-
New Here - Spouse with Young Onset
Hi all, I'm new here. My wife was formally diagnosed at the ripe young age of 51 this past December. I, myself, am her 34 year old wife. I just wanted to come in here and say hi and kind of vent to folks who may know. These past 2 years of confusion and emotional and financial upheaval have been incredibly difficult to…
-
Psych Exam for exit behavior
Our LO, likely with FTD, has been at MC for close to 3 weeks but after an initial period of apparently positive acclimation they report he has started to attempt exiting the facility more often, wanting his car, resisting redirection. They will have a psych consult via state mental health services. My questions are what…
-
What is next
New member here Spouse is somewhere in 5 or moving into 6of the seven stages. What is coming next? Is it time for respite care? She just said she did not know my name or that we are married. Sleeps all the time ,moves slowly, eats little. Takes her meds if I am there to watch. Showers when I remind her but now needs help…
-
Learned Something New About Alzheimer’s
My DH (57) was diagnosed exactly 2 years ago with EOAD. Progression has been slowed a bit by Leqembi but he had to stop due to ARIA. Now I’m seeing more signs of progression. One are I see it in most is his loss of words. He struggles more an more just to get out a few sentences. But a few nights ago he had a dream where…
-
Struggle with my identity 🥴
I received a call from my dad gf he was transitioning a year ago, I tell her to call ambulance, something felt off. Dad is hospitalized, no longer walked, multiple infections, and weird things begin happening with his girlfriend. She blocked me, she told hospital they were married, she would talk to him like a brainwashing…
-
Funeral for a friend
The husband of a dear friend died and his funeral is at the church we used to attend tomorrow. I would like to attend but would need to bring my DH who now travels in a wheelchair due to falling issues. He's in stage 6. Would this be too much?
-
Night time wakefulness
I’m looking for any suggestions about how to deal with my DH’s newly developed night time waking. I know many of you have dealt with similar issues and hope you can provide some ideas. My DH is wheelchair dependent and cannot get in or out of bed independently. I have a hoyer lift and can get him into bed by myself using…
-
The Cavalry Is Not Coming: 9 Year Edition
This is an updated version of The Cavalry Is Not Coming. I repost this occasionally as I have been informed that this article has helped many caregivers. This edition is mostly the same, although I have brought it up to date and revised it to make it more helpful. October 1, 2024 marked nine years since my wife’s dementia…
-
For the eagle-watchers
Jackie and Shadow seem to be preparing a new nest. Here is the site of the live Webcam. Some members like to observe for a break in their routine. Livestream - Friends of Big Bear Valley https://share.google/Y8pyvVpGQPuUXhFar Here is an article about the pair. 2026 nesting season underway for Big Bear’s famed bald eagles –…
-
I am new
Good morning, I"m new to everything and struggling. My husband has memory issues and has gone through a personality change. It has been hard the past 2 years and getting harder. Right now I just need a group like this or some sort of support. I love my friends but they don't really understand. He has alienated some of them…
-
Lorazepam and hallucinations
My wife has a prescription for Lorazepam as needed for anxiety. She has taken it a few times and it has helped but today she was upset so the MC gave her the Lorazepam and she Had hallucinations and delusions most of the day. She was talking to people that were not there. She was happy, so that is good. She has had some…
-
I really miss the wife I married
I can no longer have a meaningful conversation with my DW. I try, but she isn't all there. When she speaks, it's mostly gibberish which I simply respond in agreement or positive manner. The simple affection is almost gone. Everyday consists monitoring her and helping her with showering, hygiene and getting dressing. I miss…
-
Driving
DH is 62 and has FTD semantic variant. I unfortunately had to turn him in to the DMV. He doesn’t know it was me. He had his evaluation Friday and they suspended his license. He is angry and doesn’t feel he is far enough in that he is unsafe to drive. He drives a lot for work so I am not sure what his plans are for that.…
-
Living as dependent
My mother and I live together as her early onset Alzheimers gets worse. I am still considered her dependent, and as an added bonus have severe disabilities as well. She will not let me talk about finances with her. I dont know how to approach this the right way, because I have nowhere else to live if she went to memory…
-
I need to go to MY house
My mom is in the middle stage. She is constantly wanting a ride home when she is already home. What are some ideas that to make her realize that she is at her own house. She is getting increasingly agitated when we try and explain that she is home.
-
How People Can Help
Often friends will ask how they can help. For the ones that my husband doesn’t know well I let them know just checking in on me helps. And for the ones he does know the best help is taking him out of the house (for a walk or lunch) on a regular basis. It gives me time I can count on to focus on myself or errands, and it…
-
Feeling Very Thankful
I just want to express my sincere appreciation to all of you who show up on this site. The shared experiences, rants and raves, insights, advice and love and shared vulnerabilities have made a real difference to me in how I’m able to navigate my day to day with my DW. Wishing You All the very best Thanksgiving possible.…
-
Suggested Meds for Aggression
My DW is 61 years old and just recently has been started to be treated for Dementia/ALZ however the truth is she started showing signs about 6 years ago but it has been very difficult to have her cooperate with seeing a DR and progressively became worse to the point she became both verbally and physically abusive.…
-
Hygiene...refused to brush teeth
My DH got a not so good report from the dentist about his gums receding. He hasn't been brushing his teeth, and now when I try to get him to do it, he refuses. I need suggestions.
-
Slowly learning: don't argue, don't say no, don't correct, ETC.
So we've been on this journey with familial VD for over 7 years. Recently (last week!), I finally realized that 'arguing' with DH only upsets him and doesn't change him at all, BUT it makes ME feel terrible and guilty and wastes my energy. For MY MENTAL HEALTH I have to use the techniques endorsed by so many dementia…
-
Afraid
My DH diagnosed with Alzheimer's has become increasingly agitated, even on meds. We meet with a neurologist every 6 months and the agitation has been ongoing for several years, although not this extreme. On Friday the neurologist nurse and I had a phone conversation to discuss the agitation, she suggested calling 911 or…
-
My father
This might seem different, but my living situation has been that I live in a large mostly one floor house with my parents. My mom had retired at 69.5 (now 72) to take care of my dad and his Early Onset (diagnosed at 67, now almost 77). My mom recently just helped make sure my grandmother was taken care of too in her last…
-
Everything is perfectly normal...maybe not
Just feel the need to "talk". DH in ES to MS Alz. He has seemed perfectly normal now for about two weeks. You'd have to live with him and pay attention to know anything was off. Well, there is the thing about needing to explain to him who is who and what that all means when we are watching TV and the thing about misnaming…
-
Now a Chef
Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I would be 100% responsible for planning the meals. My DW of 65 years can no longer remember how to so here I am saying my God what do I put together now. I can fix simple stuff but just can't eat the same thing over and over. I take her out to eat often but just can't do…
-
Possible AZ prevention from anti virals + shingles vaccine
I have not read anything about this before:…
-
Adjusting to MC
After bringing our 82 yo LO to MC for the first time (with no difficulty, thank God) one week later I had to take him to an outside doctor appt and he pretty quickly thought I was going to “bring him home.” When we returned to the MC he seemed mad about that (though thankfully did not refuse to go in). Staff says he is…
-
Asking "I want to go home"
Hello, I recently started to care for my mother-in-law she is recovering from a stroke and has mid stage dementia. We relocated her from another state as she can no longer live alone. She asks about going home every hour it seems like. I try to change the topic and divert the conversation and it works for a couple minutes.…
-
Just Sharing
It's been about 4 months since I've been on this forum. With the start of our 9th year since ALZ diagnosis, I just felt like I needed to share. I apologize for rambling. I recognize that everyone's journey is unique, so you may be able to relate or you may not. But I'm sure, as caregivers for your loved ones, you…
-
stem cell therapy
Hello everyone: I'm considering stem cell therapy. I'm wondering if anyone has gone down this path or know anything about it. I've researched it, but I think its pretty new in Alz treatment. thanks Pam
-
Light therapy
Does anybody have experience with light therapy. I am looking to purchase a 40 hz therapy light and a 10000 lux light box for my husband. I have read good things about using light therapy, I was wondering if anybody has had experience with this