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What to do: working mom with 1 year old baby, family member with suspected dementia
Hi everyone, I'm new to this caregiver journey and looking for a place to share my story and any advice/words appreciated. I am a working mom with 1 year old baby. Recently, my husband and I came to suspect my mother-in-law to have dementia/Alzheimer's. I only learnt about this recently, but apparently for the past year…
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Visited mom in MC and found another resident sleeping on top of her bed
I visited my mom yesterday in her Memory Care apartment. The door was ajar. I walked inside and saw my mom in her bed under a couple blankets. To my surprise, there was a woman lying across the foot of her bed on top of it face up. Just sleeping there. I took a photo for evidence. Then went to get the attention of a staff…
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Sleep pattern is a mess
my DH spent 3 nights in the hospital and returned home yesterday. While there, they gave him Seroquel at bedtime and it helped a lot with sleep. I could tell he had slept because when I saw him each day he was alert, upbeat, and didn’t nap at all during the day. A great relief because he wasn’t sleeping much at night when…
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Give me your dollar!
I came home from burying my wife today to find a recorded phone message dunning me for payment of an ambulance bill that is on my desk and due two weeks from now, June 16. The provider is the Sisters of Mercy, an order of Catholic nuns who purport to be a nonprofit faith-based organization. This is what the USA has instead…
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Sudden issue with weakness & walking
I am caring for my mom who has memory loss due to dementia/alzheimers. Her memory loss became noticeable about 7-8 years ago. In the past several weeks she has suddenly become very weak when walking. She used to walk a lap or two at the track every other day and now struggles to walk a short distance around the house. I'm…
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MC 1 week and major decline
I did finally place DH in MC. The building up to it was gut wrenching, however, after I felt a sense of relief knowing he has 24/7 and me some freedom. The first few days went well. Evenings somewhat challenging but not too bad. Suddenly everything changed. DH angry outbursts early afternoon. He goes in and out of every…
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Support Groups with Respite Care North Idaho/Eastern Washington
Does anyone in the North Idaho/ Eastern Washington know any dementia support groups that offer respite during the meetings? I know the Alzheimer’s support groups don’t offer this. But is there any other groups around my area that do?
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Does Detailed Diagnosis Really Make a Difference?
I am struggling with some issues related to my DH, who was diagnosed with "amnestic mild cognitive impairment" late last year (72 years old with a lot of chronic health issues). I don't really have any prognosis beyond this umbrella term, but I'm beginning to think that maybe it's enough for now. His regimen of medications…
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Emosiones
Hay la buenas noches, mi mamá fue diagnosticada con demencia Alzheimer, fue diagnosticada a sus 69 años y desde entonces yo estoy al cuidado de ella.
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From NYT: When They Don't Recognize You
This should be a gifted link- https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/20/health/dementia-family-recognition.html?unlocked_article_code=1.BE8.G3Pn.ikjbW50YMnR2&smid=url-share
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OBSERVATIONS & FEEDBACK
Caring for my DW at home. Early stage AD, complicated by recent stroke. Largely recovered from stroke and now eligible to resume donanemab infusions. DW in denial & angrily resistant to medical help, OT/PT, meds and any caregiver advice and acts. Lotsa verbal abuse & defiance. Observations: 1. We caregivers share similar…
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It is the little things
As a caregiver for my DH, who has mixed dementia, I can no longer work full-time, and I haven't been in a restaurant for over a year. I mostly get out of the house when I can bring my husband with which is a challenge and can be exhausting. Recently, I have been sneaking out of the house early in the morning or late at…
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Worsening Cognitive impairment with Borderline CSF -- When to Retest?
In early 2022, when I was 58, my neurologist ordered several tests due to my having worsening short-term memory and other cognitive issues. A brain MRI showed "marked cortical atrophy", and a CSF test conducted by the Mayo Clinic showed abnormally low Abeta42 (679 pg/ml, normal range is above 1026 pg/ml), although my…
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Things can change quickly
A short while back, my DW was enrolled in Hospice Care. But, 3 months later it was determined she was not declining fast enough, so she "graduated" out of Hospice Care. 5 short weeks later... Today, she was enrolled back into Hospice Care. During those 5 weeks, she lost 16 pounds. As of today, she has had almost no food…
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The Caregiver’s Brain
Greetings Friends, I have not posted here in six months. My wife’s dementia has been moving at a snail’s pace. The days, weeks, and months have melded into a fuzzy blob of time, and one day is exactly like all the others. I am nine and a half years into care giving, and the word “decade” will soon be added to the divisions…
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Love and Loss in Alzheimer’s
My Journey with this horrible Alzheimer’s disease is coming to an end now that my sweet wife of 55 years, Linda, has died on May 31st, 2025. I have learned so much about how to navigate this process over these past few years and am grateful to each of you who has shared their thoughts, experiences and advice. My life will…
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any experience with short term use of sedatives?
My DW has always been pretty good with air travel. Our last trip was December and it went fairly well. However things have really shifted the past 6 months. Any trip outside the house is now a very frightening experience. I am having trouble imagining her getting through our big city airport experience in her current…
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Hospice diagnosis
In reference to the lady I care for. I have a concern with conflicting information. Medical records from hospice Dr states type 2 diabetes. Nurse from hospice stated she was not diabetic. I mentioned this to her son and he had zero knowledge of his mother being diabetic. Should I press her son to get answers or am I being…
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Breathing a little easier
I am breathing a sigh of relief for a change. A month ago I placed my husband in a very small ALF only housing up to 7 residents. Right now they have 4. I placed him after a stay in Geri Psych. Today I was told he will be getting physical therapy and will be attending an adult day care a couple times a week. This will keep…
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Now or later
I’ve got a question on how to handle this situation. My DW has EOAD. She is in late stage 5 / early stage 6. Her father passed away about 9 months ago. My DW now cries daily saying she wants to see her dad. Today I received news that her mother has been told by doctor that she has only 6 months to live. Her body is full of…
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Infusion tomorrow
After much discussion regarding the risks, my husband decided he wanted to do the Leqembi infusions. It has taken a month but we finally found an infusion center that accepts our secondary insurance. Tomorrow is his first infusion. I know he’s nervous and so am I. The side effects are super scary, but through our friends…
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Home Renovations with LO
My DH was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment and is exhibiting signs of further decline (no short term memory, repeated questions, etc. etc.). We have been planning/dreaming of some substantial home renovations for many years and finally started getting estimates from contractors, including adding a first floor…
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SOS/Aggression
I’m sending up the white flag and in need of some direction please My father currently had MS dementia. He’s been exceedingly agitated and angry lately and lately and he acted out against my mother tonight and I’m panicked I don’t know what our next steps are ; I obviously do not want this to occur again - nursing home or…
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Blood test
I am sure many of you have read about this, but for those who need a diagnosis, there is now an approved blood test for Alzheimer's that doesn't involve a spinal tap or PET scan. Alas, I do not think Medicare pays for it.
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Permanent catheter with dementia
I’m a caregiver for my mother. She has early onset dementia that she’s had for about 10 years. She does fairly but has a lot of other health issues. One of those being she has issues with her bladder. Her urologist is wanting to put in a catheter that would stay in all the time. I’ve never had any experience with a…
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Death Rally?
Update: I'm sitting here in my kitchen after bringing my husband home on hospice almost a week ago from MC. He's now on day 31 of not eating anything and day 15 with no meds. He wasn't really drinking much for several days and all of a sudden over the weekend, he decided he was thirsty. He consumed about 3-4 cups of fluid…
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Stages of Alzheimer's
My mother is 82 years old and was officially diagnosed in December of 2023. My sister and I had noticed cognitive impairment for at least 4 years before we managed to get her tested, due to her being in denial. As she progressed, we were "Google Doctor's" trying to get all the information we could. Her neurologist has said…
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Angry and Jealous
It’s been 5 years now since my DW was diagnosed with this terrible disease which I think is worse than cancer . She is physically very fit and looks like a 60 year old, unfortunately every single day I wake up to a new change … and not for the better either. Her memory, temper and aphasia are all getting worse . It is so…
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Mom is constantly angry with my sister
My Mom was diagnosed with Alzheimers in the fall of 2022. She is understandably having a very hard time with the loss of her financial independence and is constantly accusing my sister of controlling her. We have POA and I tell her we're making the decisions together, but her anger is focused on my sister, who is the…
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Update on Jo C
I’m reaching out on behalf of my mom, who most of you will know as “Jo C”. She hasn’t been online for a while, and I know that some in the community have been wondering how she’s doing. I’ve always respected her privacy here, so, while I’ve technically been a “member” for about 14 years, I’ve only ever stopped by quietly…