Do any of you folks have early dementia yourselves and live alone?

Welcome Leeapole. There is support for you here on this message board. Unfortunately, the board is not as active as it was a few years ago. But I am here every day. I do not have Alzheimer's Disease, but I have been diagnosed as having cognitive impairment. I have been through a lot of experiences with having a slow memory. I live alone. If you tell me more about yourself, perhaps I can give you some guidance, and others can chime in also.

Iris

Iris. You have been great help to me. It helps me see my husband who has dementia from his point of view. This way I can be more sympathetic and understanding. Allowing him to remain independent and offer assistance only when he needs it. In my opinion more spouses of people with dementia. Need to spend time on this side of the message boards. I did tell my DH about how wonderful this board is hopefully. I can convince him to try it out.

Mimi, you are the support for your husband with dementia. Many people with dementia don't have any support. That's why we need to learn from the members here.

Iris

2dogssing, when I first joined there were many PWDs who posted often. In fact, these members brought me out of my deep depression. But nowadays, PWDs will post once or twice. Do you have ideas on how to encourage more participation from the members who are living with dementia?

Iris

Thank you ladies. I've looked at the titles of the discussions & haven't noticed any that seem to be directed towards those with AD. Perhaps someone could think of a title for a new discussion?

Yes, for anyone dealing with this, I feel the best first thing to do, even before diagnosis, is to focus on success, on doing things you can still do without worry or fear.  You are in it for the big win. 

    the first stages of diagnosis it is a blow, denial is a way to cope. 

• Succeeding, is feeling good
• it builds resilience, 
• lets you hang on to what you've got,
• set your self up for success !

One piece of advice is to stop multi-taking and that is great. Focused tasks because you have to, so you can do a better job. It is not just a way to deal with the problems but also for the feeling good, of being in control. 

 My AD mom did this, gradually she did it for herself, and angrily replied she did NOT have memory loss.  It would have been better if we had said how wonderful it was that she did what she did.  We would all have been better off. 

 Eventually on days when she could not remember thing I did it for her.  Finally she could not remember how to start walking, she could, sort of dance [1,2,3, kick] 

Now I do it for myself. I am a "lone ager", no kids and saving my money for memory care costs.  But I am not alone, most of my friends are single and childless.  We are the boomers, and have always had to find new ways, so we will.  Resilience saves a lot of brain cells.

Yes, for anyone dealing with this, I feel the best first thing to do, even before diagnosis, is to focus on success, on doing things you can still do without worry or fear.  You are in it for the big win. 

    the first stages of diagnosis it is a blow, denial is a way to cope. 

• Succeeding, is feeling good
• it builds resilience, 
• lets you hang on to what you've got,
• set your self up for success !

One piece of advice is to stop multi-taking and that is great. Focused tasks because you have to, so you can do a better job. It is not just a way to deal with the problems but also for the feeling good, of being in control. 

 My AD mom did this, gradually she did it for herself, and angrily replied she did NOT have memory loss.  It would have been better if we had said how wonderful it was that she did what she did.  We would all have been better off. 

 Eventually on days when she could not remember thing I did it for her.  Finally she could not remember how to start walking, she could, sort of dance [1,2,3, kick] 

Now I do it for myself. I am a "lone ager", no kids and saving my money for memory care costs.  But I am not alone, most of my friends are single and childless.  We are the boomers, and have always had to find new ways, to cope. So we will.  Resilience saves a lot of brain cells.