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It’s not all black-and-white
We are still in the early stage of all this. When I give clear instructions that he seems to understand I go over it again, but then when he acts on it he either has forgotten the instructions or he just determines to do his own thing. So the next day, we had somewhere to go. I gave him clearance instructions, but I didn’t…
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24 hours of crazy
My husband has had a slow progression of Alzheimer's. Normal behaviors currently are frequent repeating the same questions, excessive sleeping, gets angry if I want him to do something like take a shower or brush his teeth. a day ago, out of no where…his speech was all jumbled, he was saying crazy things, didn't think he…
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Apparently dementia can cause Grinchiness
DH took down the Christmas tree I put up last week while I was in the shower. He had been complaining about it being up. He took it off the table and put it by the back door. It was a small fake tree. I am so thankful that none of our beautiful ornaments were broken. I put the tree away but left some ornaments out and hung…
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Alzheimer’s with infidelity delusions
My DH has ongoing infidelity delusions. There are so many stories he comes up with of me being unfaithful I feel they are graphic and they are intensifying. Stories are of me being unfaithful with coworkers, contractors, neighbors, and even participating in a group. He claims I have been unfaithful our entire marriage…
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I Hate Christmas
My OH goes to the Alzheimer’s Activity Center five days a week seven hours a day . Naturally, this gives me a big break to do all the chores without having to look over my shoulder to see what my OH is up to…. folding toilet paper , rearranging her closet etc Unfortunately for me, the Center will be closing for almost 2…
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Lack of showering
Our father has been going for extended periods (40 days at a time) without showering or changing his clothes, which has led to skin lesions. He also has incontinence issues on top of it. We are limited in our ability to intervene due to legal restrictions making these challenges difficult to address, especially when faced…
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On-going hygiene issues
My DH won't shower unless he had to go somewhere which is now once every week to ten days. I can try all the tricks I've read about setting up the bathroom or offering to help and it doesn't make a difference. He doesn't want to go out to eat, or shop, or for a drive so bribing him with those events doesn't help. He may…
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I have Covid and DH in MC is on the verge of pneumonia
What a way to end the year! I came down with Covid this week and the Dr. prescribed Paxlovid. Unfortunatley, I am having a reaction to it and have had to stop taking it. Meanwhile, DH has a deep cough and his lungs are filling up. The nurse said he is heading into pneumonia. His oxygen level is still good though so he is…
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Something I have never seen discussed here
We all know there are conditions that mimic dementia, and when caught early can cause the symptoms to be a thing of the past. But one thing I've always wondered is what percentage of people being tested for dementia are found to have a condition that is treatable, and therefore dementia can be avoided? I've never seen any…
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DH diagnosed in Moderate Stage
Our first appointment with Geriatric doctor today was good and i was happy with time she spent with my DH. She did some testing and after 3 years with MCI, was not surprised that he was diagnosed in Moderate stage. It is the longest stage, but can move faster with illness or life events. Since he is not displaying any…
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Daughter helping care of DW
I searched all over for comments about my daughter helping me care for my DW. Most of what I saw were complaints/concerns about lack of help. So is it reasonable for me to think that we can do it? And for how long? DW was diagnosed MCI in 2016 and AD 2018. Age 73. Behaviors don't perfectly fit a stage, but it is probably…
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Where do I get simple help for meds and eating
My mom is still at home. She is doing physically very well. She is active in the community, volunteers, plays bridge, goes to church and drives. However, she has meds for diabetes, memory and high blood pressure that she won't take on a consistent basis, mostly out of defiance. This, along with not eating well, leads to…
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Eating less & sleeping more
I guess this is “normal” progression, but my DH has been eating half as much for a while and has been sleeping a few extra hours a day for a couple of months now. I put him somewhere in stage 6. Today, he put himself to bed at about 7 pm and ate very little. I guess I’m freaking out a little b/c I’m seeing (maybe a faster)…
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Hi - I really need input about end of life
My sweet husband is nearing the end. I feel so alone. We’ve been married for 24 years. No kids. What family he has walked away when he got diagnosed 6 years ago. He resides in a memory care facility in Los Angeles where they take really good care of him and love him. He was only 59 when he got it and now he’s 65. Had a…
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Zoom or online chats
Is there place to go to be on a live support group chat or zoom call? The posts can be helpful it would be nice to talk to people in real time. I don't have the energy to go through all the posts. Thanks
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sensitivity extremes
Does anyone experience LO being overly sensitive to things like light, noise,temperature? My DH complains when I get a pan out of cupboard that I am making too much noise. He gets upset when lawn guy runs the mower or blower. Everything is too bright, too loud, too hot, too cold when they are not that bad. Thanks for input
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Approaching stage 8
My DH, who has been on hospice in a nursing home for a month, had a big downturn last night. He can no longer swallow and is aspirating on his saliva. Hospice has discontinued all food and drink, and now it is a waiting game. He’s getting morphine and Ativan every four hours and seems to be comfortable. It’s hard to…
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This is fantastic! 5 day course from Dr. Natalie Edmonds
A few years ago I took a 5 day course from Dr. Natalie Edmonds. I was told I could share it. This was supposed to not be available anymore, but I was cleaning out my emails tonight, and decided to try the links. They are live. I thought the class was excellent!! If you watch the first one, you'll know if it's for you. I…
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Am I being overly concerned?
My husband is in the mid stage Alzheimer. He showers 3 times a week. On the days he doesn't, he will get dressed before he comes out of our room. I am usually up hours before him. He will put his clothes over his PJ's, won't change his underwear, socks or tee shirt. It drives me crazy. Should I just happy he does it 3…
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Feeling Fragile
I feel so sad. My DH of 54 years has VD stage 5 or 6 our partnership over the years has been so strong, we've worked together in our own business, sailed together, flown together, had our children together, and always relied on and supported each other, and now it's just me calling all the shots. I love him dearly and I am…
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Memory Care Activities
My wife has ALZ Stage 4-5. One of my big problems in caring for her is finding things for her to do. She has lost interest in many things and depends on me to fill in her time. We go to our Senior Center often, go for walks and have lunch out at shopping malls. In the evenings we watch TV together. While she is at home now…
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Help Please
Hello everyone - I am hoping you can help direct me on next steps. We just got back from an appointment with my husbands general practitioner. I spoke with the Dr outside of the exam room about my concerns about my husbands change in behavior and attitude. While I didn't expect him to fix it at this appointment I was…
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Hearing aid use and dementia
Another paper found to be wrong. I just read an article about hearing aids aiding in the fight about staving off dementia. I posted a link, but I received a message that their robot would not allow the link. First time I've seen that. I'm sure you could find it with a search. the original paper, “Association between…
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How long does separation anxiety last?
I’m a longtime lurker who’s been on the dementia train with my husband for about six years. He’s probably in the beginning of stage six. For the past few years, he’s had separation anxiety whenever I’m not in the same room. He attended adult day care for 2 years, but was fairly anxious the whole time. Often the day care…
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Sundowners
Could this be sundowning? My DH was married to his first wife for 23 years. We have been married 32 years. This last week, in the evening only, he keeps telling me that he knows he divorced his first wife, but then asks me - did I ever remarry or do I have girlfriends? I’m wondering if this is part of sundowning because it…
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Packing up to go home
I just put my DH in memory care yesterday. This morning the nurse said he had everything packed up to go home. She said he didn’t sleep all night and wouldn’t even take his clothes off last night. Now he’s crying today saying he doesn’t understand why he had to be there. I’ve been told not to go visit for at least a week.…
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Stages
Hi all. I'm new here. Caring for my Husband who was diagnosed about 4 years ago with early onset ALZ . I've been reading the messages and see some of you talking about stages. I'm not sure how do I determine what stage my husband is in? Thank you in advance for your help.
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Shaving solution
I switched DH over to a battery operated electric shaver awhile back and found that if I leave it on the kitchen table he automatically picks it up and uses it while I am preparing the meal. At 3 times a day he is doing a pretty decent job and I don’t have to say anything. All I do is clean it under the kitchen faucet and…
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Major Sundowner
My poor DW has had a few minor sundowning events, but wowzers, did she go all in last night. We ended up dressed and standing on the front porch, ready to “go home” at 9pm with pouring rain and flood warnings. Good thing she didn’t want to get wet, despite the two baseball caps she had put on, and I was able to get her to…
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She has gone to heaven
I cry as I write this. My wife passed yesterday at 2AM. Now I am suffering in stage eight. I don’t know what to do in order to feel better. So I thought I would write my awe full feelings down and send them away. I know others have gone threw this. I am nervous and restless. I am very sad I miss my wife so much. I feel…