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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.
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Do I Have to Accept His Version of Reality?
My DH was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's. His mother passed away 30 years ago after a long difficult battle with dementia, and he is depressed about his diagnosis given his previous involvement in his mother's care. He was managing pretty well with the original 2024 diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment, but this…
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Regarding donepezil and memantine
DW was prescribed donepezil and memanine upon her diagnosis several years back. My understanding is that this is a pretty common drug regiment for those diagnosed with ALZ. DW is in stage 6 and it is quite the effort to get her to take her pills each day. My question for those whose PWD used either or both of these drugs.…
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Cross country move advice
We are moving to NC to be closer to family. DH has a cognitive disorder, likely VD from 3 previous strokes. His memory is surprisingly good but executive function skills are compromised by vascular disease. I've decided to move us from CA to NC, a very daunting task given 40 yrs of accumulated possessions. I've been going…
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Buying
It's been a lifelong problem, prepping. A recent move necessitated giving away an entire cellar of goods she had bought, saved for the future. Now at the beginning of our Alzheimer's journey, we're in two rooms. Today I saw her list, we don't need to prep. When I brought it up it became that I wasn't going to control money…
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It was a great day, until it wasn't
The majority of the day was exceptional. I took my DW out for breakfast and she ate well. We returned home shortly thereafter. We then relaxed and talked for a bit. Her mother is coming up to visit in a week and that cheers her up. We talked about her last job, which she excelled at. Truly, she did. She worked for Kirkland…
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Loss of mobility
My DW seems to have suddenly lost her mobility. She had been a little slow moving around but now she's in a wheelchair. She can get in and out of the chair very slowly but can only take a couple steps. Just wondering if others have seen this. I'm sure this is a sign of the disease progressing.
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Hello, I'm New Here
I signed up here last December, but I haven't made any posts yet. Thank you for all of the posts so many of you have made! My husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) in November of 2025. He had symptoms starting in 2020, and was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment at that time.…
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New to this disease
My husband was diagnosed with dementia about 6 months ago and I feel so lost. We've been married for 23 years, this is a second marriage for both of us. All of my family is halfway across the country, so I feel very much alone in this journey. He has one daughter who is very caring and concerned but she lives a ways from…
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Trying new drug for delusions, paranoia...Olanzapine-5mg
We started on Olanzapine over a week ago and it has been helping with the delusions and paranoia. Better mood. The 2nd week started and he dozes off in his chair often. He seems confused at times and memory not good. There are a lot of side effects with this drug. So even though it has helped, I am worried about his…
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Depressed and venting
My DW is getting worse fast. She doesn’t remember what happened five minutes ago. Plus, she’s understandably depressed. I’m at a loss to help her mood so I’m depressed, too, and just want to sit in bed and watch TV to wind us both down. I don’t expect miracles. Just venting here. I appreciate the group.
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Suggestions on how to deal with medication refusal
My DH has recently started having some significant behaviors. His delusions have increased constantly saying I have a problem and need to go to the doctor. Blocks me from going upstairs etc. Nothing physical. He starting taking 25 mg of serequel in the afternoon. I called the dr. to request an increase so I have started…
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DH in denial
My DH was officially diagnosed with MCI and is not accepting it. He says he flunked the test because he wasn’t feeling well. He will not agree to any further testing and, when I try to have a conversation about it, he just dodges and deflects. I finally told our 3 adult children and a few friends but swearing them to…
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Dementia is more than memory loss…
Dementia is not just memory loss. It’s cognitive decline. It affects the brain, and the brain controls everything. Movement. Sensation. Perception. Judgment. Sure, memory is part of that, but it’s not the whole picture. People can have dementia without obvious memory problems, and we are very bad at recognizing that.…
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New Member with questions
Hello, My DH was diagnosed with mixed dementia and in moderate phase (start of stage 5 in the 7 phase model). I knew he had it and had to push his PCP to test him. 2 yrs later and they tell me something I already know. So frustrating. His neurologist prescribed donepezil, but he doesn't want to take it and the research…
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Buspirone - anyone?
Briefly my DW is in stage 7, under hospice, on several meds including serequol, depakote, lexapro, and Valium as needed. Also temazepam for sleep. Total aphasia. Days are usually 80% walking, bumping, mumbling (all the time) and 20% laying down or sitting. The issue is she’s usually walking with eyes almost closed. Can’t…
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Supplies for incontinence
As my DH is approaching the last stage of Alzheimer’s I am struggling to find diapers that actually work without leaking. I have found good pads for underneath but have to wash them almost every morning as they are wet. It seems to leak out the top and I have found that all brands sit low on his waist. Has anyone had good…
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Palliative Care
The geriatrician my DH sees has ordered palliative care and we've seen first a registered nurse and then a nurse practitioner. I wondered if anyone has experience with pallilative care and if it's helped. What are the benefits of palliative care. I was told they would be able to transition him to hospice if/when the time…
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Anniversary
Yesterday was our 47th anniversary. So I got a nice card for my wife who has FTD and put a loving note in it. I had a dentist appointment at 2:00 to finish two crowns so I spent quite a while there. She never got up until I woke her up at 5:00 for dinner. I gave her the card and she had no comment. At dinner she announced…
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Offering you some supplies
I have a few supplies that I no longer need and I’d like to offer them to this group. It’s not much, but this forum was so valuable to me I would like to offer these items here first. If you want any or all of these send me a private message with your address. First come, first served (I’ll pay shipping for US): 2 bottles…
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Teeth Grinding
My wife just started something new last week. She is grinding her teeth incessantly. She is 8+ years since Alzheimer's diagnosis and in early stage 7. Of all the symptoms she has exhibited over the years, this is one of the most excruciating. Anybody have any experience with this behavior?
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ESBL and Hospice
Last Thursday hospice came to the house to do an evaluation on my husband. I told them I thought he was in stage 6. After answering some of their questions the nurse said he’s in stage 7. That caused my heart to skip a beat. He got out of the hospital last Tuesday after being treated for a UTI that turned into an…
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Violent behavior
My wife, officially diagnosed with Alzheimer’s last July, is in outstanding physical condition for an 86-year-old. This is a doubled-edged sword, because she exhibits periods of violent behavior and because she’s a strong person, she’s difficult to contain. She’s can be downright dangerous. I am her sole caretaker and I…
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Just need a friend
Im caring for my husband of 47 years, about 6 years in now, so far, not difficult except for watching steady decline of smart, healthy partner, which, of course you all know kills us a bit each day. He is good tempered, does as I say, is comfortable to be around, he mostly watches TV or sleeps but we can no longer carry on…
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Have been “lurking” for awhile…
and thought it’s time to introduce myself. My DH was diagnosed with MCI a year ago after a lengthy wait for cognitive testing and then another 8 months for Neurology. It has now progressed to Alzheimer’s. All I can say is it’s been hard and I’ve learned so much already from this group over the past year so thank you. I…
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New here
Hello! My husband hasn’t been officially diagnosed, however, being around a friend of my mother I know. We’ve been to a neurologist twice, but he told me he wasn’t “comfortable” making a diagnosis at that time and for me to keep a record of things until the next appointment in June. So, my question today is how do I not…
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Can you tell me more about visiting MC Facilities?
I helped my mother find a SNF for my grandmother decades ago, but there were like 3 choices in her area… and I don't think there were any MC options near her at the time. Now, I live in a city where the choices are overwhelming (which I imagine is actually a blessing). What am I looking for? I have read that I need to get…
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Leqembi
My DH starts Leqembi next week. I know the process takes at least 5 hours. My question is this: Can he bring drinks, snacks while he is having the treatment. He should bring something to read I would think. Is someone allowed to stay with him and or come and go during the treatment. Just curious so we can plan the day.
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MC costs
I’ve been reading a lot of posts about caregivers moving their loved ones into facilities once they can no longer care for them. I am not there and I’m praying that the time won’t come when I’m forced into a horrible decision like that. I feel that 80% of the folks that make the move can afford to do so. I’m just wondering…
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New day New challenge
If I’ve learned anything about this terrible disease is everyday seems to bring on a new challenge to deal with. My current challenge is my DW is going into the bathroom to urinate and stands in front of the sink and just pees. This happens in the middle of the night when I’m sleeping. I’ve tried to prepare for when she…