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The Long Goodbye is Over
My dear husband passed away early Monday morning. He was at home and with me and our two children. He was diagnosed 3 1/2 years ago and had been slowly progressing over time. He was always cheerful and I am so thankful for that and for all of the support that we had. About three weeks ago, he was becoming so weak that we…
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New member
Just signed up today! Hope to get a better understanding of what is yet to come.
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How to respond
My LO has recently taken a large turn for the worst. I am 12 years his junior and still work full time but have homecare during the day. It is getting much more difficult at nights. He keeps asking every ten minutes for me to take him home or he needs to go home. I say ok lets go and a lot of times I will drive around the…
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Bible Verse to Lift You Up 10/27/24
Dear Caregiver, there are many verses here, so my suggestion: Read a bit now, pray and think about it, and come back later to read a bit more. It is always worthwhile rereading and meditating on familiar verses especially these about love. You give up and do so much because you choose to help someone who needs you. That is…
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Bible Verse to Lift You Up 11/19/24
THE LORD BLESSES US Psalm 29:11 New International Version 11 The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace. me: When you and I love and obey the Lord, we too are among His people. Lord, You are my God. Thank you for always being with me and giving me the strength and peace I need each day.…
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"Ants in his pants"
Has anyone experienced what i call "ants in his pants"? My DH can not sit for more than 10 minutes. He keeps going to the kitchen, opening the refrigerator, freezer, kitchen cabinets looking for something to eat. He just won't sit. It is so exhausting as I have to get up and see what he is up to? Any suggestions?
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I'm ready for adult day care
I have concluded that I have to have help with this. My wife has stage 5 AD and my 50 year old son has a stew of cognitive disorders, and I am the caretaker for both. He lives in an RCF and she lives with me. Taking the two of them anywhere is very stressful for me and them, because they trigger each other. DW needs 24/7…
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Diagnosis Difficulties
Hello everyone, I'm new to this site. I guess for me as a caregiver for my husband is knowing what the diagnosis is. He was recently hospitalized and I was given three possible diagnosis. (Ubspecified pyschosis, frontotemporal dementia, paranoid delusions). He was hospitalized several times within a short span of time and…
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Do they need to take any responsibility???
Everything I read says that a person with Alzheimers can't help how they act and react. As a caretaker I am encouraged to be calm, take the blame for whatever, and always be patient and never argue. But my question is, do they lose all obligation to try to be positive and kind? I'm so tired of the negativity. I get it, but…
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DH has severe rash since taking Donepezil
DH was diagnosed with early onset alz about 6 months ago. He is tolerating Donepezil, although he did have headaches initially. He does have a severe rash on his chest and back which the VA has diagnosed as Grover's Disease. I am wondering if this could be a side effect of Donepezil. Anyone else experiencing this?
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Where to start??
I'm new to this community and struggling with the obvious cognitive decline of my DH. We're just beginning this journey and I'm a bit overwhelmed with the challenges of getting a true diagnosis and establishing the best quality medical team for his needs. His primary care doctor did not seem to take his symptoms seriously…
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Total incontinence would be a blessing
DH still uses the toilet, usually with my guidance but occasionally he will try to do it on his own when I’m not watching. I have caught him going in places he shouldn’t, including a wicker trash can (wicker doesn’t hold liquid) and the corner of the bedroom. He will pull it out and start peeing even while walking to the…
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Agitation and Demands
Help....My DH demands ALL my attention and wants me with him ALL the time. Triggers are: me on the phone (without it being on speaker phone), me doing anything I'm interested in, me watching any TV program I like...etc... Just today he was fine until I would not go outside in the pouring rain to get the pressure washer out…
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Just crappie day
You wake up in a good mood. DH is so negative. You carry on. Try to get him in better mood in nope. Dh complains his tv is not working right. I work it fine explain to him what to do. DH tries again can't do it. Worse mood. Think I'll take a ride! Just me complaining.
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Books For Beginners Caring For A Loved one
These 2 books were a tremendous help for me when I started on this dreadful journey 5 years ago. Being new, I was not aware of Support Forums but reading these 2 books helped me kinda understand how my world was going to change …. and unfortunately not for the better.
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Donepezil
My mom was diagnosed with dementia over a year ago and has been on donepezil since. I would like any info people could give me with they're experience with the drug. My mom takes hers at night but I notice some take it in the morning, any suggestions on which works best? Thank you in advance.
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Donepezil
Unfortunately I have not seen any improvement in my mom‘s short term memory with this medication. Only the side effects like nightmares and things like that. I’m wondering if anybody has experience with their loved one getting off of this medication and if there is any side effects. I read one article that said if someone…
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Donepezil and Memantine
There have been several questions recently about these two. I have even responded to some of them but I have another question. Some have said that they have seen no affect from these drugs but if they are only meant to slow the progress of decline and Alzheimers progresses so much differently from patient to patient, how…
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Respite and Guilt
Oh, this damn disease. I was re-reading the super helpful "The Cavalry isn't Coming" post again and remembering how darn true that is. I've been on my own with this for 4 years, though have gotten a friend and sister to help exactly one time each. And now, I got a sister and a couple of friends to come take care of my DW…
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"Child" proofing cabinets
DH is at the point where he is starting to go into cabinets looking for things. Any recommendations? Do baby proof ones work or will he be able to open them? Any ideas will be so helpful. Thank you all.
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We took a nap
When I got to MC this afternoon, DH was lying in bed. I teased him about being in bed all day and he said he had just gotten there and was tired. I usually sit on the edge of his bed and visit with him and then try to get him up. Today, kind of on a whim, I got his extra pillow and crawled in beside him. The bed is small…
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Moving DW to Memory Care
How do I tell my DW that she needs to move to a Memory Care facility? She get angry very easily and she says she doesn't want to lose me. Our children are supportive, yet this is a very stressful time. Don't know how to handle it.
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Alzheimer’s-Posterior Cortical Atrophy
Don’t remember if I posted this already but I recently realized symptoms my husband had early on several years way before diagnosis. He complained of dry eyes but I think he just couldn’t describe what he was seeing. He also had difficulty spelling common words and doing simple math. He became obsessed with the garbage,…
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Me time in the morning
For 50 years DH enjoyed having his morning cup of coffee in the den watching the news. I enjoyed my time in the kitchen having my cup waking up straightening up! More and more he has been in the kitchen sitting in my chair watching every move I make. I understand why but it’s driving me crazy! I miss “my morning” time! We…
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Costs of early to middle stage care
I am looking at purchasing some long term care coverage. One that I like starts benefits when I can't do two of the six activities of daily living (ADLs), like dressing, hygiene and eating. Others start benefits EITHER for that, or for having cognitive impairment. I assume that there are circumstances in which I could have…
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Wonders of cognition
Yesterday my husband spelled his first name incorrectly on a coloring page, but an hour later while outdoors on a walk, he heard a motorcycle roaring and exclaimed, “Did you hear that motorcycle in this cold weather”! A compound thought! He has a South African aide with an accent who says his name over and over when she…
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I need help
my husband will not shower anymore. I have to learn not to ask him anymore because it’s wearing me out. Shaving too although eventually he does shave. He’s sleeping until 2 pm. I wish he were ready for memory care meaning he will refuse to go. I don’t know what to do anymore. He’s wearing me out. I think I’ll get in touch…
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Happy Friday!
Happy Friday to all the spouse and partner caregivers! Do something nice for yourself this weekend, however small! Sending love & hugs!
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Facebook?
DH is at a point where technology is meaningless. He uses neither phone nor tv remote. The computer and ipad have been ignored for a year. I have solved the problem of his phone and email messages, but what do I do with his Facebook account? He recently had a birthday and people were posting birthday wishes to him. I…
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[mouth hanging open]
Just had a phone conversation with my DH’s stepmom. She asked very specifically how I was doing, and then filled me in on what she was doing. Toward the end of the call, she finally asked how my DH, her stepson, was doing, but prefaced her question with, “but just a little bit; I don’t want to be sad.” I was flummoxed. As…