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Buspirone - anyone?
Briefly my DW is in stage 7, under hospice, on several meds including serequol, depakote, lexapro, and Valium as needed. Also temazepam for sleep. Total aphasia. Days are usually 80% walking, bumping, mumbling (all the time) and 20% laying down or sitting. The issue is she’s usually walking with eyes almost closed. Can’t…
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Supplies for incontinence
As my DH is approaching the last stage of Alzheimer’s I am struggling to find diapers that actually work without leaking. I have found good pads for underneath but have to wash them almost every morning as they are wet. It seems to leak out the top and I have found that all brands sit low on his waist. Has anyone had good…
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Palliative Care
The geriatrician my DH sees has ordered palliative care and we've seen first a registered nurse and then a nurse practitioner. I wondered if anyone has experience with pallilative care and if it's helped. What are the benefits of palliative care. I was told they would be able to transition him to hospice if/when the time…
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Anniversary
Yesterday was our 47th anniversary. So I got a nice card for my wife who has FTD and put a loving note in it. I had a dentist appointment at 2:00 to finish two crowns so I spent quite a while there. She never got up until I woke her up at 5:00 for dinner. I gave her the card and she had no comment. At dinner she announced…
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Feeling Anxious
Not sure what stage of Dementia my mom is in but she needs care 24/7 but she still can eat without choking, She watches TV , smiles and still laughs, eats snacks sometimes will feed herself but I’m having a hard time just thinking she might pass sooner or later
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Day 1 at AL
We moved Mom in to AL today. It went a little better than I expected. She loves her room. But she is very angry that they took away her medication and have to administer it to her. She doesn’t understand why. She is also annoyed that people keep stopping by to take her vitals etc. She says “I didn’t think I was coming to a…
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Offering you some supplies
I have a few supplies that I no longer need and I’d like to offer them to this group. It’s not much, but this forum was so valuable to me I would like to offer these items here first. If you want any or all of these send me a private message with your address. First come, first served (I’ll pay shipping for US): 2 bottles…
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Tomorrow’s the big day; wish us luck!
We are moving my mom into an AL near me tomorrow. (If you have not seen my previous posts, ever since my dad died in December she has been living alone 2.5 hours away.) She has been cooperative and somewhat willing to do this, which even one month ago I would never have dreamed possible. But still makes lots of comments…
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ER visit
Mom has yet to agree to see a neurologist to get a confirmed dimentia diagnosis. Her primary doctor has written a letter that she has cognitive decline and unable to make medical decisions. We are hoping now the POA and healthcare authorization we have will help us since the Dr wrote the letter. This week mom is having…
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Teeth Grinding
My wife just started something new last week. She is grinding her teeth incessantly. She is 8+ years since Alzheimer's diagnosis and in early stage 7. Of all the symptoms she has exhibited over the years, this is one of the most excruciating. Anybody have any experience with this behavior?
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ESBL and Hospice
Last Thursday hospice came to the house to do an evaluation on my husband. I told them I thought he was in stage 6. After answering some of their questions the nurse said he’s in stage 7. That caused my heart to skip a beat. He got out of the hospital last Tuesday after being treated for a UTI that turned into an…
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How to keep their mood from ruining yours?
When my mother with early-to-moderate dementia has a bad day--ie., crying, anxious, or angry--I find it greatly affects my own mood. I am having a hard time separating my own feelings from hers, I guess. I have recently been prescribed Lexapro and it is helping to some degree, but I am wondering how other people manage to…
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Do Labels and Simple Written Instructions help?
My LO misplaces & has forgotten how to use her iphone and mac. She was not able/willing to use a Jitterbug. Have you found it helpful to use labels like "phone box" or "computer shelf"? What about simple instructions like "press button on right side of phone to turn on"? Thanks to everyone who posts; I've learned a lot…
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Violent behavior
My wife, officially diagnosed with Alzheimer’s last July, is in outstanding physical condition for an 86-year-old. This is a doubled-edged sword, because she exhibits periods of violent behavior and because she’s a strong person, she’s difficult to contain. She’s can be downright dangerous. I am her sole caretaker and I…
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Just need a friend
Im caring for my husband of 47 years, about 6 years in now, so far, not difficult except for watching steady decline of smart, healthy partner, which, of course you all know kills us a bit each day. He is good tempered, does as I say, is comfortable to be around, he mostly watches TV or sleeps but we can no longer carry on…
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Have been “lurking” for awhile…
and thought it’s time to introduce myself. My DH was diagnosed with MCI a year ago after a lengthy wait for cognitive testing and then another 8 months for Neurology. It has now progressed to Alzheimer’s. All I can say is it’s been hard and I’ve learned so much already from this group over the past year so thank you. I…
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New here
Hello! My husband hasn’t been officially diagnosed, however, being around a friend of my mother I know. We’ve been to a neurologist twice, but he told me he wasn’t “comfortable” making a diagnosis at that time and for me to keep a record of things until the next appointment in June. So, my question today is how do I not…
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Can you tell me more about visiting MC Facilities?
I helped my mother find a SNF for my grandmother decades ago, but there were like 3 choices in her area… and I don't think there were any MC options near her at the time. Now, I live in a city where the choices are overwhelming (which I imagine is actually a blessing). What am I looking for? I have read that I need to get…
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Just diagnosed with MCI and on Memantine 28mg - Need mental health help !
I am really struggling with this MCI diagnosis and what life is going to be like in 1, 2, 5 years ahead. My older sister died from ALZ and it was horrible. How do you live on day at a time with this diseases ?!?
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Leqembi
My DH starts Leqembi next week. I know the process takes at least 5 hours. My question is this: Can he bring drinks, snacks while he is having the treatment. He should bring something to read I would think. Is someone allowed to stay with him and or come and go during the treatment. Just curious so we can plan the day.
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MC costs
I’ve been reading a lot of posts about caregivers moving their loved ones into facilities once they can no longer care for them. I am not there and I’m praying that the time won’t come when I’m forced into a horrible decision like that. I feel that 80% of the folks that make the move can afford to do so. I’m just wondering…
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Someone’s Been in My Room
My mom has been in an assistant living residency for two years. She thinks that someone is coming into her unit in the middle of the night and disrupting things. It causes her to be very upset. I have cameras in the unit and I can see everything that comes in or out of her place even when I explained that I can see she is…
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New day New challenge
If I’ve learned anything about this terrible disease is everyday seems to bring on a new challenge to deal with. My current challenge is my DW is going into the bathroom to urinate and stands in front of the sink and just pees. This happens in the middle of the night when I’m sleeping. I’ve tried to prepare for when she…
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Having 'The Talk' About Getting a Diagnosis
Hello! Happy to have found this forum because I'm so concerned about my dad. He has had memory impairment, social withdrawal, apathy and basically several symptoms that seem to be in line with Alzheimer's or pre-Alzheimer's MCI to me. Mom has been aware of the memory issues but taking a wait-and-see approach. Some things…
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My Goodness
I’m on an early morning flight back from New York City. I really can’t even express completely how incredible the trip has been. Honestly. It felt like a series of religious experiences. I came to go to the opera at the Met. At first I thought, “what in the world was I thinking going to ‘La Traviata’ just 2 months after…
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Communication tips for caregivers of someone with dementia...
I thought these tips I read on Facebook might be helpful: You asked...and you shall receive! A blog reader recently asked me for a list of communication tips they could give family members for when they visited their parent with dementia. Here goes! Tips on Communicating with Someone Living with Dementia Connect, don’t…
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Mistakes Are Reminders
I have observed that every mistake my DH with ALZ makes causes me an instant wave of sadness because it is a reminder of this disease and the toll it is taking. It reminds me his remaining capabilities are all likely to slip away one by one. It reminds me of all the losses he has already experienced. It reminds me that I…
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Nap time
my DW, stage 5-6, is pleasant and compliant until she obviously needs a nap 2-3x per day. Ok again after a rest but lately she is less cooperative in lying down for a nap. Attitude gets very obstinate and angry. Any ideas how to persuade her to “stretch out” for a bit?
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My oldest dearest friend has dementia
My friend since 1980, the person who has stood by me through thick and thin, who has always been there for me, even when I was living far away…had a fall resulting in a brain bleed in October 2025. I had been visiting her one afternoon a week before this happened and even then, I thought there was a slight amount of…
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Fluctuating hearing
Does anyone have experience with their LO having fluctuating hearing loss? My DH with AL does have hearing loss, but has been able to understand me if I speak just a little louder than normal. But, lately, there have been several days when he hasn't heard me or everything is garbled for him. I cannot tell if he is actually…