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Caregiving compensation
I have recently resigned from my teaching job to move in and care for my father full time. Is there compensation available. He does have Medicare.
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Any alternatives to Hospice?
Hello, My mom is getting over her 3rd hospitalization for aspiration pneumonia. With the Lord's help, she's getting over it, but both hospitals I took her to have pushed hospice and "home health agencies". Been with two different home health agencies and not all impressed. Seems they can't do much for liability reasons.…
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Really disheartening first experience with hospice
Yesterday, I asked DH’s doctor at memory care if it was time for a hospice evaluation. DH has been there less than three weeks, but those of you who have been following our story may recall that since his first hospitalization Aug. 14, he has lost, by my estimate, 20-30 pounds. He pretty much stopped eating four days into…
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Red Flags?
I have made the decision to place my Mom in a MC facility. She is no longer safe at home and needs 24/7 care. We all work so living with one of us is not an option. I am visiting facilities this weekend. They show your their best, of course. What are things I should be on the lookout for that might give me pause. Are there…
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Big fall
Well, it happened. Out of the blue while walking to the elevator to go to lunch my mom face-planted, breaking her left wrist and fracturing her cheekbone, eye orbit and sinus. It was brutal and she doesn’t remember anything. She’s very oriented in the hospital but weak and unbalanced with a huge heavy cast. No surgery for…
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Memory Care (in SNF) recommendations for Florida
Hello, all. My mother is currently in a secured memory care unit (of a skilled nursing facility). Wanting desperately to move her, as the place that she's in currently is terrible. (The management is criminal.) If anyone has a loved one in memory care in Central or North Florida, would appreciate recommendations via…
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PWD and parallel universes
Today, when speaking with my mother (in SNF-MC) by phone, I wasn't sure where she (or I) was in her timeline. Normally, I do not offer that I am her daughter; I merely state my name and she will reply "my darling daughter". But, today, I asked who I [by name] was to her. She said "my sister". I corrected that I am actually…
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Bewilderment
Hello everyone. Looking for some insight here. The background is (for those who don't know), admitted mom to hospital at the beginning of Aug for delusions, hallucinations, and dementia (not safe at home). Got her Medicaid approved and found a MCF. Moved her in on Aug 19. About 8 days later, she was rushed to ER with what…
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Struggling Only Child
Hi ya'll, I've recently become a caregiver at the age of 29 as an only child for my father with dementia who is 74. He was diagnosed back in December 2023 with very little notice and had to be moved into a memory care close to my home - I work a full time job and am unable to stop working. It's just him and myself in our…
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keeping on
Hi community, I really wanted to title this something like "struggle bus" or "it gets better on some days, right?" I want to keep myself going in a positive direction. At least the most positive that I can muster up, but I'm honestly not having much luck with it today. So I re-read some words I saved from here by…
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legal issues
people say to get power of attorney, but because of his dementia he, my husband, can't hand it over to me. I've talked to several lawyers, and they say no. The only way to get custodianship is to take him to court in front of everyone he knows, it's a small town, and have him deemed incompetent. I can't do that to him. So,…
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Memory care visits
I am still adjusting to not taking my mom out for visits. She hates it, wants to go out and not come back. I have a hard time getting there early, which is when they have activities. Which she never wants to do anyway. I am at a loss for what to do during visits. We sometimes go downstairs and visit with others. She has no…
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eating too much
DH in ES ALZ, has lately started eating everything put in front of him. Six months ago, if I served him a large steak, he would eat his fill then save the rest of it. Lately, he eats the whole thing in addition to sides. Yesterday, I made chicken salad, enough for 3-4 lunches. He ate the whole thing for lunch, in addition…
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Hurricane Helene
Those of you in Florida be safe and let us know how you are when you can…
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Rough visit wit mom
It started with her wanting me to take her to the store. She just likes to buy crazy things she does not need. If we let her she would fill her apartment. She gets mad if we don’t take her to the store and mad when we do and don’t let her buy whatever she wants. I told her I was busy and didn’t have time. She says they…
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Picturing of someone I have seen before and not being that person
Hello, I went to the doctor’s today. I pictured what the doctor looked since I have seen him before. Well, it was another face and not the right person. This has been happening more often. For another recent example, I walked into a coffee shop and I notice this man and I think he is one of my sons. My daughter and I…
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New controversy with Donanemab (marketed in the US as Kisunla)
Donanemab: Conflicts of interest found in FDA committee that approved new Alzheimer’s drug
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fists and toes clenched
My DH has been home with me for two months after being in memory care for six months. He has started clenching his fists and toes, and he is amazingly strong. He will hold on to blankets when we are trying to get him out of bed, and it takes two of us to get his hands free. Does anyone else have this problem or a solution…
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10 Absolutes in Dementia Care
Shared by another member here - Thanks Chug! Here is one you can download or print:
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Attention moderators: can you please help us with this darn popup?
could you update us about when this cookies pop up will be fixed? Very very irritating. We flagged it yesterday….
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how to have a discussion
My husband gets $75 every 2 weeks for groceries from rent we take in. I was helping him get groceries to last that time and he was doing good. then I stopped checking because I thought he got it, he didn't. if he didn't get meals on wheels he would be in trouble. so, I got advice to make meals ahead of time and freeze…
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Help!
I DH has been in the hospital 3 weeks due to COVID and pneumonia. He has recovered medically, but the COVID has advanced the Alz and they are keeping him to get his agitation under control. His agitation has greatly improved but now he just wants to go home. It is all I hear when I visit and he is constantly badgering the…
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Vasovagal Syncope
My wife has stage 4, early 5 Alzheimer's. She's had 3 fainting spells in the last 3 months. Bloodwork, MRI's, Echocardiograms, Holter monitors, medication changes have found no cause. The most recent ER doctor theorized that it's vasovagal syncope brought on by her damaged brain trying to deal with the stress and confusion…
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Illusion, hallucination or delusion?
Every night lately, my DH asks me questions like, "where is everyone else", or "where is the little girl", or "where is the dog"? I understand the dog question, because our dog died after us having him for 10 1/2 years, but the other questions confuse me. There are just the two of us living in this house. Sometimes he asks…
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And so it ends...
Joy passed on Sept 22 after fighting a broken hip and a broken mind. Several years ago our mom left and we had the wonderful opportunity to care for a delightful elderly woman. As Joy's journey was ending, our mom came back and we embraced in her return.…
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H
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Newly diagnosed early onset alzheimers
Hi I’m new here…so my 62 yo husband was diagnosed w early onset Alzheimer’s within the last year. MRI was normal but the “tests” done in the doctors office showed it. So I’m just watching and trying to figure out it he has it. Question, he has always worn his hair short and now he is letting it grow! Besides looking…
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Information in case of emergency
DH has ALZ. I read somewhere about posting info on 'fridge in case of emergency for emergency personnel to find. How much info is enough and how much is too much? Emergency contacts, doctors, diagnosises, allergies, insurance, doctors… is this too much? Not enough?.
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Legal
Husband with dementia lost all the money in Fidelity. I was never contacted.Do I have any recourse?
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The Estate Sale
Before mom was diagnosed her living situation was not good. Her granddaughter and her three kids lived with her a took advantage of her. Mom was overwhelmed by the mess an unable to cope. To clean the house she would get a box and dump everything from the coffee tables and really every surface into the box. Then stuff the…