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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…
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When to correct?
Seeking soem conventional wisdom on when and how to "correct" my wife of 48 years. She is mid stages of Alzheimer's and is now most happy talking about her early years of growing up. I try not to "correct" most things but am wondering what to say when she questions who I am, how long we have lived in our home. She believes…
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My DH has passed on
I lost my DH about 2 weeks ago but it still seems unreal. How long before I stop rushing through the grocery store because I can't be away more than a few minutes? When will I finally sleep through the night instead waking multiple times because he needs help? I am grateful that we never reached the point of moving him to…
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Taking advantage of an old post
If you are struggling, or just want to be ahead of the game, check out this post I started in Oct. 2023. It's about a free online 5 day course for caregivers, and the links all seem to be working. Take advantage while you can.
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Recent diagnosis of LBD
I am new to this disease and have fears and questions of what my reality will look like and a sense of urgency to get all my end of life plans and make sure I have all things including legal affairs in order. And I have fears as well. I have found many things that describe situations from the caregiver side. I appreciate…
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New Member, First Post - Power of Attorney
I have three siblings and one lives fifteen minutes away from my mom. I live in another state but manage all her finances and anything else I can to take the load off our sibling who lives locally. When I agreed to be my mom's power of attorney, I naively thought it would only come into play for her finances. However, this…
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Obsession with winter clothes
While my mom has finally adjusted to her new home in AL, and is actually doing a million times better than I could have ever hoped, she is obsessed with going back to her house to get her winter clothes. She knows is summer and she understands it's nearly 100 degrees outside, but she keeps telling me she has to have her…
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Official diagnosis & Medications
Is a official diagnosis needed to start taking medication (Aricept) to slow down memory loss? Mri showed brain atrophy more accelerated for age than should be & chronic vessel ischemic changes. Memory loss & behaviors are declining also Neurologist prescribed Aricept but can't be started without official diagnosis which…
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I need help making a decision about supplementing food intake in late stage 6 DH
My DH is in late stage 6 dementia. He is almost non-verbal, double incontinent, in a wheelchair and unable to do anything for himself without assistance. He has been moved from a MC facility to skilled nursing because he requires so much help. He has to be fed, but he eats well and taps his finger when he is ready for…
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Mum accusing me of stealing
My mum is accusing me of stealing various things which is obviously very upsetting. She doesn't want me to go to her house any more, is nasty to me when I speak to her and convinced I'm a theft, which is hard because I go to visit, take her and my dad out and now can't support my dad .Any suggestions ? X
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Guardianship
I am the middle child, and the only girl. My mom has appointed me POA for both health and financial. Of course there has to one sibling that will not play by the rules, my oldest brother. He has recently purchased a vehicle in my mothers name. She didn't know what the heck was going on when I asked her about it and neither…