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Glued to the tube
My wife of 39 years spends virtually all day every day watching TV. Mostly the news on a loop—and yet she asks me questions that make it clear that none of it’s sticking—ie. “who is running for president?”). It’s another beautiful fall day, but she has closed the blinds, is complaining of being cold (it’s not), and does…
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Visiting DH A Huge Success
As some of you may recall, I have only visited DH once since his placement 1-1/2 yrs ago given the very first visit was a huge disaster. With his neurologist telehealth appointment coming up in December, I figured I had better not make the telehealth appt day be my first "revisit." Moreover, I felt obligated to bring him…
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Adjusting to part time caregiver
I’ve been a full time caregiver for my husband for 5 years. He is in the moderate stage of Alzheimer’s and resists going to day programs. I hired an experienced part time caregiver to help me a few times a week. My husband doesn’t understand this new person in our home and was very irritated with me the second time I left…
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Here we go again
My LH loves woodworking. He is determined to work on a couple Christmas gifts. He has always been very independent with his projects and never needed assistance. Now I need to help him each step of the way taking my time and even then he can’t follow the directions and instructions or drawings or measurements that we…
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Getting Someone Diagnosed
Hello, my mom lives with me and I've been seeing signs of dementia, depression, anxiety in her. At times, she will say " I think there is something wrong" and when I suggest talking with a doctor, she immediately says "NO". I had a virtual appointment with her PCP and she couldn't believe what I was telling her. She said…
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Jekyll and Hyde
Has anyone else experienced their loved one being "in their face" for hours in the middle of the night screaming obscenties and accusations, forcable holding them down on the bed when they try to leave and then days later wanting nothing but sex from them?
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Article on long term care insurance
Not the most cheerful topic…. https://x.com/barronsonline/status/1849308096327246291 Covers the history of insurance , recent premium issues etc.
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The Lawn mower saga
Alzheimers just stinks, and makes simple things so complicated sometimes. My Dad’s riding mower, AKA the tractor, had a factor recall in July. My mother had a company pick it up for the factory warranty repair, which took a long time because they were waiting for a part. Then at the end July my mother was diagnosed with…
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Support group
My 76 year old wife was diagnosed in September with moderate Alzheimer's just 10 months after an initial MCI diagnosis. Luckily I have lots of local family support. I've just registered for an in-person support group. What can I expect from the meeting?
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So happy to have found this group!
Hi, All, I just joined this group. I posted the following as a reply in another discussion and someone suggested I create a new discussion to introduce myself: My partner's neurologist just moved his diagnosis from Mild Cognitive Impairment to Alzheimer's. This has been reported by law to the DMV and he will be heading…
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Benefits of therapy?
My mom fell 3 weeks ago and sliced up her arm on a dresser drawer handle. She had multiple sutures and wore a bulky dressing for 2 weeks, then had sutures removed. No longer needs the dressing. The injury appears to have healed well, for which i am grateful. She is no longer complaining of pain, not even during the suture…
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second home
I haven't seen conversation about owning a second home, or vacation home, and I know there are others like me who have a dw or dh with alzheimer's and have thoughts about how to handle it. Ours is a vacation home in a popular tourist area that we bought knowing that dw has alzheimer's but did it for her enjoyment knowing…
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Anger about not going to church
My dad is 75 and in the mid-stage of Alzheimer's. He lived in a different state until 14 months ago when he made the decision to be closer as I am his caregiver & POA. No other surviving family lived close. What had been nice since his diagnosis was that he was able to convey that he knew it was time for the next "step" in…
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Is It Dementia or Aphasia
my husband has Frontotemporal Alzheimer’s Dementia and Primary Progressive Aphasia. It seems to me his symptoms are the PPA more than the dementia. Is that possible? How do I tell the difference?
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Don't argue, redirect
The above is the one of the best ideas I have learned on this site. DW and I got home from a visit with our son this evening, and she got to complaining about the state of her wardrobe. This is a chronic problem. All 30 pairs of her shoes are "worn out", etc. I bought her a couple of new sweaters earlier this week, but she…
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…of course she isn’t really there
You’ve heard of phantom limb syndrome, well I’m having phantom wife syndrome. A number of times a week I very briefly, just for a moment, experience a feeling that my DW is with me. She’s been in an MCF for over two years and the hospice nurse tells me they have just determined she is Stage 7f (on the Fisher scale), the…
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Tonight the sides close in
I struggle One footfall then the next Got to move forward as there is no choice Yes, I guess there is But that choice is not who I am But as I walk this path I will no longer be who I am When I was 14, Sister Mary Neri caught me reading Catch 22. She did not approve. So I read it twice and understood it as much as I was…
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Death of sibling
I thank you all for your responses. You certainly are a great group. Followup to my post. My sister-in -laws told my husband his brother had died. He was quiet and asked how. They told him his heart gave out. He said that's too bad. They also made arrangements for my husband to go early to say goodbye. It worked out well…
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CPAP machine
My husband has Alzheimer's and Vascular dementia. He uses a CPAP machine because he has severe sleep apnea. He is in a memory care facility and has now started hitting staff when they try and put the machine on him. The doctor's recommendation was to stop the using the machine because of his behavior. The facility was sent…
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PWD asks what are symptoms of dementia
PWD asks me what what are the symptoms of dementia. I was truthful, and PWD (with anosognosia and living at home) would say "Well, if one gets to that stage, one need to get placed into a facility". There was little realization that PWD already exhibits some of these symptoms. PWD probably has been thinking of the topic,…
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Mom is in psych hospital after suicide attempt
anybody had their person in a psych hospital ? How long did they stay , how does the evaluation take place ? We don’t have much information, Mom was admitted a week ago , after suicide attempt they don’t seem to do anything apart from monitoring her , and want to meet us in 10 days we are all (kids) at the end of our rope…
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Talking on the phone
My DW who has EOAD, has been talking on her phone to a lady that has a business selling clothing. Ally (the lady) streams her sales shows on Facebook. My DW is talking to her like she is on FaceTime. I’m hoping it’s ok that I just let her do this. Also she has bought so many items that I have locked her card. When she…
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How to Get Legal Affairs in Order When You're Broke
Hi everyone! As the title says, I'm broke lol (it's not actually funny but I have to laugh or I'll fall apart.) My mom (60) is definitely progressing, and I don't have any of her legal affairs in order. Currently my mom is being taken care of by 2 people in their mid 20's, so not a lot of stability here as neither of us…
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Loss of Spouse, and moving to AL advice needed
My mother passed away one month ago of cancer, my Dad has Alzheimer’s. He was there when she died at home. He knows she died but does not remember being there. It is so hard to watch be traumatized over and over again, although things are starting to become more about how long he has been alone than when she died. So some…
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Newly diagnosed parent (75) - recommended first steps?
Greetings, My 75 yo mother was just diagnosed with AD. Our next appointment with the cognitive neurologist is not until January. What does everyone recommend I do in the meantime? I have an appointment with a neuro-social worker this week, but I'm not sure what I should be asking them for help with. I would love to get the…
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Michael Ellenbogen's Observation from the Alzheimer's Association Conference
Michael wrote an article sharing his experiences and observations from last summer's Alzheimer's Association International Conference. He let me share his article with you. https://www.mathewsopenaccess.com/journals/neurology/abstract/aaic-2024-from-the-perspective-of-a-person-with-dementia
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Puzzling Symptom Improvement
DH is physically in Stage 7 ALZ and has been in hospice care for 11 months. He also has CHF and effects from a stroke in June 2023. The past 2-1/2 weeks have seen a major change for the better in his mental skills and alertness. Before, he often didn't know who I was, didn't speak beyond "Yeah" and "No", and slept about 20…
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BIGGEST FEAR, DW MC and what about the whole SEX in MC with others?
Help me navigate the negative thoughts I am feeling. Let me start by stating. I am feeling a tremendous amount of grief. The person in my wife’s very fragile frail body is not the woman I married. I must now consider placement In a memory care home, but I cannot shake this. I have been taking care of her 24/7 now for over…
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Short-term rehab wants DH out; Aetna Medicare Advantage could stop at any time?
My DH gets agitated and fell twice trying to get of the house - ended up in the hospital and the second time I said that I couldn't care for him at home. The hospital released him to rehab facility. Three days later, the rehab asked that he go somewhere else. I have been here from 10 am to 8 pm every day. He's told me that…
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Hospice medication changes
Mom has been on hospice for two weeks. She’s been extremely anxious. Hasn’t left her room much at the AL, had her meals brought to her room. The first week she kept accusing me of abandoning her to the hospice staff( I was there 5 times in 9 days). The second week she called me 3 times a day with the same questions: what…