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Am I Wrong to Feel this Way?
Hubs & I live in a remote-ish part of Colorado. We like our solitude... I don't go into town much. I have no support system. Kids aren't around for the most part. I've suffered from depression my whole life. So, with that background, am I wrong to reach out to family/friends when he does something that wigs me out? I asked…
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He’s free
My beloved husband died this morning 4:30 am to join our deceased cats and his sisters. I hope he is surrounded by all kinds of plants, flowers, friendly cats and his family. He only survived 5 days in long term care, I went to see him yesterday and his breathing was very ragged. I got the phone call that he passed. I am…
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Once diagnosed....
My husband has early onset of dementia....now what? Medication? Support Group? Just learn to live with it?
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From home care to facility care to gero-psych
Hi friends. It's been awhile. I was Diana's full-time caregiver for the last 3 years. I think I did pretty well, until we got to a phase where she didn't know who I was, which I was expecting and I was ready for, but she also did not like the strange man in her house, and refused any care from me, which I did not expect…
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Questions for MCF
I'm touring a couple of memory care facilities tomorrow. Here are discussion items I've thought of. What am I missing? Staffing ratio. How are schedules organized? Weekend staffing. What kind of assistance/services can we count on? What costs extra? What will I need to manage myself? Activities and programming Meals…
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Things I'm learning or learned from this journey
I want to pass on my belated condolences to those who have lost loved ones since I posted last. I'm so sorry for your loss, but so happy for your loved one, who is now at peace. Fellow warriors, I've been thinking about what I've been learning during this horrible journey, I felt compelled to write some of it down. I'm…
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Calling all FTD Caregivers!
It was suggested in JeanneC's last thread that maybe a new thread directed at FTD caregivers would be beneficial, so here goes. I too am part of the Caregivers of FTD club. After my husband had his first MMSE 3 years ago (he scored a 17), none of his doctors saw any purpose in administering another. About 18 months ago, I…
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MCI vs the computer
DH has been diagnosed with MCI, not bad, except that he is a retired computer guru, and now struggles with programs/passwords/accounting/banking/bill paying/all that. I am a retired accountant, and could easily do the accounting and bill paying, but he is reluctant to give it up - sitting at the computer figuring things…
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What a day. . . !
Got a call from MC last night at 1:30 am saying they found my mom lying on the floor because she fell and they would let me know if they needed to call an ambulance. I sat up for an hour but never heard back and tried to contact the administrator who called me from the MC so I assumed she was ok until I got a text this…
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Getting near the End
Visited Melissa today. Sat in her room with her, holding her hand. Surprisingly she put her other hand on top of mine. I put on Springsteen's "Tunnel of Love" album and we sat together. Later the hospice nurse knocked on the door and joined us. Melissa's vitals are still good but she is eating less and some "other stuff"…
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Need help: Does DH need placement for his own safety?
It's been a rough 10 days. Last weekend, about an hour and 15 minutes after I left the house to perform with my singing group, I get a call from DS. DH had called him and they were on the way to the ER. Seems DH had suffered an episode of intense chest pain that then subsided. Because he's got a longstanding history of…
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Adult Wipes Warmer Needed
No formatter is installed for the format not-found
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Delusions that are so hurtful
Any one have experience with your DW having a delusion that you are having an affair? This has happened to me 4 or 5 times over the last 6 months. It is always the same person which I hardly know. It breaks my heart that I am being accused of this. How do you not defend yourself? If you do it only causes an argument. What…
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Has anyone’s every experienced this ???
im curious if anyone has an upside to this progression, and what I mean is my DW was diagnosed last year with mild Alzheimer’s, she take complete care of her self in all ways , gets confused a lot repeating questions like that no driving can be left alone. Question… anyone ever stay in one stage till end ? I guess I mean…
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scavenger hunt
I seem to spend a lot of time tracking down things DW has "lost". Prime suspect #1 is DW's eyeglasses. DW panics that she's lost her glasses and says she's desperate and can't see without them. She only needs them for distance, not close vision, so she takes them off a lot. I got her an "eyeglass chain", but DW decided she…
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JUST NEED SOME PRAYERS UPDATE 12/5/23
My heart is breaking. I had to drop my DH off at a Memory Care facility today. We fibbed that we were taking him to lunch. I had to leave without saying goodbye. I have been his caregiver since he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's-Posterior Cortical Atrophy 2 years ago. Recently I was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive cancer…
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and so it begins. . .
My DW is wetting the bed and her clothes nightly now. Have absorbent pads down under the fitted sheet but I have to change her clothes and the bedsheets every morning now. She gets hysterical, screaming and yelling at me to leave her alone but the hysterics are every morning for the last year or two now anyway. She's…
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Advise on When to Retire
My 58 year old husband was recently diagnosed with EO AD and will likely go on LTD next summer. We are in good shape financially and his insurance will cover us until he is 65 at the employee rate (not COBRA). I am 61 and was planning on working until 65 but am now wondering if I should quit early so we can do some of the…
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Traveling with Spouse
My Dh was diagnosed with early onset AD on April 2022. I would love to take him to back to his favorite city - New Orleans for Christmas He is about stage 5 -early 6. Trying to decide if this a good idea or not. I have to keep him safe. - he does get lost our home sometimes. Any travel tips for staying in s hotel? AirBNB…
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Pedicure tips
This morning DH complained about a hole in his sock hurting him. I told him to take it off and gave him another. With the sock off, I was stunned at how long his toenails have grown. Up until recently, he was keeping up with this himself. That ship has apparently sailed... a while ago, while I wasn't looking. So tomorrow…
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Pets and Dementia
My DW and I have always had pets -- cats and dogs. Our old, sweet last cat and our old dog passed away from cancer a couple of years before we moved and we haven't replaced them. I miss having pet energy in the house and now my DW doesn't really want them. She says she doesn't want to have to take care of them, as if…
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Caring for my wife who may be near the end.
I am having a very tough time dealing with what might be the end for my dear wife of over 36 years. How does one cope. We are both members of a faith community, but it is still too hard. Any ideas>
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New to hospice & have questions about your experiences
Hi All, DH is at home with me, and just qualified for hospice after an in-home assessment. I don’t believe he is in his final 6 months. For those in Stage 7 (or Stage 8) and have used hospice, how long has your LO been on it? Is it hard to requalify after the initial 90 days and every time thereafter? The hospice company…
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New member Alzh_Dem2
Recopied: My husband has dementia. He turned 90 yrs in July. Presently he can still take care of his personal needs. He doesn't drive anymore and in the past few yrs I have become responsible for most of our finances. He uses his tablet for updating himself on the news every morning with coffee. He uses the phone to order…
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Neurologist visit questions
I am bringing my DH to a new neurologist tmrw. He is in the early stage of Alzheimer’s, and has already been evaluated by a neuropsych. Any suggestions on questions to ask, tests that should be done (CT scan suggested), other advice?
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Our anniversary was yesterday. . .
I din't even bother to say "Happy Anniversary!", get her flowers, a card anything. The day just came and went like all others. If I would've gave her flowers, she would be asking where they came from every few minutes until I finally have to put them out of sight. She hasn't recognized our marriage in two or three years so…
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Younger onset, or forthcoming Alzheimer's at later date?
Symptoms with start dates. Some dates are guesses because I only began paying attention to symptoms this year (2023): 2023: Difficulty judging distances. Think I stopped the PWD from jumping in front of cars coming from two directions recently. The look on the PWD's face indicated they were going to try to cross a street…
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Article on Positive Experience With Placement
The Attached article is one caregivers positive experience with placement. I can relate to much of what he is writing about from my experience at my wife’s MC. I have gotten to know many of the other residents and have had a lot of positive interaction with them. https://flip.it/gYJ2Tp
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Interventions
DH recently diagnosed with AD. Not formally staged but it looks to me that he is mild with one moderate trait. I have received numerous suggestions for interventions, some confusing, some depressing. I am interested in exploring possible interventions from those of you with the actual experience. Thank you
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Best Housing Options Moving Forward After Diagnosis
Hello, I am new and this is my first post. My wife, the love of my life, was diagnosed with early onset 2 days ago in Quito Ecuador. We are retired, me 62/she 56 bilingual hispanic, from Alaska to the coast of Ecuador. We lived the dream for almost 2 years on the beach which is really awesome. I plan on moving back to USA…