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Struggling in Stage 8
my DH Lonny passed last August. I miss him so much it hurts. While I expected the mental pain I didn’t expect the physical reaction every time I think of him. I’ve been doing things to honor his memory. I moved in with my daughter and son-in-law but I feel alone. I don’t have any friends nearby and family is so busy. My…
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traveling with spouse with dementia- beginning stages
Husband has posterior cortical atrophy so forgets things easily, has no peripheral vision. But we love to travel. Considering the Caribbean to escape MN winter. We love to walk together. Plan to stay in one place from approx march 3-10. any ideas? thanks. Lois
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Ethics of car buying
We put my parents in memory care months ago. Dad has a relatively new used car, while my car is getting old. I want to buy his car, in fact family and neighbors have told me I should. I am Dad's POA, so bill of sale will be between me as POA and me as me. Check will go from my account to parents' account which I use to pay…
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Service dog
My wife was diagnosed about 3 weeks ago with Mild Cognitive Impairment with Alzheimer's pathology. She's 64 years old and I'm 54. I don't remember who brought it up, but the idea of having a service dog was discussed. My wife has pretty much always had a dog. Right now we have a 13 year old American pit bull and a 2&1/2…
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Just need to talk to my friends (204)
Time to begin segment 2O4 of our thread. Thought this would be a good time before morning posts. GG, if you stew the prunes, they won't be shriveled. My day was good. I may take Stormy for a ride everyday. the enjoys it so much. I need to get a pair of safety glasses for him. He likes to ride with the window down. This is…
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Any tips for a caregiver to work out?
I’ve tried 5 caregivers. Every time, my DH (stage 6) likes them the first day, after that doesn’t want them around. Follows me everywhere very agitated. I’m tired and need help. Caregiver # 6 is starting Monday. So far she is the best I’ve seen, a CNA, works in hospice lots of experience. Very passionate about her work,…
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Suggestions for remaining patient with a parent?
Hello, I'm new here so here's a little introduction before my question: my 87-year-old mother has dementia after several years of living with MCI. My sister lives close by and handles my parents' finances and a lot of other tasks that are too much for them. I live on the opposite coast and do what I can from here, and I…
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What's the worst that could happen?
Setting the scene: My mother has three pieces of property, a springing POA and a stubborn streak the size of Jupiter. She is currently between showing signs between stages 4-6 of dementia (not my first rodeo with the disease). It will not be long before she needs supervision. Issue #1: She refuses to see a doctor. Issue…
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first visit to memory care
I made my first visit today to see my DW in memory care. She's been there just over a week. I was advised to stay about an hour and to arrange a signal with the staff so I could excuse myself "to go to the bathroom" and leave. It was hard and terribly sad to see her. DW said over and over, "I miss you so much." She asked…
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Jay Leno caring for wife with dementia
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/jay-leno-stands-marriage-vows-faces-challenges-caring-wife-suffering-dementia
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looking for advice for "chattering"
For a few weeks now, it has been non stop repetitive nonsense coming from my DW combined with the intense shadowing which means she is rarely more than an arm's length away. I know ALZ is not a mental illness, but that is certainly how it looks and feels. I get to listen to her lose her mind in real time, non stop. Nothing…
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Am I being unreasonable?
I’m 81, my DW is 82. I have been her primary caregiver since she was diagnosed three years ago. We live in rural Western PA. Between our prior marriages we have 8 kids. They all live far away, the closest is her daughter who lives fours away. She is in stage 5. I have had to take over all the finances, medications, meal…
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Help! In need of a break
Hi, I am a new caregiver. About 2 months in, my husband and I took over care of his mother from another state, living with us now in our home. She was so much worse than we were led to believe. She needs to be watched 24/7 and we are well aware that it will only get worse from here. We are looking for some kind of…
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Focus on the Now, the Positive, the Moments
My name is Vickie B. I turn 50 in 4 days, and I've been living with younger onset Alzheimer’s since 2021. Have I cried? Yep- a few short times. BUT I have made it my mission to not stay/live in my sadness. I choose daily to see and find beauty and joy around me. And if I have a bad day, I give myself some grace. Honestly,…
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Short term memory and spouse
I am 56 and started having memory issues this year and seems more prevalent recently. I dont have a diagnosis yet and see the neurologist in Nov. A recent example is my wife and I went on a hot air balloon ride in Africa. 8 days later she told friends we took the balloon ride and I interrupted her and said no we didnt. I…
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Infusion #10
Tomorrow afternoon is Leqembi infusion #10. You'd think by now I wouldn't be so anxious about it. I've been taking anti-anxiety medication since the beginning, but ANXIOUS I am! I have all these racing thoughts, feel everything and nothing all at the same time. I know how that sounds, but it's the only way to describe it.…
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The Cavalry Is Not Coming: 9 Year Edition
This is an updated version of The Cavalry Is Not Coming. I repost this occasionally as I have been informed that this article has helped many caregivers. This edition is mostly the same, although I have brought it up to date and revised it to make it more helpful. October 1, 2024 marked nine years since my wife’s dementia…
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Won’t let me help clean him up
This is not a nice topic, but you all know how it is in this forum. 😉 DH is at the point where he isn’t cleaning his behind well after using the toilet. We both have always closed the door when we used the bathroom throughout our long marriage. So now when I knock on the door and ask if I can come in or if he needs any…
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Shuffling and Gait Changes
How many of you have observed your LOs developing shuffling and stiff gaits. My DH has recently experienced an acceleration of these symptoms. I suspect he is transitioning from 5 to6.
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Long Geri-Psych Stay!
At the end of last month/beginning of this month, I posted that DH had a complete mental breakdown at his rehab center, where he was recovering from a fractured tibia. He was transferred to the local ER. Here's the update: After 2 days in the ER, on April 2, he was transferred to an inpatient Geri Psych facility. He's…
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Mom Making Up Stories
HELP! My mom has dementia. I don't know what type, because her primary doctor has been treating her for "memory" issues for several years. She began with taking donepezil and now memantine has been added. She is also on an anti-depressant and mood stabilizer. She knows all her family, so that hasn't been an issue. However,…
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In case of an emergency to caregivers
what can I get in case something should happen to me , caregiver, when with my wife alone and she needs to get in touch with 911? It needs to be the simplest thing to use , remembering to dial or 911 is not an option. Any thoughts as every second of delay could be life threatening
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Not eating , can the reason be because of knowing what lyes ahead ?
I 've read that with dementia that eating habits can change . Food tastes different , etc. etc . But my fear is that my DW is starving herself so not to put me or our family through the journey . Is there anyone else who has had this feeling or actually experienced this ?
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RAV phone
My husband can not work the simple Jitterbug phone any longer and I am thinking of getting him a RAV phone. They are $ but I need something for him in case of emergency. Does anyone have any experience with these - good or bad? Thank you
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Getting support for my dad who is my mom's full-time caregiver
Hello, first post here, hoping to get some different perspectives. My mom was diagnosed with early onset alzheimer's nearly 8 years ago (I think) right around 60 years old, though she likely could have been diagnosed earlier, she had been showing symptoms for a few years at that point. My dad has always promised her he…
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Newly diagnosed with MCI
I have had the MoCA test and 2 Quest Diagnostics blood test: PTAU 217 @ 0.18 (normal < or = 0.15) and PTAU 181 @ 1.48 (normal < or = 1.07) After reading about these test it appears to me that I likely have early stages of AD. My personal Dr. has played this down and just says I have MCI and wants me to do red light therapy…
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Dirty habits
HI. My mom is a stage 6 dementia patient and we have a caregiver for her during day time while I am away for work. From evening 5 pm, I take care of her and I have set a daily pattern for her. 1. Take her down for a stroll in the society everyday. Make her sit with her old friends n I socialize with then, such that she…
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Revealing diagnosis
How and when does one begin the process of revealing the diagnosis?
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Does Memory Care actually help
I obviously have been obsessing about memory care for months. My husband is probably late stage 5, can't do any ADL's without help, very bad arthritis so walking is difficult. We go to twice weekly exercise classes and various musical events and will occasionally take a short walk in a nearby canyon. He will walk short…
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Help with deciding next step with mom
My mom has had ALZ since 2017 and is now in the later stages; not bed ridden yet but now a fall risk, unable to speak in full sentences and very agitated, and needs to move to skilled nursing. This will move her to Medicaid and I need a resource with knowledge of Pennsylvania and Maryland law because my sister and I can’t…