Caregiver support
Comments
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Welcome to the forum. A care home or other help sounds like a very good idea. But honestly at 90 i wouldn't bother with a neurologist. There's virtually nothing they can offer. Sorry if that sounds blunt but i think they're going to wonder why you brought her.
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Assuming that other medical causes of dementia-like symptoms have been ruled out, I would not take her to a neurologist, either. You would need a diagnosis to activate a springing POA, but I can't think of any other reason at this point. My DH saw a neurologist only because he had suffered a minor stroke, and there he also received a "Dementia - ALZ type" diagnosis . Other doctors had dismissed his memory and walking problems as simply aging (He was 91 then.) I had been providing so much scaffolding that the ALZ diagnosis was a total shock to me. He was then in Stage 6. We have not been back to the neurologist.
It is very good that you are taking your own needs and the needs of your family into account and looking at care home placement to avoid burning out. You already have so much on your plate, you have to take care of yourself first.
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thank you for your feedback. Still new at this caregiving thing, and want to get all my bases covered. Her PCP recommends it, hopefully to also check on her brain if she’s had any stroke (mini or mild). It doesn’t hurt to check right?
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Thank you for your feedback and advice. I just want to be able to know for sure and what stage she’s at. If she has just dementia or Alzheimer’s or both.
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Just to clarify, Alzheimer's is a form of dementia. Dementia is an umbrella term that covers a number of specific diagnoses. Alzheimer's, Vascular, Fronto-Temporal, and Lewy Body are the more common ones.
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This is a common staging tool that is very helpful. It will not only give you an idea of where she is at, but what is to come. Do you have a DPOA and other legal matters addressed? I find comfort in learning more about dementia, what to expect and the best approach to take with common problems helps me feel less stressed (former teacher, I like th learn). This site is a great resource.
You said it doesn’t hurt to go to neurologist. That’s probably true as long as it’s not causing her a lot of stress and anxiety. If it is I would have a conversation with her PCP about the how important this appointment really is.
I hope something here helps.
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/6372d16ea4e02c7ce64425b7/t/63f7b80d80d8aa3e3aa4a47d/1677178894184/DBAT.pdf1
Commonly Used Abbreviations
DH = Dear Husband
DW= Dear Wife, Darling Wife
LO = Loved One
ES = Early Stage
EO = Early Onset
FTD = Frontotemporal Dementia
VD = Vascular Dementia
MC = Memory Care
AL = Assisted Living
POA = Power of Attorney
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