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Alzheimer's quick progression after an illness?
My LO has been experiencing a Colitis flare-up and is really having a hard time. He was seen by a doctor, and we have a follow-up appointment scheduled. But it seems like his Alzheimer's has progressed a lot within just a week. I did see a video that mentions that people may "take a step" down after experiencing an…
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Emotionally and Mentally Exhausted
Hi everyone, it took me a little while to go ahead and type this ‘new discussion’, hopefully I am doing it correctly. My 78 year old mom was finally diagnosed with moderate dementia last week. My siblings and I knew she had some memory delays, especially after my dad passed a few years ago. I didn’t realize it was bad…
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Angry right now
Anyone out there ever get frustrated to the point of even being angry at the total LACK of answers available for this disease? My mom is in (I think) Stage 4 Alzheimers. But then it could be Stage 5. I can’t get a good answer from a doctor. There are no good answers. No good answers on how long I can expect each stage to…
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How to have patience and not start resenting your spouse.
Hi: My DW has had VD for 3 years and I'm the sole care giver. It's 24/7 year-round. Today she woke me screaming to come wipe her bottom. Yes, I have had to do many times, but to get woke up out of a deep sleep to her screaming clean my bottom. I almost lost my temper; how does someone not get up start resenting your…
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Husband
Hi all, My husband has Lewy bodies and was saying last night he’s dying, he said it again in the early hours of this morning, can anyone give advice please.
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risperidone
My HWD is currently taking Donepezil and Sertraline. He has been so agitated and verbally abusive lately that his PCP has written a prescription for risperidone 5 mg. The listed side effects are pretty scary, but maybe at this low dosage they are not a big risk. I was wondering if anyone has experience with it that they…
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Decline after caregiver?
Mom lives with us and has for about a year and a half, but we had a daily caregiver (8 hours a day) coming for a little over 2 months to help with Mom after she had fallen late July of this year. It was usually the same person M-F and then another person who came for the weekends. Both ladies were awesome, and of course…
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Medication administration
Hi ! my mother has been getting very confused with taking her medication despite me setting up the pill organizer each week . It is clear I need to get some help because I can’t get there each day and night. What are your experiences ? Is this something Medicare covers ? Are there agencies that will just come in for this ?…
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We can't persuade her to take a shower anymore.
Hello, My 85-year-old mother-in-law with Alzheimer's lives with me and my husband. He works full-time and I am at home due to disability. We used to be able to remind her to take a shower every few days and she would grumble a little and do it. Then she started resisting more strongly. We tried asking her if there was…
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Feeling extremely overwhelmed
I am a 55-year-old female caring for my 80-year-old mother. There are so many things to discuss, so I will try to start small. I live an hour and a half away from her, so expense-wise, and my own extreme anxiety and depression, it is hard to be there all the time. I call her daily to check in, but that conversation always…
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Safety gate for stairs?
Morning all, I'm new here and caregiving for my mom who's in stage 5. Increasing wondering at night, mostly in the upstairs hallway but occasionally venturing downstairs. Any stair gate recommendations? Thanks!
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Anyone experiencing body pains
hi am am newly diagnosed early onset dementia, My doctor is still finding out what kind dementia I have My understanding is I have Alzheimer’s in my blood but not reached my brain yet , what the heck does that mean ? I am having a Pet scan next , I kind feel like my doc just dumped me or put me on hold , I don’t know if…
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Update: Mood swings and anger issues
I want to think everyone who responded to my last post. That night I got a call from hospice to discuss my wife’s condition. I mentioned her anger and was told that the memory care staff had Lorazepam on hand that they could give her with my permission. I said that was alright with me and was told it would be passed on. On…
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struggling
Hi dear community, I know you all will get it. I'm having one of those days. I feel like I can't be all of the places that I need to be. My nerves feel fried. Just wanted to say that if this is also you, my hand is in yours. 💜 And you are not alone. A friend shared this (see pic) about emotional burnout and I felt it in my…
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Wow, I underestimated the loneliness
My husband went to memory care this week. It's going fine. He's settling in fairly well. I feel like a jerk for even saying this. I'm lost and lonely. I've never lived alone before (family, college, roommates, then my husband). I'm trying to keep busy. Dishes are done. Laundry is caught up (for the first time in 2 years).…
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A different stage
Hello my friends, all day I have beencalled a bitch, move out, pay bills with my small paycheck and my DH needs his SSI $1000 income. I am feeling like scared,, he will lash out. Also I cant be around him
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First Post
This is my first post, although I have been reading conversations on this forum for months. You are all so knowledgeable and compassionate and I have gained more knowledge here than with all the doctors or well meaning friends and family combined. Here's our story: I've known my DH for 30 years. We have been incredible…
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Unhappy Anniversary
Today is our 13th wedding anniversary. Last year DW jumped out of bed and gave me a big kiss and wished me a happy anniversary. This morning I told her happy anniversary and she had no reaction just continued to talk about something that made no sense. I guess this year is the beginning of unhappy anniversaries for me.…
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structure and expense of long term care and hospice
This is a CNBC video I found interesting. How senior care became a $600 billion business | Watch
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What to do, what to do…
My father in law suffers from dementia. He has lived by himself for the past two years and is capable of caring for his daily needs. Still fine with the few meds he takes. He has regular interactions with each of his kids as well as occasional visits from family friends. He sundowns pretty severely each evening. We…
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Leqembi Infusions
My husband is in early stage Alzheimers and our Neurologist recommended Leqembi. After much discussion my husband decided he wanted to try it even withe the serious side effects. After 3 infusions they did an MRI to look for side effects (brain bleeds). All was good. After the 5th infusion they repeated the MRI and it…
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Being accused of any and everything
I am caring for my grandmother. I was wondering if anyone has any tips for a specific and main hardship I'm having. She accuses me of being "the biggest liar she has ever met" about everything. She will ask me a seemingly easy question for example, she will be holding a peice of mail and ask me where it came from. So I…
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Early On-set sadness
My DH seems to be advancing rapidly in his disease; he is only 61. I feel guilty that it's because I can't provide the level of care he needs. We've made too many trips to the ER lately. Most recently, he fell out of bed, tripped on a metal step stool, broke it, and then snapped the stabilizing bar, and it stabbed him in…
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Anxiety building
i am going to visit my mother tomorrow mainly because she needs her wine, she goes though a box wine (34 glasses) every 4 days it's very bad on her part I have tried to intervene but she says she will never give it up. Tried consulting a doctor and my mother refuses any treatment. I have to cover her seat in my car with…
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Solutions for Missing Laundry in MC?
Compared to many other challenges, this one is minor, but I am hoping someone has a workable solution. My father has been in MC for more than a year. I visit many times a week and would rather focus on being with him than on constantly surveilling for missing items. To date we have lost four sets of sheets, one unique…
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Any point to Namenda at this point?
I'm so tired. DH was diagnosed with dementia 16 years ago and was placed on Namenda and Galantamine. It appears they did slow progression but at age 78 he is now in a memory care facility. The Galantamine was discontinued a year ago but the Namenda was continued. . At this time his dementia has progressed mentally- he is…
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A Trip
I have to make a confession. I've been telling people here how difficult taking trips with my DW in Stage 5/6 have been and recommending not to do them. Then, the glutton for punishment I am, I decided I'd try again to bring my DW to our old hometown. She went to college here and has wonderful friends and family here that…
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When or if or why to call ambulance if notable changes in bp and demeanor
hi all…my mom has late stage Alzheimer’s but lives at home with 24/7 care. My dad prob also has dementia but always thinks something is wrong. Yesterday she was much more dazed than usual and higher BP than usual. My dad wanted to call an ambulance. Mom just existing no expression of pain. I told him to let her be. I want…
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Need help with finding a new facility for my Dad in NY/NJ
My Dad has Alzheimer’s for the last 4 years and in the last year the disease has progressed with some combativeness, resistance to care and lack of inhibition. He has been discharged from two AL/MC facilities as I learned they are not equipped to deal with those symptoms of the disease. He has been hospitalized in…
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A little tip about door locks
The first time DH locked himself in the bathroom I realized that I don’t have keys to those locks or to the bedroom doors. I bought emergency key pins to open the push button locks. These worked for me, but maybe even a little screwdriver would work. Just make sure you have a way to open all locks so you can get in if they…