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Hospital vs. MC (warning: graphic description of injury)
Yesterday morning I got a call from MC that they had called 911 to transport mom to the ER. The MC staff found mom sitting on the floor with a "bad cut" on her arm. When I asked if they were sure she needed the ER, they told me she would need stitches. When I asked if I could take her instead of sending her by ambulance,…
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Lecanemab
Has anyone started or familiar with the latest drug approved last July 2023 - Lecanemab -- What would be the benefit?
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What were your first symptoms?
I am curious what the early symptoms those here experienced? Long-term or short-term memory loss? decrease in ability to focus? Any other mental symptoms? Any physical symptoms? Were the symptoms constant? or episodic/occasional? I have had episodes of extreme foggy-brainess over the past 5 years along with a loss of…
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fall vaccines
Curious to know how others have approached the issue of getting vaccines (COVID, flu, RSV) for your LO with dementia. My mom is later stages now where taking her out of the house, even to a doctor's appointment is becoming a big challenge. There are no options I can find to provide vaccines in the home. Considering how…
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When do you take the keys?
mom is in the early stages. She loses her phone and is surprised that all she needs is her pocket book to start the car (keyless ignition and “key” in her purse). She does drive to the same three places all the time and the doctor said she passed “that part” of the cognitive test. Given that she came to my house the other…
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Specific delusion help
Hi all, My 88yo Dad has mid- to late- stage mixed Alz/vascular dementia and lives in memory care. I did read some other threads here on delusions and got the basics down. For about a week now he has a delusion: he is in a hotel in Houston (Texas), a medical conference has just finished, and he needs to get back to Wichita…
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Sometimes you just can't win
So...my brother. He just sent me an email telling me that I was using an old email address for him. I checked. The last two emails that he sent me was from that old address. Now, I have to be certain that I'm using his preferred email address (no matter which one he used) or he'll think I'M confused. Sigh.
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Zaleplon 5mg to sleep
has anyone used this medication to help sleep at night? Prescribed by my dads doctor sometimes it helps sometimes it doesnt. Any feedback thanks
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Arguments about travel that is unrealistic
This is such a wonderful forum full of caring people. I am struggling with a difficult topic with my DH and need suggestions. DH is diagnosed with vascular dementia but doc doesn't give other particulars. DH has a long list of comorbidities including heart failure, COPD, very high risk of falls including about 15 serious…
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He wants to see my list
I've been concerned about my DH moving into dementia for 5 years. It's been slow but seems to have speeded up. I keep a journal of behavior changes I've noticed. So, yesterday we had The Talk. I handled it very badly although I'm not sure what a good way would be. (We've talked about the possibility before but he doesn't…
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A Deeper Way
I read this today and thought I would pass it along. The words in parentheses are mine. Written by James L . Smaller in Flying Solo. “When I think about how I leaned on my wife (husband) , I have to say that her (his) support helped me function in some immature ways. Her (his) strength and support continued the illusion…
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ALZ, a time to laugh or chuckle, a time to cry
Just sharing a weird thing… DH in ES ALZ…We went to church and sitting in our usual aisle seat. ( I am immuno defecient so always try not to be between people). Some people wanted to be seated down the pew, so I bent my knees to the side to let them pass and DH flopped his legs up on the pew to let them pass. Yes, it's a…
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Altumview "touchless" sensors for fall detection, wandering, etc.
Anyone have experience with Altumview's service and device? It's not a pendant or a bracelet, but a device that monitors human activity (falls, leaving bed, wandering, etc.) and alerts you if something unusual occurs. It's like a camera, but converts people into stick figures in the video, so that you're not recording…
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Feeling defeated
I am new to this forum and after reading through other's posts, I finally feel validated and not alone. I am the caregiver for my Mom who was diagnosed with dementia 2 years ago. She has been living with me for approximately a year after needing more care than could be provided at the ALF she was living in. She has become…
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It's been almost 17 months since I lost Jan
I was reading last night in bed which I do every night for an hour or more til I get sleepy or can't see the darn print anymore. I started to get the coffee shakes so I got up and got a cup. At the kitchen sink I have a window and on both sides of it she has a big cat she made and painted. It was if I had never seen them…
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Insurance Company informed my Mom that I've been making medical decisions for her
Help. My mom was diagnosed with moderate to severe dementia in July. Since then, using the POA paperwork, I've been able to discuss her medication regimen with the geriatric pharmacists and have had long discussions with her geriatrician. Today when she called into Kaiser, (that is the name of the insurance company…
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I’m going to scream
When my mother was initially referred to a neurologist over the summer, they referred her to someone who didn’t have an appointment for several months(October). She made the appointment. In the meantime, they referred her to another doctor. We canceled the first doctor. Tests were done, meds were ordered. She has a follow…
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Memory Care, Early Retirement, or Keep Pushing On?
Hi Friends, it's been a while. For all the exhausted caregivers out there who are also still working to put food on the table, how many times a month (or a day) do you wrestle with this multiple-choice test? Should I give up and place my dear wife in memory care, so I have the energy to continue working? (Sacrifice $$ for…
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Figuring out my plan D
After spending the summer in several Geri-psych units, my DH is back at his memory care. He’s been on Seroquel and Risperidone, and is currently on Zyprexa. A week ago, Depakote was added. But the aggressive incidents continue. I’m concerned that his memory care placement is endangered. He is physically in good shape, so…
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Is palliative care a good option for someone with dementia?
My wife is in AL, recently moved from MC. She was aggressive and refused medication or seeing a doctor. I'm hoping to bring her home in a month, she is doing well on the meds in the facility. Is palliative care a good option?
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A few days ago things were manageable, but then the wheels fell off
My DH has had Lewy Body dementia for 4 years now. He is 85, I'm 75. Up until just recently, we've been doing pretty well. I was even able to leave him at home alone while I work (just 3-4 hours a day in the morning). A few days ago, it was like someone pulled a switch. He has always been very verbal, but now won't stop…
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Mom has day/night confusion
Hi, my mother w/dementia lives alone. She is mixing up her days and nights. For example, she called 2 am saying she's dressed and ready to go out for doctor appointment. How have you helped your loved one in this situation? She has the large digital clock that has the am/pm day/night displays.
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Considering moving in with parents
Hello, we are considering moving in with our parents because mom has dementia with anger and violent outbursts. Will she trust us more if we visit at regular times, or if we move in? She is quite paranoid of her husband already, hiding things from him. And he is the kindest most submissive man.
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Anger - not new but becoming absolutely untenable...
Fair warning: This is just a ramble and not particularly well written but I am desperate. My husband is hovering somewhere between the late early and early middle stage of Alzheimer's I'm guessing. I've seen everything from 3 to 7 stages or more of this agonizing disease and, frankly, I'm not sure the stage matters as…
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Uncomfortable with my feelings toward my LO
Hi fellow warriors, First I’d like to say that I know there is no answer to my situation but I need to at least vent. I am absolutely going crazy, which turns into self-loathing because I am not handling my situation at all well. I am deeply, deeply depressed. My DH and I have been on this journey for 7 years now. It’s…
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did I do the right thing placing him in MC
My husband was placed on a MC unit due to aggression. After two weeks he looks and sounds great. All he says is he wants to go home, part of me wants to take him home. It would save so much heartache and money, but I know it will all just start over again. He can't control it, can he. Should I bring him home. He's been…
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Going out to eat/ shopping
How many go out eat? We go out at least once a week usually at lunch.( we don't get up early enough to go out for breakfast HA! HA!)i will go anywhere my wife. My wife prefers fish (usually haddock) Today she had she had shrimp as camping i had spaghetti and meatballs and minestrone soup. Since COVID we do all of our…
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Delta-9 for aggression?
Has anyone had any luck with any type of cannibus dosing to help with agression. DH has FTD, and is in memory care. I'm afraid they will not allow him to stay if they can't get his defensiveness and agression under control. He's perfectly fine unless you try and make him do anything he doesn't want to do, i.e., shower,…
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Getting rid of stuff
DH still in the clearing out stuff stage. But now he has gotten to the point where he throws stuff away. He threw everything in our freezer in the basement away. Which wasn't much but… Now he wants me to get rid of blankets and towels. He thinks we have to many. Lol . I'm afraid I'm going to come home and find I have…