alz

alz99

Anonymousjpl123

Others will have more helpful answers but for starters, you are going to find lots of helpful info here! Part of Alzheimer’s/dementia is lack of insight that something is wrong. I think denial and resistance are quite common. It took everything we had and a crisis to get my mom to a neurologist, and now it’s been almost a year for the follow up. so you are not alone.

I Would make an appointment for her and frame it as a requirement. They call them “fiblets” - a lie that she will find more tolerable. I doubt she will agree to go. I’m so sorry, I know how hard it is. But the fiblets help a lot and can really ease the burden on you and her.

M1

The most important thing is that treatable causes be ruled out. if that was done, there's not a lot more to be gained from continuing, frankly. Unless she's a candidate for the newer meds (and it doesn't sound like she would be if she won't consent) then you don't have a lot more to gain. A geriatric psychiatrist may help you more than a neurologist, regarding medications to tamp down the paranoia. Read up on anosognosia--she truly can't see that anything is wrong. Much more than denial.

CarolynATL

I recall the last appointment I had with my father - lots of doctors in the room telling us the diagnosis. My father could hear the words but didn't understand. Frankly, the appointment was for me to digest and find out how best to help him, get medication orders. Can you speak directly with her doctor? As her caregiver, you'll be the one handling her medications and follow-up.

M1

You can help your dad, regardless. Help him be sure their legal affairs are in order and that someone has power of attorney for her. Help him plan ahead regarding how they might finance memory care. A certified elder law attorney can help on both of those fronts. And then figure out how to give him caregiving breaks-he will need them.

solerdr

alz99,

I am so sorry you are having to experience this in your life's journey. I am sure it came as a big shock to your system. I know it did for my family and I when we got the formal ALZ diagnosis for my father.

If your mother as already been diagnosed with ALZ from a neurologist, your father has the right to as the Neurologist for meds to help with the paranoia and other symptoms of the disease. With that said, as soon as we received the formal diagnosis my mother immediately got a medical and financial power of attorney (POA) and listed my mother, me, and my sister as POAs with my mother being the primary, and my sister and me as secondary. This allowed any one of us to make medical and financial decisions for my father.

If anyone, doctors, memory care facility, etc. could not get a hold of my mother for her to make a decision, they'd call me next, and then my sister if they could not get a hold of me. This was very helpful, and it will help ease the burden of making decisions from your father. The challenging part for you may be getting your mother to sign it; however, perhaps a solution would be to get POAs for both of your parents and have both of them sign the as a way to get your mother to also sign.

I hope this helps.

May God's light guide your day and His spirit bring you peace.

Sincerely,

Damion

StephPathofLove

My mom has stormed out of three neurologist appointments. It was painful for everyone involved. Although, by getting in the room she qualifies as a new patient. As a new patient her doctor can prescribe medications via email.

alz99

She has not actually had a diagnosis. You can get meds for Alz's even without a diagnosis?