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GPS Enabled Watch
I don't post often - but I check-in every day for your sage advise! My DH (70) has Alzheimer's + Vascular Dementia and was diagnosed 1.5 years ago using blood test and MRI. The Neuropsychologist conducted testing and concluded he was in the 'Moderate' stage. I (64 F) am trying to work another year before I retire, so he is…
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New Here!
Hello, I am the 40-something daughter in law of a PWD. I cook for her and my FIL at least once a week (he is is her primary caregiver). Meals at our house, meals at their other child's home and meals out. All their lives, the boys (her only children) and husband were and still are MAJOR "ball-busters" - for lack of a…
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Mother is getting worse
So my mom has been showing signs of dementia/Alzheimers for over a year now. We recently found out that she has atrophy of the brain but did not ask them to test for the reason. She, and my daughter and her family, are living with me temporarily because to add insult to injury she had a tree fall on her house so they are…
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MC decision
I began visiting MC facilities as my Plan B to be ready if something happens to me. However, after seeing some very nice places I’m thinking more about the improved care he would get there and the extra freedom I’d have. DH is mid stage 6. I’ve been unsuccessful at getting him to shower (I do what I can to keep him clean…
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Constant questions
DW is in stage 6 of Alzheimer's. She is a question machine, and not just with me, with anyone and everyone. It gets frustrating, especially because of the repetition, her asking the same question over and over, unaware that she has already asked numerous times. Her short term memory is totally gone. I do believe her…
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Improving Services and Program for People with Dementia
Michael Ellenbogen sent me this excellent, concise article on how to improve services and programs for people with dementia (including his own recommendations for hospital care).
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Just need to talk to my friends (208)
HB, thanks for telling me about auto comprehensive paying for rodent damage. I doubt this will be over $1000 which is my deductible. JeriLynn, I would be interested in the device you mentioned that makes a noise to scare rodents. I have those scent packets but don't know how to keep them from falling out but maybe the…
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Quick question I
My DW with EOAD has been losing her vocabulary in the last couple of months. Nothing that comes out of her mouth makes any sense. The words are clear but the composition of the sentence makes no sense I’m thinking because of her shrinking vocabulary. My question is do they also lose their ability to understand what someone…
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POINTER Study to Modify Lifestyle to support Brain Health
Yesterday the Alzheimer's Association issued a press release about the results from the POINTER study. I happened to be in attendance at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) in Toronto, where a presenter shows the impressive results from the study. Also, a participant in the study spoke about her…
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Lost My Sister June 25, 2025
My sister finally went home to the Lord on June 25, 2025 after a valiant battle with this insidious disease for at least five years, likely more. She would have been 60 on July 17. We had thought about having her memorial on her 60th birthday, but couldn't quite get it together. So the memorial is July 30, just a few days…
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Improving Services and Programs for People with Dementia
Michael Ellenbogen sent me this excellent, concise article on how to improve the care and treatment of people with dementia (including his own recommendations).
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Moved husband to memory care and he just wants me
I brought my husband, who is in stage 6, to a memory care facility yesterday and today the director called me. I wasn't really surprised because my main concern was how dependent he is on me and how much he loves being home. Today, there was a woman who looked like me visiting another resident and he thought she was me and…
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Turning Corners and Crossing Bridges
Belated Happy Thanksgiving, y’all! I remain so grateful for this group, the life I’ve had with my DW, and even for parts of the life I still have with her. With that, the holiday was difficult as she turned another corner. Her stepdaughter and family were here, which was so nice on one hand. On the other, my DW asked me…
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Family Visit
Our beautiful son, daughter-in-law and two young grandchildren are visiting next week. Staying elsewhere but I'm a stressed wreck already. Our son and wife are the nicest, kindest couple but this situation with his dad (VD and aphasia) is hard for anyone to comprehend, understand and cope with. He knows that his dad is not…
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This poem by Owen Darnell
Most of you have probably read this before. I just read it yesterday for the first time. It brought tears to my eyes
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Mother refusing to go to respite care
Moving my mother into my house was, in retrospect, a terrible decision. Now she won't leave. We've crafted a story that my daughter, who lives across the country, needs my help and I need to go, so she is going to a "hotel" while I am gone. My mother thinks she can stay by herself in my house. I explained that I can't…
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Explaining The Disease To Children
DW was diagnosed EOA two years ago. We have an adopted 9-year-old granddaughter who lives with us. I have tried my best to explain the disease to her, but she doesn’t get it. She resents the time I have to spend with DW. She gets mad at her grandma when grandma asks the same question repeatedly. They argue constantly over…
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invisible fiddling
DH has a new symptom. He is constantly trying to unravel, or remove, or pick off….some unseen thing that is obviously real to him. He says, "I'm just trying to get this apart" or, "Well, I can't find the end of it…". He is not distressed, just constantly busy. Sort of like a knitter unraveling their mistaken work.. I think…
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Just needed to release some sadness
My DH exhibits such extreme changes in stages from day to day. Emotional and mood changes seem to be prominent at times- crying in a restaurant over a change in plans. There is much child like behavior. I have learned how to manage this, however my heart is aching. I can’t seem to not let it shock me each time he enters…
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DH Angry Outbursts are Overwhelming me
My DH was diagnosed back in 2019. In the last 2 years the angry Dementia Monster has been getting stronger. We started him on Anti-psychotics in March and it was great for two months. We then increased his dosage in June. Yesterday and today have been extraordinarily BAD. only a month after the increase in dosage. Has…
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Weight Training in later Alzheimer's
My husband has done weight training for a few years with a trainer. He is now moving into the later stages of This Crappy Disease, and he has begun to shuffle. Should we continue the weight training?
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How long is it safe to leave someone with Stage 6 Moderately Severe Dementia alone?
Hi all, new to the forum, been supporting my mother diagnosed 5 years ago with Alzheimer's. Most of my support has been to help my father, the sole caregiver, take some breaks and figure out next steps, and to increase the contentedness my mother has and decrease her anxiety. I spent half of the last two years off and on…
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Moving Mom to Memory Care
Hello, just needing some help on how in the world we're going to get my mom to go to a memory care facility. My brother has talked to her about it, but she refuses to go. Since my dad passed she has become very attached to her dogs and I have found some MC facilities that accept dogs. I know she would be much happier…
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New to all of this
Hi I'm looking for some support and guidance on dealing with my mother having dementia she was diagnosed with it at the beginning of the year and we're halfway through the year I have watched the person I love the most go from super woman to having to depend on her children now for things that used to be so easy for her. I…
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Won’t stay asleep
My dad won’t stay asleep the whole night, we have tried different kinds of melatonin. Any suggestions?
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Dreams to Dreads
This picture above says dream if you look close enough. It’s in our bedroom across from the bed. Many mornings my DW would lay there and ask me what I dream about our future together. We enjoyed going over each others dreams and plans for when we retire. Now take that word and replace the M with a D and that’s where I’m at…
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Got a gut punch yesterday
Yesterday, I visited my mom at her AL facility. I took her to lunch and to the grocery store. We had a great time. As I wrote in another post, she is scheduled to move to memory care next week. As we walked up and down (all of) the aisles, I was thinking this was probably the last time we'd do this. She is still mobile but…
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Angry
I’m not sure why, but all of a sudden I find myself angry at my husband. I snap at him when he asks me the same thing over and over. When he was diagnosed with ALZ I was able to stay calm and compassionate. Now I feel like I’m falling apart. Has anyone else experienced this. He’s in the early stages so he’s not even bad…
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Nail care
my wife’s finger and toe nails are ridiculously long. Who would we hire to cut them? I don’t think a regular nail salon would do it, but maybe I am wrong. Is this something that a podiatrist would do?
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I want to scream and cry
DH is 61. I am 55. We started this journey of finding out what is happening in 2019. We have been through so much testing. Lab work, CSF (borderline for AD) we have even driven to Cleveland Clinic several times for testing. MRI’s 2 years apart showed progression of atrophy in the left temporal lobe. Recent Amyloid PET was…