First time posting

wellssmith85

Hello Everyone.

This is my first time posting in the forum and I thought I’d do a brief introduction. I’m a caregiver for my mom who has dementia. She just turned 73 earlier this month and she was diagnosed with dementia about 5 years ago.

I work from home so I can tend to my mom. Aside from work and my mom, my days are also spent on chores and taking care of our dogs and cat. My brother lives with us, he works during the day, but at night he’s here to help and give me a little breather.

Caring for my mom is a challenge and I get stressed easily. Sometimes I feel I’m at my wit’s end.

I’m hoping this forum will help me find the emotional support I need and some helpful tips in dealing with my mom’s outbursts.

SusanB-dil

Hi wellssmith85 - Welcome to 'here'. This forum is the best for that support and advice.

Yes, caring for PWD is a challenge. Each stage has its own quirks and frustrations! Good you have some help from brother, a lot of folks on here do not have assistance. Your mom is blessed to have you both watching out for her.

Anonymousjpl123

hi Wells smith, and welcome. You will find great support here. This is such a touch disease and caregiving is not for the faint hearted. The outbursts are really tough. My mom is in Memory Care, and while overall she is doing well she still has really rough days sometimes. What I have found is the number one thing - so hard! - is to not argue with someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia. I learned the hard way. It is much better to figure out where they are at, what their current thinking is, and to just go with it while focusing on helping them to feel safe and supported. Not easy, but it does really work with the outbursts.

You will find excellent advice here from people who really know. I’m sorry you are going through this, but hope you will find the same support I have.

DCCEPEK

Welcome you've come to the right place. There's some awesome folks here. Keep reading keep posting. It's real.

darcytg

Welcome Wellssmith85,

Glad you found this group of people. I'm new here, too.

Great advice and resources here. Folks here have pointed me in the direction of watching Tam Cummings, teepa snow and care blazers videos. I am learning much from these.

I am grateful to read the threads posted here learning from people with ' boots on the ground ' and find connection to people also caring for a PWD.

Again, welcome.

Darcy