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Recently diagnosed
I wanted to introduce myself and get involved. I am recently diagnosed with "mild cognitive decline" related to Alzheimers. I am a recently retired pastor and have cared for many Alzheimer patients and their family so I know what is ahead of me. I have a million questions and don't know where to begin. Thank you.
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Help! I don't know what to do.
My mother will not acknowledge that she has Alz. or that she needs help from a paid caregiver when I am at work. My husband has rearranged his work schedule so that he can be home 2 days out of the work week. The other three we have hired a non medical aid (private pay). My mother does need this help, but she is throwing a…
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The long journey is over
My precious dear wife passed yesterday after an 8 1/2 - year journey with early onset Alzheimer's. She was 55 when first diagnosed and had just turned 64 this month. Of course, I am deeply saddened by her passing but also relieved at the same time. It has been a long hard journey for us both. There are so many of you on…
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I’m not me
My DH looked me square in the eye today and said “ where’s rose. “ He’s been asking now for sometime and I never know quite what to say. That got me thinking. I think I’m so scared, overwhelmed and beyond exhausted that I am in fact a completely different person. I’m not me anymore and DH knows this. But how or can you…
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Hospice
Usually I come here to rant and vent. 😁 But not today. Today I'm here to sing the praises of Hospice. DH was placed on Hospice almost 4 years ago. DH was in memory care at the time, and losing weight and had just entered a big decline. I decided to call hospice and see if he would qualify. He did. In the last 4 years they…
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Video baby monitor with receiver
Any recommendations for a video baby monitor with a receiver? I do not want something that requires an app or wifi. I want something with a wide angle lens that can be placed in the corner of the bedroom and see most of the small room.
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Tired
I just get tired of the almost constant criticism. Today especially bad. "You always put yourself first, never think of anyone else." It's the indignant look. I hope it doesn't escalate and wears off sooner than later. I try to focus on doing something for myself, like practice the cello. But I lose interest. Looking for…
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Anniversaries, Birthdays.
I've seen many discussions on the dissappointment of forgetting Anniversaries and Birthdays. Our anniversary will be in a few weeks, my birthday a few weeks after that. My DH was always so good, rememering those days, often surprising me with thoughtful gifts or a weekend away to celebrate. I already know I will feel the…
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Mom was just screened for dementia
Hello I am very new to all of this and am reaching out for support. My mom who is 83 was just screened for dementia in the doctors office. She failed the test - was not able to draw the clock or remember the words. My dad is her caregiver and now cooks all meals and is starting to manage her medications and doctor apts. on…
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Shoe Recommendations for Shuffling/Gait problems
My father recently began shuffling more when he walks which is making him more of a fall risk. I recently bought him a new pair of Sketchers slip in sneakers but with the shuffling he keeps catching the front of his foot when he walks and it is tripping him up. His SNF just recently introduced a walker to him, which he is…
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Alzheimer's & Alcoholism
My grandmother is a functioning alcoholic & just got diagnosed with Alzheimer's. She refused to have the all day testing done because she would rather sit at home and drink & she hasn't been deemed incompetent to make her own medical decisions so we can't make her do anything she doesn't want to do but they were able to…
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How did you meet?
As I read the challenges every day on this site, it is so depressing yet informative. I thought maybe an uplifting subject would bring some joy through our memories of our LO’s. Tell us all how you and you LO met. Here’s my story. I was 54 and just got out of a terrible 30 year marriage. I told myself that I didn’t want…
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Questions About Deceased Mother
My Mom, who has Alzheimer's, asks about her deceased mother a lot. Her mother died over 20 years ago. Some days Mom believes that her mother is alive, and we go along with that belief. More often, Mom knows that her mother is deceased but thinks that it happened more recently, and that no one told her or took her to the…
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New to this site
I'm just starting this journey. DH is 83 and is in total denial. He thinks his "slippage" is due to age and nothing more. He refuses to be seen by a doctor for anything other than managing his high blood pressure. He is functional, but slowing down. The big thing is his fantasies or hallucinations. He "remembers" many…
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cried through MC breakfast w dad... then tears in the parking lot
Some days I just wanna read posts here and benefit from the sense of community and of understanding. As dad declines and my heart breaks, sometimes I just don't want to be around people who can't understand the things we do and see with our LOs. Maybe I could write a song called tears in the parking lot for those of us who…
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Do delusions end, go away, stop?
My wife has is now having delusions. Most are just odd. But now she has decided that I (a 78 year old) have married a wealthy 45 year old woman in Montana! Yes there is some humor to that, but she is …
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Day care for Sister-in-law with Alzheimer's
I live in another state but, I know my brother needs help. He is too overwhelmed to research on his own. Are there facilities around Hopedale/Milford, Massachusetts that offer day care during the week? He is paying out of pocket right now for a few hours of caregiving per week but is still trying to work. Any information…
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Hitting a break wall...
My loved one was a college adjunct professor with almost 40 years of teaching and research under her belt. And when COVID hit, she and many other adjunct professors were let go! That was when the super active brain suddenly stopped, like hitting a break wall. The depression followed, no desire to do any more studies or…
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Working While Taking Care Of Mom - Thoughts?
I go home Wednesday's around 4:30 (get there about 5:30) after work and then on Thursday I work from their house. I do "like" the slight distraction but today I decided I needed to take the day off from work because the weather is going to be awful and I know my mom won't be happy about that. Did I make the right decision…
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Interacting with family
My DW was diagnosed about 2 years ago with Alzheimer’s, the Dr told me she is at “moderate dementia”. A few weeks ago her sister came and had a nice visit, but my DW told her friend that her sister and her had a screaming argument. I mentioned this to her Dr and he told me to change the subject when she has a false memory.…
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Sundowning and Frontal Temporal Dementia.
Nan is 93 and has had Dementia for about 14 years now. Has slowly gotten worse rather than sharp declines. We are now starting to get sundowning creeping in. Its a run of 7 days of it so far, I'm literally so exhausted i have no idea how i am functioning. She gets up about 1am thinking its 8am, and insists she needs to be…
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Home health care
I'm 70 and in reasonably good health, some issues that are well managed. DW is 67, about 3 years or so in. I would say moderate stages. A fair amount of urinary incontinence, needs assistance with bathing and dressing. We have an adult daughter who's doing all she can to help us. I cook breakfast every day, and either our…
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Visiting after transfer to new MC
Hi! I’ve written multiple times in the past about my mom‘s current MC. After 25 pounds of weight loss and the feeling that the MC isn’t taking the concerns seriously or has adequate medical staffing, we’ve decided to move my mother to another MC. Much more expensive but has 24x7 nursing on-site and the layout is much more…
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Mom plans to smuggle meds into AL
UGH. I'm so tired of dealing with this immaturity! My mom has been having lots of back pain, but she refuses any sort of medical help for it, aside from Tylenol. As is common with AL, medications, including OTC, are not allowed in her room and must be dispensed by the staff. She knows this, she understands this, and she…
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Conservatorship Process
Father is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and is prone to shopping sprees, scams, and donating money, but doesn’t pay his taxes, bills, and maxes out credit cards. He’s in debt $500k, but denies any problem with his actions or Alzheimer’s diagnosis from his neurologist. Would like first hand experience with establishing a…
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I have a question about Parkinson's Disease
I have a friend who has Parkinson's Disease. Her voice is very soft and I have to ask her to repeat two or three times before I can understand what she is saying. She wears hearing aids and probably doesn't hear her own voice well. I would like to suggest that she receive speech therapy to improve her voice and speech. Can…
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Loss of sense of smell?
The other day our dog had a “conversation” with a skunk. Naturally, he reeked. And my DH, Stage 4, could not smell it. All of a sudden I realized he had lost his sense of smell. Has anyone else had this experience? I have not seen it mentioned anywhere, except as a symptom of Parkinson’s disease. DH does have some…
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Now or Later?
You know the heartbreak and loss is inevitable. You know that your LO doesn’t want to get to experience the late stages of dementia. You know that he always expressed that if he ever “got like that”, kill him. You know that he wouldn’t adhere to the lifestyle changes to keep the progression at bay. You knew that he was…
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How long it too long to be untreated (YOA)
We're rolling on 7 months now since Dx & probably two more months out from getting actual treatment. How long is too long for a 60 yo YOA patient to go without treatment? Are the infusions going to be too late to be effective? I feel like I can't press providers and health plans harder than I have been. I didn't sleep last…
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Husband recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
I would love to hear from others who have been a caregiver for your loved one with what I need to do, be aware of, or what was the biggest help for you as you began your journey.