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Sudden deterioration in memory and change in demeanor
Is it common for someone with Alz/dementia to have memory suddenly decline significantly? My Mom (96) has a show she LOVES to watch on TV - loves to the point that we have recorded every episode on her DVR and replay them continually. She talks about the star (local vet), wants to meet him, wants to see his clinic, etc.…
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agitation and aggressive behavior
My wife is 76 and in very late middle stage (6e) of Alzheimer's. She was diagnosed more than 10 years ago and has gradually progressed to this stage. until recently she was very cooperative, ate and hydrated well, and other than having almost no ability to care for herself was actually fairly easy to care for. Recently she…
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Fights about the dumbest things
the person I share a house with for the last 11 years - not a spouse or a legal partner - was diagnosed about two years ago, didn't tell me for about a year. I am not an official caregiver but in essence I am. I am retiring now and wondering how I will cope. When I worked it wasn't so bad but now I am here all the time.…
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The losses just keeps coming
I couldn’t decide where to post this: here or on the front porch(where I’ve never posted). I know not very many people visit here- but it’s a place to get my thoughts out. As you know, my spouse and I lost our son( April 2023). Then I lost my step-dad Feb. 2024. He wasn’t a nice person, but I had known him for 59 years. I…
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Terrified!
My 60 yr old husband was diagnosed a bit more than 4 years ago with EOAD/FTD w/ behavioral variant. He is late stage 6 with some components of stage 7. He is at home w/ me and I have part time care that comes to help. After an appt w/ his dr treating his symptoms, he tells me that because my husband is so physically…
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Makeup at night
just wanted to share very briefly… Got Mom all set up to do her nightly toothbrushing and night cream for her face thing, I normally let her do things on her own while I am definitely within earshot so she retains as much independence as possible. She had a shower earlier today, very unusual. But it’s because she had not…
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Happy Thanksgiving
God says … There is room enough in my arms for you, in my mercy for you, in my love for you. I welcome you, I cherish you — even after midnight, when weariness closes in and life as a caregiver stretches and frays the last nerve. There is room enough in my arms for you, in my mercy for you, in my love for you. I pray we…
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Sons and their Dad
Just talking. We have had such a lovely 2 day visit from our son and 7 year old grandson. They live 1500kl from us so visits are very special and require a certain amount of strategic planning to get away from work, fit in with school and sports and everything else that is going on in their lives. He brought me a new…
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Find local services for the aged at the National Council on Aging
The following link will help you find local services based on your zip code https://benefitscheckup.org/ Or, you can find it through the NCOA website. Look for Benefits Checkup
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Counterpart to "out of sight, out of mind" is "I need to see it"
Many people know of "out of sight, out of mind", where if a PWD does not see something, it is forgotten. So I take anything that can cause problems and hide it, or stuff it into a bag to carry it away. An example is a bottle of meds where pills can be taken if I leave it out and I don't keep an eye on it. I hide it as soon…
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Progression
So moms been in an Amazing ALF. She loves it. I love it it literally is the best blessing. That said recently last 6 months or so, when I pick her up on Sunday our weekly visit at my house ( I go there 2xs a week) she wants to leave, politely after an hour. Normally she spends the day we eat, watch football game, BS.…
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seroquel question
For those people who have found success with seroquel, what dosage are you using and how often is it administered? We started on 25mg once a day to treat agitation. We saw no effect and moved up to 50mg once a day. We found some success with that dosage and have been on 50mg once a day for about 8 months. Lately the…
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Has Anyone Installed a Bidet to assist with hygiene and avoid a UTI?
I'm thinking of a bidet to help my mother with her hygiene. She had a series UTI in the summer and she ended up in the ER and my dad whose the main caregiver and is 88 years old was unable to manage. She's okay now. However, she has started getting more and more confused about "how and when to wipe" following urination and…
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Is repeated aspiration pneumonia common?
My mothers MC facility called me a couple days ago saying they wanted to send her to ER because she had a persistent cough that was not getting better by her standard nebulizer. She has COPD. My dad passed away last year and most of mom's friends have died. She only has my sister (who has POA) and me. My sister spends two…
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How long can he sleep?
My husband is sleeping longer and longer. I know this is part of the disease but it is now 4:15 pm and he refuses to get out of bed. He is sleeping on and off, refuses to eat, and becomes belligerent when I try to have him get up, dressed, and have something to eat. I’ve read that it’s OK to let him sleep but it is…
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Giving thanks for you
Feeling thankful for all of you today! Thank you for your support, wisdom, understanding, and commiseration. Hoping you can find a moment today to feel thankful, and to feel appreciated!
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Still in a fog of emotions
M, 59. Wife, sister and kids ganged up on me this summer to get checked out. They said I kept asking them the same questions and could not correctly recall recent events. I am a teacher. I had noticed that I stumbled over some analogies I usually used to go with certain slides. But, No way I had an impairment, right? They…
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Father says hurtful things and still expects me to help
so my dad’s decline is progressing where he shows bizziare behavior at times and says really hurtful things especially regarding my own health. It makes me not want to full his pill planner with his meds or assist with day to day tasks. What are some tips to stay motivated although your loved one gets really mean?
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How To Find Purpose Again?
I knew where the path ended, the outcome never in doubt, but after so many years with my purpose being to care for my dear wife how do I find any purpose in going on? After 60 years together, with the last 10 or so caring for her as she suffered AD, my singular goal was to provide her care to keep her at home as she…
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Shower issues
I apologize if there is already a thread about this…. My mother is constantly refusing her showers, I understand the facility cannot make her shower but my concern is UTI/health issues, as she has a history with them. How long can they actually let her refuse to shower? My sister and I try to be available on her shower day…
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Early onset Alzheimer
My brother 62 has been diagnose with Early On Alzeheirs could someone share what does a through evaluation look like: what does the team who would look over his care look like: what are question he should be asking: I need specifics because as of now, his primary care doctor is making all the calls on his treatment plan…
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Father in memory care one day loves it one day hates it
our family is on a rollercoaster with my father. He is in a memory care facility now. He calls one part of the day in good spirits and hours later he is agitated and irritated with the facility. He upsets my mother tremendously and she does not know how to handle it. She, herself, is recovering from a stroke, which is why…
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My spouse does not remember who I am.
My spouse does not recognize me all the time. I cannot control her in anyway when she forgets who I am. What can I do about that?
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Losing his thermostat - supposed to do anything?
My DH is into early stage 5 probably. Diagnosed a year ago with Alz. I've noticed the last few months his hands and feet are often cold. Circulation issue I imagine. He's also been keeping the house around 70 at all times. Tonight we happen to be in a hotel room on our way to visit the grandkids for Thanksgiving.…
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TV help
I just heard about Jubilee TV. A caregiver can control a LO's TV from afar via a smartphone app. This might solve a lot of headaches. Iris
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Swelling in ankles and feet
My DH is stage 7 and under Hospice care. His mobility has decreased quite a bit in the last month. From time to time he has had swollen ankles, and now this past week his feet are very swollen to where we can’t get his shoes on. Hospice nurse doesn’t seem overly concerned. I do plan to buy a lift recliner this weekend as…
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Mom 89 has alz dementia is having anger and agression
Mom was diagnosed about a year ago and is now having anger and agression issues. She's taking medication for the moods but its not cutting it. She has good minute and bad minutes and back to good again. I was going to say good days but felt that wasnt correct. I believe she is still capable to shower and take care of her…
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Alzheimer's & Alcoholism
My grandmother is a functioning alcoholic & just got diagnosed with Alzheimer's. She refused to have the all day testing done because she would rather sit at home and drink & she hasn't been deemed incompetent to make her own medical decisions so we can't make her do anything she doesn't want to do but they were able to…
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Home visit
My wife has been in memory care for 3 years now and Im thinking of bringing her home for thanksgiving dinner with our daughters and grandchildren. My youngest daughter has had Thanksgiving and Christmas for the last 5 years, but cannot this year. My older daughter does not have a large enough house to accommodate everyone.…
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Home health care
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…