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Questioning My Caregiving Standards
When I came to terms with DW’s cognitive decline about 7 years ago (pre-diagnosis) I made a promise to myself that I would provide DW the “very best life possible” and would care for her as long as I could. Up until the Covid lockdowns DW & I maintained a fairly active lifestyle traveling, socializing with friends & family…
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Overwhelmed(5)
II have DH w diagnosis of Alzheimers. 6 years later I decided I could not continue trying to keep up with home maintenance and we sold and moved to independent living apartment. Soon after I became extremely depressed. I am on prozak, seeing a counselor and trying to do the things, like walking, to help with depression. I…
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thank you everyone for your input...
I will certainly consider all of the advice given...and I am so glad I found your forum...it will be a big help to me I'm sure...thank you again
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Just need to talk to my friends (151)
Morning, Jo - great minds--- as they say. That was my objective - to start a new part of the thread but things have gotten in the way until now. Had to be sure all the girls were okay - they were moving about and a count was hard to get. Then had to fill the water tank and feed Tom and Jerry - my morning chores. Billy the…
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Who else doesn't use pictures?
I've heard lots about going through pictures with your LO, putting pictures up for them, etc. But I've found that pictures just aren't that useful, and can often make him more anxious because he doesn't recognize the people. Or gets upset when I tell him who the people are in the picture and they don't look like who he…
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Hello Ed.
I’m checking in to see if your ears were ringing at some point today? I was talking about you and your DW with my dad. I hope things are going okay at your house. I made arrangements to bring in hospice here for my mother. I feel at peace with the decision and so does dad.
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covid and cognitive decline
Early and small research presented at Alz Assn meeting in Denver was reported this morning in the Washington Post. Bottom line is it's very worrisome, and the severity of covid disease doesn't correlate with risk, but loss of smell might. Lots more work yet to be done on long-term consequences in both young and old.…
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need to talk
my husband is undiagnosed but has all the symptoms. I don't think he will agree to get tested. besides the dementia or alzheimers he is on dialysis three times a week and other health issues. my husband is 82 and i am 71. I don't know what to feed him he may eat something one day and the next day he doesn't like it. I feel…
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Wants to walk
Last week my husband got lost walking. I gave him another chance and he did fine but the third day he got lost within 6 blocks of our house so walking privileges are gone. I decided to walk with him and for the last three days we have done 5 mile walks. Today we got home and I made him lunch and he announced that he was…
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Taking Medical Trip 5hrs away
My doctor is sending me 5 hours away for medical tests. The tests will take all day. Nurse says there is a possibility that I will be admitted to the hospital for treatment. My friend is pretty much functional but he does some really weird things once in a while, so I can't leave him at home alone. Is there someone who…
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The Switch Flipped - He Says Get Out
Yesterday was fine (all week really). DH woke me up at 3:30a with "How did you get in here?" I sleep in the LR on the couch, where I can monitor the front & back doors. DH is a wandering spirit. He increasingly stays in the bedroom (between episodes of exit-seeking). Won't leave the house otherwise for errands or groceries…
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MC - want to place but how to get there.
I’ve taken a major turn towards Memory Care. It is no longer if but when. I remember the thread we had recently supporting a member making this decision I think it was Ed or Joe. Since then three things have happened . 1. He picked up the small dog by one leg, and has become more worried about them or focused on them in a…
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Feeling alone and missing people.
During this journey I am finding how alone I feel; not being able to talk to real people. I love our care team of doctors, but everyone teases me because I used to be a social butterfly and now I am so isolated. I am taking care of my husband and he has had some infections happen as well as the doctors are telling us that…
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Why Rollercoaster Ride
Does anyone know why this is such a Rollercoaster ride? One day is really really good. The next is equally bad? Seems like I get one or a few good days followed by 5 or 6 really awful days. I keep looking for some external marker (food, drink, fresh air, what have you). I'm at a loss. Has anyone studied possible linkage…
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new low
Yesterday, while cutting my DH's nails, I smelled feces. I've been tearful all day...
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Using a water flosser for dental hygiene
Yesterday DH and I went to the dentist for the first time in over a year. DH's teeth are a mess for many reasons such as: * bone loss in the jaw, * head trauma from his adventurous escapades, * a lifetime of smoking, and * neglect. The dentist recommended deep cleaning. Its an intense procedure that will require numbing…
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Wife Has Mild Cognitive Impairment
I posted this yesterday on the caregivers forum when it would have been more appropriate here. My wife Linda (63) was diagnosed this March with Mild Cognitive Impairment. Her condition really began, in my opinion, in late 2019 and was significantly impacted by the Covid pandemic. Although she never had covid, the stress…
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frequent need to reorganize and get rid of items
Hello, at this time my husband is wanting to go through items in our home to dispose of things he feels he no longer needs. Unfortunately, this happens more than once with the same items. He goes through his clothes occasionally saying he wants to throw away things he does not wear or does not fit him. Some he wears…
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Crushing seroquel?
My DW is having problem swallowing her seroquel. Its an issue of understanding swallowing the pill whole. She tends to swish it around in her mouth until it tastes bad and then spits it out. Google says not to crush the pill. She takes a low dose 25 mg 3 times a day. Has anyone crushed them and put in applesauce or…
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Do I report these behaviors? Inappropriate Sexual Behavior
Fair warning--this post is not for the faint at heart, and I am sorry if any find it offensive, but I need some advise. My husband is diagnosed mild dementia and is still functioning quite well most of the time. He mows the lawn, takes care of his flower garden, helps with the dishes, reads the newspaper, watches TV…
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Immunity waning in Israel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNbs4LCgrcY Sorry that is not a live link. It is "Big US implications from Israel" by Dr. John Campbell on YouTube. In a nutshell, he talks about how in Israel many or most of the population are fully vaccinated. Now, however, it appears immunity is waning as the vaccine appears to be only…
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Large study links gum disease with dementia
Has anyone seen this information? I searched this forum and couldn't find any related information or link. Large Study Links Gum Disease with Dementia The mouth is home to about 700 species of bacteria, including those that can cause periodontal (gum) disease. A recent analysis led by NIA scientists suggests that bacteria…
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The unvaccinated continue to die at the same high rate
From today's Washington post The result is startling: Missouri’s case rate among unvaccinated people is as high as its overall case rate in mid-January, near the state’s peak of coronavirus infections....... “With the arrival of delta, we will have two very different epidemics — one a mild cold in vaccinated individuals,…
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Daily schedule
It has finally happened. My husband got lost on his daily walk. A policeman called me and I went to pick him up. He was in the general area where he walks daily. It was hot, very crowded with visitors and he was hungry. I plan to now walk with him everyday. He won’t be happy because he walks between 6-7 miles at a time and…
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he didn't recognize our wedding picture
My mom passed away 2 weeks ago. We were at her house in NJ and I found some snapshots of our wedding. When we got home I showed them to my husband and he didn't know who those people were. He thought I was a friend of mine that we didn't know in 1971. I was really surprised he didn't recognize me or himself. Feeling a…
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Once again......stopping the PWD from driving
So, about 3 months ago I bought a new car knowing that it would keep my DH from wanting to drive. We still have an older vehicle, but I am not comfortable with him having driving privileges anymore. My son agrees. His next appointment with his Alzheimer's Geriatric specialist is coming up, and I was hoping that would be a…
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Need advice about how to convince my DH we need to downsize.
My husband was diagnosed with Alz last January. We live in a big old house with stairs and lots of stuff and an acre lot. He is 78 years old and 16 years older than me. So far he has been able to take care of the mowing and general home care, but I know this is not going to last forever. Plus I don't want him spending all…
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I'm all used up
Last year while on a call to Dr. Tam Cummings, I was advised to put my husband into Memory Care. Though on a precipice of despair at the time, struggling to attempt to maintain a "normal" life while working with inadequate home health care, I've managed to not make that move....until now. Since March, 2020, my husband has…
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They called me a hero
In the last two months, two different brothers-in-law have told me I am a hero. One actually said I was his hero. He said he could never do what I am doing. No one has ever called me a hero before and I certainly don't think of myself as one. After looking up the dictionary definition of hero however I think all of us on…
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Transition from nagging wife to parent
When do I make the transition from nagging wife to parent? My husband was diagnosed with MCI last year. Changes to his short-term memory have been slight. Sometimes I think he is better. Other times I think not. (He is on Aricept —not that I think that is helping.) One thing I am noticing is that he showers every three to…