New here. My father has dementia/early onset Alzheimer’s

mysunshine47 · October 1

Hi, my father, who is 79, was diagnosed with dementia early stage of Alzheimer’s the first part of 2025. Also a few months ago my Dad was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia. Since that time his dementia has progressed quite rapidly, and he is getting treatment for the leukemia. I live in Arizona and my father and stepmother live in Oregon. I recently went to visit them a couple of weeks ago, and what I observed in my interactions with my Dad were very concerning. I am afraid for him, but I am also scared of how much I am worried about him. It has gotten to be very overwhelming for my stepmom and I just want to support them both the best way I can. I just don’t know what is best since I live far away from them. Any guidance and support would be greatly appreciated. Dee

caregiving daughter · October 4

Caring for someone with advanced dementia and a serious illness would be a lot for someone. I would suggest assessing whether there is any back-up for your step mom. Can she take breaks? Can she grocery shop? What if something should happen to your step-mom like a twisted ankle such that she can't walk? Perhaps try to ensure there is a plan b in place. Likely this will involve a sensitive discussion on finances as placement is something that may be needed, even if it's just for weekend respite. Maybe a starting point is asking your step-mom what the most concerning thing is to her. Perhaps that might take you to next steps of understanding legal and financial. I would recommend reading board posts to learn what type of issues may arise. Thinking about your family…

New here. My father has dementia/early onset Alzheimer’s

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