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Post-Hospitalization
DH collapsed outside on Saturday. He's 81 with mild/moderate Alzheimers. Good health otherwise. I found him on the woodpile looking near death. He was unresponsive and limp. The hospital could not identify exactly what caused the collapse and it is possible he fell and hit his head. There were stress enzymes (troponin)…
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Respite caregiver struggle
My DW is early/mid stage Alzheimer's. I recently hired a caregiver/respite worker to come for 3 hours a week. He's an experienced fellow and provides not only assurance of her safety but also engaging conversation. She seems engaged with him when he comes but afterward gets angry with me and sad for about a day. I think it…
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Diagnosis
What are the first steps your Dr will take to diagnose ?
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ADL hints
Is there a specific section that discusses how to's of ADL? I'm struggling with toileting. I don't know how to help my sweet husband. Pad boosters, adult briefs, cleaning, etc. I keep thinking I'm making it harder on myself. This diagnosis was a shock to me. How do I adjust, where do I go for help, etc. The one thing that…
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Early incontinence
My DW was formally diagnosed last Oct. However, she tested poorly over three years ago just never had more testing. Her symptoms are mild and she is still very self sufficient. She also has anosognosia so there is no recognition that anything is wrong. Over the last few weeks she has had a little urinary incontinence right…
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Weight loss in Stage 7, how serious is it?
My DW is now well into Stage 7 and is on hospice. She sleeps 20+ hours a day, and is barely awake the rest of the time. She rarely opens her eyes. She does however still eat puréed food and thickened liquids fairly well, usually finishing most of what is offered her. She has been losing weight for about a year, but the…
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New to this site but not new to dementia
Mom was diagnosed with dementia in 2018, moved to MC in 2019, and passed in Oct 2022. DH was diagnosed with dementia in April 2023. I am his full-time caregiver, with some help from our son and nearing teenage grandson. Mom was in stage 2 when COVID shut everything down. When MC finally reopened for visits she was in stage…
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Buying a home solo
DH is Stage 6 Banker said he must be vetted for mortgage and he will be required to sign for mortgage even if I am purchasing based on my income credit etc. I tried to explain he is incompetent and cannot be responsible for anything. Wondering if anyone else ran into this problem. I know it is state by state. This is…
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How to see group discussions
I joined a private group but don't know how to join the discussions of the group. Can someone explain?
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Setting my expectations for symptom relief from medicines
My DH is in early stage 6 Alzheimer's. He has been being treated by a new neurologist for the last six weeks to try to find a combination of prescription medicines that can alleviate his agitation, delusions, and angry outbursts. The doctor has several decades of experience treating people with dementia. So far the…
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I need help
Hi, I’m Janet. I take care of my husband with Alzheimer’s. I would really like to talk to someone going through the same things. He is in the moderate stage and is 77, I’m 73.
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Dh went home
I haven’t written much in a while because of the fast progression that has been happening with my husband. Took him to the VA ER last Friday thinking maybe he had a UTI, he had so many of the symptoms, except for saying “I want to die, why can’t I just die “. They kept him in the hospital and this Saturday 3/16, he got his…
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Aricept and Namenda debate
Hello friends, I do not post often but surely keep up here as my lifeline in the journey. Your advice in the past as been so beneficial, I thought I would put my question out there and see what the ‘experts’ (literally) think.. So we are in late stage 6 I believe. In January it was specified DH’s dementia was likely Lewy…
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Newbie Questions
Hello, I just started posting this weekend after having read for a few months. My brother is a few years away from turning 65, and a few days away from his MRI. His wife speaks english as a second language, so they've asked me to be actively involved helping him through this. One of the old discussions I read recently was…
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Frustrating vent
I am getting tired! Typical morning I get up make coffee and start picking up what DH has "put in a safe place" during the night. He sits on the couch and drinks his coffee as I make him breakfast. Knocks it over so I have to clean the coffee table and the rug. His remark "Isn't that why they call it a coffee table?" than…
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A new diagnosis
Recently the diagnosis for my spouse is vascular dementia. I do not know what to do next or what help to get. I would appreciate any suggestions. Thank you
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I Am On My Own Now
I continue to go to this site numerous times a day - the empathy and experience of the participants here is the best support I have found. I am in a place now where a lot of you have found yourself in - I'm alone in this horrible ambiguous grief cycle called Alzheimer's. Bill posted "The Calvary is not Coming" and I read…
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No more driving
My husband has Alzheimers and recently took a road test for triple A at his doctor's suggestion. I found out the results yesterday and it didn't go well at all. How did you break the news to them that they had to stop driving? He's only 73.
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Just need to vent
After reading so much about the trials that so many of you have I feel bad about whining about my situation. My DW is really very easy to care for, her short term memory is pretty much gone and she seems to live in the moment, with no concerns about yesterday or tomorrow but she takes care of her own ADL's and is quite…
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Traveling
Hope you all are hanging in there as best you can. I am sitting on this quiet morning, DW asleep, and enjoying a little time to myself. Well, sort of enjoying. My mind is spinning away about a trip I need to take to visit my parents back in the midwest. A five hour flight, potentially with my DW. I know it will be a…
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Swallowing problems in Alz.
I mentioned this in my question about hospice timing, but still have questions someone might be able to answer. To recap, my husband is 71 and was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia about 8 years ago. He also has diabetes and some other things. He is mostly stage 6 now, and has lots of confusion,…
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Apple watch and falls
DW was always the techie and now my son in law has the role Everyone insisted I should get an Apple Watch for its fall notification. When your children are as smart as mine you do as you are told. so I got the watch On my recent cruise through the Panama canal I was in Puerto Vallarta Mexico and I tripped on the curb and…
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Just saying hello
New to this. I’m Jack and I recently retired to stay home and take care of the wife, who is in the mid stages of Alzheimer’s. We do ok mostly i guess. Sure could use a little more of her boys help. It’s a shame but they just don’t know how bad she’s getting. Cause when they do come we try our best to act normal I guess.…
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PACE
Please share your experiences with the PACE program. I've just initiated contact with them. I'll post here once I get more info. If your loved one is receiving PACE services, please share details and tips, hours, ADL requirements, and whether you act as the PCA or bring someone in. Thank you. What is the Program of…
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A few positives
Good evening all. Or should I say morning. 1. Last Thursday night I went to check on him, as he was taking even longer to come to bed...we were entering hour 3 of the going to bed routine. He said he needed a little help. I went in and there was blood all over the floor. He had tried to cut an ingrown toe nail, and cut his…
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Struggling to stay strong and get a bit of my life back
New to the group. I've been trying to deal with my husband's dementia in my own but it's too much. He's had dementia for 3 years now and in the past 6 months has had 2 vascular surgeries and a stroke. He is so weak and frail in addition to the cognitive decline. He struggles to even use a walker so getting out to even walk…
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Hospice started
Hello friends My husband was approved for hospice today. I'm all over the place. I'm sad and exhausted. It was hard to hear that we're at this point. I'm weirdly relieved in some ways. But honestly, I'm not ok. I appreciate all of you who have helped me so far. I'll continue to lean on this forum full of truly kind people…
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Explosive Diarrhea - Oh My!
Hello All - Just commiserating here with fellow spousal caregivers who've battled the awful specter of explosive diarrhea with you LOs. Just finished up my latest battle tonight and have to report it wasn't too bad. Last time was over a year ago and I was an awful mess, and I was mad, cussing and really didn't handle it…
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Pros and cons of home care vs memory care--and misperceptions? For educational purposes
This came up on another thread so I thought I'd start it off. I was struck by comments that a PWD had to be nonambulatory or completely unable to perform any ADL's before they were appropriate for MC, neither of which is the case. As someone who had to place my partner under some duress and for whom the adjustment has been…
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Security and Door Locks
My DH doesn't wander yet, but sometimes I'll notice he is outside in the yard and I'm getting increasing uncomfortable with the idea that wandering might be next. So - I'm looking for advice on how to lock my doors so that I can know when he walks out! I have steel frame doors, and a lot of the locks I see online won't…