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Share your Story with the Alzheimer’s Association
The Alzheimer's Association is dedicated to ensuring that everyone facing Alzheimer's or another dementia is able to access a timely diagnosis, available treatment options and quality care throughout their journey. To better understand the barriers people currently face, we are looking for people to share their experience…
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Moved: ALZConnected Q&A Thread
This discussion has been moved.
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Language issues
My spouse has had problems with language for several months. I mention it when people ask about him, but I struggle to explain it. So, yesterday, I started a list. He was staring out the kitchen window (at the sunset). When I asked, "What's up?" he said, " I'm looking at the thing that's going to go away soon." What do…
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Building diet resources after my father's early-onset diagnosis - seeking your experiences
Hello everyone, My father was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's earlier this year, and through our journey, we've found it challenging to find good dietary resources and support. I'm working on building an online resource to help others facing similar challenges. Before building it, I'd really value hearing about your…
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Seeking Advise - I am 25
I am 25 and my mother was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s at 60. I am new here and need help knowing what to do. She’s about in the mild/moderate stage. My father passed away 2 years ago and the only family around is my younger brother who is 22. She has a sister that lives about two hours away. Family and friends…
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I have a question about Parkinson's Disease
I have a friend who has Parkinson's Disease. Her voice is very soft and I have to ask her to repeat two or three times before I can understand what she is saying. She wears hearing aids and probably doesn't hear her own voice well. I would like to suggest that she receive speech therapy to improve her voice and speech. Can…
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Medicare and Leqembi
Hi! Anyone out there on Leqembi and have Medicare? My wife is on Leqembi and just turned 65 and signed up for original Part A and B Medicare. We’re wondering how much Medicare pays for Leqembi? And how much is left over for the patient to pay? The first few infusions were given when she was still on my BCBS insurance. So…
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Advice on auditory hallucinations?
I've been searching and reading the forums for a while, looking for my situation but I've not quite found it. I'm a caregiver for my aunt. She's diagnosed with Dementia, but doing quite well, able to clothe herself, eat, walk around, etc. The biggest problem is hearing voices, as she has been for a year. For the most part…
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Decline stopped. Is this the new normal?
What a roller coaster it's been! Earlier this month, I asked for advice on my mom who entered hospice and was declining daily. No longer able to swallow and was sleeping more often. I thought it was close her final weeks. This past week she doesn't seem to be declining any longer. She is eating again (although not alot)…
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Keeping a list , documenting the journey
I posted something like this a few years ago—- it will help you to start keeping a list of things your LO does that shows they aren't able to function like before. Littler stuff like putting the milk away in cabinet next to cereal box. Kinda makes sense , but…. Big stuff like saying they haven't eaten - while the third…
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What is wrong with me? Or is there?
Mom is most likely a few days or a couple weeks away from death. Yet I just feel numb…. Or I just don’t feel at all? Yes, she’s 86, with pulmonary fibrosis, on oxygen for 7 months now. And having had dementia for several years, and looking back, cognitive issues for a couple years before that We lost our son in April of…
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Another reason to watch the PWD's finances: the IRS
It is hard, messy and sometimes relationship impacting to step in to take control of your loved ones finances -using DPOA or guardianship. People say things like " want them to be independent as long as possible " etc. Heard a caller on a radio show -grandmother with dementia lost 500k to a phone scammer who said her…
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How to help my mom: she forgets that she went to the bathroom (#2) only a few hours after going
Hi everyone! My mom is almost 83, and in great health, but her memory is not the same over the past year. Over the past few weeks, my mom keeps on thinking that she is constipated, and that she hasn't passed a bowel movement in two days. I explain to her that she did so earlier, and it still doesn't register. She continues…
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Lecanemab 3 year data
We listened to a presentation the other day by doctor at Duke University. He mentioned there is 3 year data now on lecanemab. He presented the info in a support group for those who are getting lecanemab or who may be interested in getting it. Open Label Extension Data Shows Lecanemab’s Continued Effect on Alzheimer Disease…
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Seloquel
I am new here. My mother was diagnosed with ES VD in August. She has been prescribed Seloquel which is very concerning to me. Based on the info I have been able to gather, she does not have any behavior issues that would warrant being prescribed this drug. She is docile, but has had some anxiety and sadness in the…
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Alzheimer’s-Posterior Cortical Atrophy
I also posted this on Caring for Spouse page. 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…
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Hospital bed time. Moving really fast
I added an Update in the comments I got a call tonight from the AL nurse. Mom rolled out of bed tonight. Since this counts as a fall ( in my opinion), it’s three falls in 9 days. The AL nurse had previously told hospice that mom didn’t need a hospital bed as her platform twin bed raises and lowers at the head and feet. I…
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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 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. In…
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Moving LO to a condo
Both my parents have dementia/AD. They both are in the moderate stage and they can no longer live in their house far from any family. My siblings want to buy a condo with my parent’s funds, move them to it and get them 24/7 care. They think my parents will easily adjust. I’m not convinced this is the right solution. I’m…
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Remeron (mirtrazapine) vs Trazodone
Anyone here have experience with Remeron? I called the family doctor this afternoon because we couldn’t wait for the first neurologist visit next week. Mom cries all day, every day, complains incessantly about burning in her feet and fingertips, still complaining about the irritation in her private area( that has been…
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Anyone ever move a loved one on Medicaid to another State?
My sister’s nursing home has asked us to move her. They are citing that she is “exit seeking” and that she is difficult to deal with - saying that she needs to be in a memory care wings. They do not offer the service. I suspect that is not the true reason - yes, she is difficult, and she is an exit seeker (5-6 times a day…
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Books about Alzheimer's Disease
I want to start a thread for books regarding Alzheimer's Disease and caregiving. I invite anyone with a pertinent book about Alzheimer's Disease or the other dementias to post. If someone has the link for Understanding the Dementia Experience, please post it here, so new members can readily find it. The first book I want…
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How to get over how mad dad was at me for moving him to ALF
My dad passed away two months ago. It came four months after I moved him and my mother to an ALF. Mom has moderate dementia. Dad had COPD and late-stage CHF when I moved them. It was clear to me in the few months prior to the move that dad had become too unwell to care for himself or mom appropriately. I did not know he…
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How many broken TVs is the limit?
DH gets peeved some nights if I ask him to brush his teeth and he gets worked up if his phone charger is not cooperating & this has led to an eruption of him throwing his phone on a few occasions. Last time he broke the TV. Time before just missed my head. He threw it tonight & I have not checked the TV for damage…just…
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Medicare Discharge,observation status & representative status: advise & help video
[also posting in Spouse/partner & Parent sections] After a call with Medicare that, shall we say, didn't go as expected I researched to plan my next steps and found this video. There is a no-cost CMS Medicare service called : qio = quality improvement organization that is supplied [as of the video date 2020] by two…
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How do I get my smelly DH to put on clean clothes?
My DH had mixed dementia, both vascular dementia and Alzheimer's. I gave up on trying to get him to bath. it has been at least a year since he showered or washed up. He used to change his clothing every few days but now he refuses. I have tried everything I can think of. He sleeps in his clothes including his socks.…
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FAST Scale and info sheet
@harshedbuzz shared this link on a different discussion. I’m bringing the link here to discuss the info sheet about the FAST scale. https://alzconnected.org/home/leaving?allowTrusted=1&target=https%3A%2F%2Fmccare.com%2Fpdf%2Ffast.pdf We’ve always said that a PWD can skip stages or have symptoms from different stages at the…
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Should I share my own surgery recovery with my LO that is in assisted living?
I have been caregiving for my mom for 4 years, moved her to assisted-living two months ago. I was consistently visiting her 4 to 5 times a week to assure her she is still loved and we are not abandoning her. She has vascular dementia and is resistant to much care so she doesn’t let the assisted-living staff do hardly…
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10 ways to help caregivers
In no particular order. All of these apply whether the PWD is at home or in a facility. Ask about the PWD. And listen. Ask the caregiver how they are doing. And listen. Give the caregiver flowers, chocolate or wine. Send the caregiver a nice or funny card to tell them how much they’re appreciated. More than once. Offer to…
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Mom with VD in final stage need advice
Hello, I've connected with others in the past here and have always appreciated the support and thoughts/suggestions from others. Mom has VD likely mixed with Alzheimers. 2.5 yrs since diagnosis. Likely had mild stage for a year prior. I am an only child. I placed Mom in a MC assisted living facility when it was obvious she…
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When is it time for palliative care?
My DH has been in and out of Geri-psych units since May, and has spent more than a month in his current unit. Halfway through his stay, he developed aspiration pneumonia and spent five days in the hospital getting IV antibiotics. He’s back in the Geri-psych unit now, but has had a significant decline. He’s on a puréed…
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Excellent Handout Packet: dementia, stages, CGs, actively dying - Tam Cummings
(Sharing here as well as Spouse/Partner CG Forum) - Recently there was a post requesting Stage 7 information. The attached includes some staging tools and also 1 pg info sheets on what to expect in final months, weeks, days, hours. I also am seeing for the first time, a nursing care notes section with Tam Cumming's staging…