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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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.

I think she knows she has Alzheimer’s… do I remind her when she is confused or struggling? Or never bring it up again?

As we are starting down this road I have found tons of great advice and support here. My LO still drives locally, alone every Monday to counseling and back. 12 miles each way. Today she was gone and I realized she was late by 2.5 hours. The answer was an expected "I told you I was going shopping", she did not. Am I…

Hello everybody! My dear spouse recommended I write about my recent feelings in here to vent, maybe get some more insight. I am 26 and am the main caretaker for my mom for about 5 years now since her Alzheimer's diagnosis in 2022. Her main "team" is myself, my spouse, and my best friend who moved in with us. I realized I…

Last summer I was stuck at home caring for my DH who has mixed dementia. It was just about impossible to do anything except take care of him. Some days he stayed awake all day with no naps. Last August I found some knitting needles. I was taught how to knit as a child and stopped knitting more than 50 years ago. I…

I know I'm not the Lone Ranger when it comes to facing the challenges of caring for a LO with this disease. The level of pain to see my DW struggle with tasks that 2 years ago were done without a second thought are hard to verbalize or put down on paper. As I watch her struggle, any attempt to help is quickly and curtly…

Why is it when I get a quiet weekend I am more paranoid of what might come in the following days is going to be a big one. This past weekend I had 2 calls, both for an alert that dad fell AGAIN, trying to get to the bathroom or just out of bed. Both times they didn't seem worried, but I was. I mean one of the times he hit…

I've been used to the urine accidents but this bowel movement accident is at a different level. I won't go into the details. Let's just say it took me an hour or two to clean it up. My DW was so apologetic about it. She kept saying over and over, "That wasn't me." I just reassured her that everything is okay. It took me to…

My spouse returned home from a 5 day respite stay at a local hospice house severely deconditioned. Was using a walker with stand by assist and now he can barely stand. I left them a note with our daily schedule at home, but I wish I had made it clear how many feet he ambulated daily. I needed the break, but now I wonder if…

When it was time for me to start helping my DW with taking her medications, after reading all the stories of others having difficulty with their LO taking medications, I was so happy that she took her meds without any argument. She always took a big drink and I assumed that down her throat went the meds. I was cleaning out…

Hello everyone, I’m new to this forum and trying to navigate this horrible disease that my mother has. She refuses to get a shower or even allow anyone to wipe her down. I’ve tried everything from playing calming music, getting in the shower with her, and just constantly reassuring her. She becomes extremely agitated and…

My wife has been suffering short term memory loss for a few years and though I tried she would not see a doctor. Earlier this month she had a massive delusion. Forgot who I was after 49 years of marriage or that we have lived in our home for over 20 years. We went to the ER and I am still waiting to get a neurologist…

My 85-year-old mother was diagnosed with dementia 7 years ago. My older father insisted on caring for her and hiding how bad things were from my sister and me. We started 4 years ago to try to get him to consider in-home care or assisted living. He finally agreed and they moved into a lovely community in October. However,…

Hi. I live in AZ, my sister and her family in WI. For some time she has had memory issues. She was only diagnosed 2 mths ago and is 66. Last weekend my nephew told me she is in decline, not eating, and is now in her own world. .I am going back to WI shortly. Personally I am crushed. As a nurse I know the support they need.…

My dad is taking my mom to Mexico for stem cell treatment related to her dementia. He is going alone as her sole support person/caregiver. i’ve tried everything I could to try to stop this trip from happening not only does the procedure scare me with a alone. This is something that my dad is determined to do. My mom is a…

My DH of 50+ years has always been “difficult” and fiercely private. He goes to the VA for his medical care and has 100% disability rating. He has shown signs for a few years of cognitive decline and then was also in an accident 5 years ago where he had a tbi in the frontal region. He refuses to allow me to go to any of…

My oldest sister told me she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's a month ago. I know she's had mild memory loss for years, but she hid it well. It still seems mild to me, but I've never known anyone with this disease. She calls me to tell me that I never call her, although we speak frequently. When the conversation starts, she…

Here I am again, to vent or get support, or ask for advice. I'm just so numb with this journey I'm not sure what I'm wanting. Andsorry in advance as I know this will be long. I need to get it all of my chest and this is the only place I can do that. My DH is in mid stage 5 probably. Still able to care for himself, but…

Hello! I am living overseas and trying to support my mother in WA state who is clearly going through a decline. She is still independent in the sense that she can drive (short distances to routine locations around town), walks at a track daily and prepares simple meals (salads and microwaved foods). However, her short term…

First let me say hello, I am new in this group. But not new to caregiving. That’s another story… This is about my sister is 91 and diagnosed as stage 4 with Alzheimer. She lives alone on the west coast. She still is quite intelligent, humorous and “with it” in terms of knowing friends and family and her long term memory is…

It's been nearly 6 months since my dear Suze passed away. I had 3 very busy months of memorial planning and respite trips away that I'd planned before she had passed. I was riding quite high on gratitude of knowing she wasn't suffering anymore and knowing how lucky we were to share the deep love we had. Still pretty high…

has anyone figured out how to address these for their parent? my mom keeps getting them. she lives with an aide but the aide is not paid to change her in the middle of the night. I dont know if that's what is causing these but they keep coming back and she is getting weaker and weaker. she takes cranberry each day. and she…

Looking for other full time caregivers locally to me, that maybe we can connect and support each other. I am a full time caregiver for my father with dementia. I have siblings that do not help out with my dad and so it makes me feel alone. It would be nice to be able to help others and also find some like minded people to…