumed that not much could surprise me about this journey. Except for exceeding the expected longevity for early onset, he really did follow the progression timeline closely. So, I was a little taken off guard when he started having seizures a week ago. I know that this is…
-
Befriending Grief
I wish I could do this with grace and dignity, befriend Grief. I have succumbed to the depression and sadness, to the ongoing effects of isolation exacerbated by the pandemic. All the losses keep coming and seem magnified by each other until it looms over me now, a constant. This constant is now so familiar it is the…
-
I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE
Despite the relatively short time period dealing with my wife's problems and illness I am now realizing I have to give myself some care, a rest or just get some form of human contact that does not required an effort. I have gone from being responsible for maintaining everything like the house, cars and landscaping to where…
-
54th Wedding Anniversary
Thursday was our 54th wedding anniversary. I had the day all planned to make it a good day for both DH and for me. For lunch, I planned to order from Red Lobster and pick it up curbside. It is hard for DH to eat out; the menus are too confusing and he doesn't enjoy it. After lunch, I planned to take DH for a ride and stop…
-
How do I validate accusations without agreeing
My DH is again accusing me of infidelity. How do I validate his feelings without admitting they're true? All his other delusions I can play along with, but not this one which makes him more insistent. A little background: It first began out of the blue in December and my emotions were raw each time it happened. Time has…
-
2nd memory care visited
When I needed respite in april, I candidated to 2 memory care facilities. Only one had places in may. So the respite stay was scheduled. 19 days. I had been told they were the most specialized and very high quality. The price was also high 3200€/ month compared to others that are 2000 +-200€. My partner didn’t like it and…
-
Phone calls?
DH is very social, and thrives when he's around people. I do everything I can to make that happen. But, we all know how this disease progresses. He's no longer able to have conversations with others that make any sense. Everyone we know is so great about it, and tries to involve him in the conversations. It's usually the…
-
Getting DH to Accept Outside Helper
It is time to approach the topic of bringing in a companion for my DH who has VD. The last time I mentioned it right before the COVID shutdown, he angrily replied that he didn't need a babysitter. I need to bring it up again. How do I get him used to the idea so he will accept the helper? He is the type of guy who doesn't…
-
Android phone GPS tracking app?
My significant other is a 59 year old female who is AD stage 2 (of 7). Still very functional but has significant short term memory loss. She drives some but only during the day. I’m trying to research dealing with what’s coming. She’s Android and I’m Apple. Anyone using an Android app that tracks movements and sends out…
-
Traveling with spouse who has dementia
I’m new to this group and I have a question. We’ve been invited to stay with friends in FL for 2 weeks. Will the change in environment make his dementia worse? Has anyone noticed this?
-
Serenity(1)
Have you ever prayed the serenity prayer? Today I googled it and was amazed by the history of it and the number of versions there are. A variation of one or two words gives a slight change of the meaning. I was going to type the version that I remembered but thought better of it. I hope you will google “serenity prayer”…
-
Conversation with DH's Treatment Team @ the Psych Hospital
Today I had the 1st phone call with my DH's treatment team. The team is made up of a medical doctor, the psychiatric practitioner, nurse and someone else...maybe a social worker. It happened so fast that I did not get all the names or the related credentials. There will be a follow-up call tomorrow. Today is DH's 5th…
-
Teepa Snow(2)
Several posters here suggested Teepa Snow's videos to learn about dementia. VERY helpful, thank you. If you are just beginning this journey, I encourage you to seek out her videos on youtube. She has the ability to bring it down to our level so we can understand and tells us some things no doctor would ever think of.
-
Travel(3)
My wife has early to intermediate stage Alzheimer's. We are going away for a few days next week. We're going to a place that we have been to before and staying in a hotel where we have stayed before. We will also be travelling with her sister and brother-in-law with whom we are very close. I would appreciate any hints on…
-
Uptick in USA covid deaths.
Despite all the vaccination effort there has been an uptick in 7 day average Covid deaths over the last few days. The average hit a low on June 4 and is up about 10% since then
-
MOCA, MMSE at time of diagnosis
I've often wondered what other's LO scored when they were finally diagnosed. My DHs general practitioner had scored him a 20 on the MOCA scale 2 years before actual diagnosis, ( I was not aware of this!) When finally diagnosed he scored a 17 on the MMSE. Just curious as to what others' scores were when diagnosis finally…
-
How talk openly with your spouse about their diagnosis
My significant other is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s and I try to talk to him about what is happening but he just wants to make jokes about it and I find nothing funny about this at all. He is the sweetest person. I met him 10 years ago. Gentle voice, peace maker, animal lover. Today he angers at the the slightest…
-
Should my LO be told of his diagnosis?
On our first appointment with the neurologist after testing was done, we expected to be given a diagnosis. The doctor walked into the exam room and said "I'm going to start you on some medication to help your memory." No diagnosis. No discussion of test results at all. I thought that the diagnosis, whatever it was, would…
-
Anger issues(3)
My LO is usually pleasant in the mornings. She's very polite and thanks me for helping her. Come noon, (I've starting calling it the "witching hour"), it's like Jekyl & Hyde. Nothing I say or do is right. Her brother & his wife were visiting this week and they couldn't believe the drastic & immediate change. I've tried…
-
So hard to fathom it again
After caregiving my mother with AD, she passed away in April of 2020. Now I find myself reading up on all of the symptoms of Alzheimers again, as I see signs in my 63 year old partner.It feels surreal. These are the symptoms he is exhibiting: Repeating questions over and over Forgetting things he has already told me…
-
The elephant in the room.(1)
Lets talk about that elephant that few discuss. Sex and dementia. My wife's been on anti depression meds for years, which cut off any drive she might have had earlier...but lately, her behavior is more like a shy teenaged girl, makes huge efforts so that I can't even see her naked accidently. Intimacy? Furgetaboutit. I can…
-
Hair trigger temper...new symptom?
My DW is in just the beginnings of this process but these past 2 weeks a new problem cropped up and Im wondering if this is the dementia at work or something else. She's always been "disagreeable" but lately, any small infraction or what she perceives as a slight towards her triggers a near screaming match. Is this common?
-
Writing activity for bedbound dementia patients
Hi all,My DH has been bedbound since late October. He has ALS & FTD and is non-verbal. He seems very content but I continue to try to find activities he can do. Some have been a hit...some not so much. The best one has been children's writing tablets from Amazon. They are plastic and use a battery. They come in different…
-
He is at peace(1)
DH passed away Sunday, June 6th and was released from his earthly binds. He had been in the care of hospice at home for the past several weeks and I was grateful that I was with him as he took his last breath. I can not put into words the support, love, education and encouragement that I have received on this site. My wish…
-
Now we have Hospice, etc
Husband became dehydrated from not drinking enough liquids. He also had come to where he would barely eat. I tried different methods for feeding and providing liquids. Most times he would refuse both or take very little of either. DH became very weak and had to take him to Emergency where they did testing and then had him…
-
Placed DH in skilled nursing last week
I am fairly new to this forum and haven't commented here often. But thanks in part to the excellent advice I've received here, I was able to make the decision to place my DH in a skilled nursing facility close to our home last week. I had the NY State Personal Review Instrument completed for him at the end of February,…