-
I have Covid and DH in MC is on the verge of pneumonia
What a way to end the year! I came down with Covid this week and the Dr. prescribed Paxlovid. Unfortunatley, I am having a reaction to it and have had to stop taking it. Meanwhile, DH has a deep cough and his lungs are filling up. The nurse said he is heading into pneumonia. His oxygen level is still good though so he is…
-
When to seek hospice assessment?
Hi, My mother is my father main caregiver but I see her increasingly doing more than her body can handle. She is not getting enough sleep because he keeps her up at night. She has to hold him up, and now she's starting to feed him. My father is a different person he was in the Spring. Now he sleeps constantly and barely…
-
Our Father is Obsessed with Turning Off the Utilities
One of the most challenging aspects of caregiving for a loved one with late-stage untreated Neurosyphilis dementia, GPI, and tabes dorsalis is managing their behavior and preventing them from causing harm to themselves or others. Recently, my father has developed a concerning preoccupation with utility services, such as…
-
Pooping in the Shower
Recently, we've observed a concerning shift in my father's behavior, which has added a new layer of complexity to our caregiving responsibilities. While my father's actions may seem intentional and without shame, it's essential to understand that this behavior is likely a result of his cognitive impairments and the…
-
How to support emotionally who got diagnosed?
My parent got diagnosed with Alzheimer's. She understood the diagnosis because the dr said that the MRI definitively showed it. My parent accepted this as the truth. For her the diagnosis came out of nowhere as she is unaware of her symptoms of cognitive decline. She was sad and expressed not wanting to be a burden to…
-
Mom with dementia moved to AL and misses her house. Can she go back and say bye to it?
Hello All. I recently had to put my mother into AL due to her dementia and she never had a chance to day goodbye to her house. We sold the house and I am wondering if I could take her back to it to say "goodbye?" Since she left she was crying daily about missing it and I am scared if I take her back, she will relapse into…
-
Something I have never seen discussed here
We all know there are conditions that mimic dementia, and when caught early can cause the symptoms to be a thing of the past. But one thing I've always wondered is what percentage of people being tested for dementia are found to have a condition that is treatable, and therefore dementia can be avoided? I've never seen any…
-
Death of a parent with Alzheimer's
Hello I'm Matt me and my mom was caregivers to my dad who had the Alzheimer's we kept him home me and her faught along side him and his doctors he was 51 when he was diagnosed with dementia and he mad it to see his 71st birthday in September sadly he lost his battle on November the 14th at 2:00am it's still so hard to…
-
New Here - 33 looking for support for mother diagnosed with AD
I am not normally one to reach out for support in this format but I feel very isolated in my mother’s recent Alzheimer’s diagnosis. We have seen her condition worsen over the last few years and last year there was a huge red flag for us when she couldn’t remember opening gifts at Christmas. I was 2 weeks postpartum and…
-
DH diagnosed in Moderate Stage
Our first appointment with Geriatric doctor today was good and i was happy with time she spent with my DH. She did some testing and after 3 years with MCI, was not surprised that he was diagnosed in Moderate stage. It is the longest stage, but can move faster with illness or life events. Since he is not displaying any…
-
From the NYT: The Lives They Led
This end-of-year article includes a section on Naomi Feil. You'll need to scroll down quite a bit to find it. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/12/20/magazine/people-who-died.html?unlocked_article_code=1.jE4.z51J.efbTs9_Va8M0&smid=url-share
-
Trazadone for sleep
Hi all, Has anyone had experience with Trazadone for sleep with the PWD. My LO stays up till 4 or 5am and then sleeps till almost 2pm if we don’t get him up and going. The Dr prescribed 50mg of Trazadone for sleep. I’m reluctant because of all the side effects. I have previously trying to wake him earlier and get him on a…
-
Where do I get simple help for meds and eating
My mom is still at home. She is doing physically very well. She is active in the community, volunteers, plays bridge, goes to church and drives. However, she has meds for diabetes, memory and high blood pressure that she won't take on a consistent basis, mostly out of defiance. This, along with not eating well, leads to…
-
Christmas Cards
In a year filled with bad news, I am sitting here with a box of Christmas cards wondering what to write. I want to send cards; this is the only contact I have with many of the friends and relatives on my list. Caregiving is isolating enough without letting my last few contacts in the outside world slip through my fingers.…
-
Forgetting how to get in bed
Anyone dealt with a fairly functiontioning PWD but whom can’t seem to remember how to get herself in bed? My mom is still in AL despite some decline recently. She’s still able to use toilet and bathe herself, feed herself so not quite ready for MC (she doesn’t wander either). Previously she’d get herself in bed like a…
-
Aggression and violence-early onset
Hi I have a dear friend that is dealing with her husbands combative, violent aggression. He is an early onset patient and 70 years young. He was placed in MC and they had to transport him to ER because he was harming the staff. The ER sent him to a geriatric psych facility 2 hours away. After 10 days there the psych…
-
Eating less & sleeping more
I guess this is “normal” progression, but my DH has been eating half as much for a while and has been sleeping a few extra hours a day for a couple of months now. I put him somewhere in stage 6. Today, he put himself to bed at about 7 pm and ate very little. I guess I’m freaking out a little b/c I’m seeing (maybe a faster)…
-
behavioral advice needed
Hi, A few months ago my husband and I joined a state funded Medicaid/Medicare association that provides day care, OT, PT, medical care, etc. So far it's been great for both of us as he is an 85 yr old with ALZ and I am his wife/caretaker, 75 year old with physical disabilities. We go 3 days a week to the daycare to give me…
-
Hi - I really need input about end of life
My sweet husband is nearing the end. I feel so alone. We’ve been married for 24 years. No kids. What family he has walked away when he got diagnosed 6 years ago. He resides in a memory care facility in Los Angeles where they take really good care of him and love him. He was only 59 when he got it and now he’s 65. Had a…
-
Zoom or online chats
Is there place to go to be on a live support group chat or zoom call? The posts can be helpful it would be nice to talk to people in real time. I don't have the energy to go through all the posts. Thanks
-
sensitivity extremes
Does anyone experience LO being overly sensitive to things like light, noise,temperature? My DH complains when I get a pan out of cupboard that I am making too much noise. He gets upset when lawn guy runs the mower or blower. Everything is too bright, too loud, too hot, too cold when they are not that bad. Thanks for input
-
Approaching stage 8
My DH, who has been on hospice in a nursing home for a month, had a big downturn last night. He can no longer swallow and is aspirating on his saliva. Hospice has discontinued all food and drink, and now it is a waiting game. He’s getting morphine and Ativan every four hours and seems to be comfortable. It’s hard to…
-
Memory Care “Incidents”
My mom has been in memory care for two months and has been in three “incidents” so far where other residents grab her (physically) when she’s entering or leaving her room because, in their state, they think my mom’s room is their room or they think she has something of hers, which she doesn’t. After each incident, she…
-
New Here - Very Overwhelmed
Taking a deep breath here because I am not exactly sure where to even begin. My father is 75 and we do not yet have a full diagnosis but there is definite memory loss. My father has a lot going on, in addition to trying to figure this out, he also has cancer and is diabetic. He's experienced a lot of loss, as many people…
-
In person support group for mom
Hello! Mom has been struggling with "age-related dementia" (malarkey) for a few years. Been working on diagnosis for almost a year. Finally have PET scan diagnosis- Moderate AD. My mil passed w AD so I know what's coming. But I didn't expect it to happen so abruptly. Mom lives with me most of the time. Goes to stay with…
-
Help with not eating
My mother has virtually stopped eating. She has lost nearly 50 pounds in the last 4-5 months. Her eating has dropped to maybe a half cup of food maybe twice a day. She a is still active and very independent including cooking for herself and my father. I need help. I have tried everything I can think of. Where can I turn?
-
Should I replace my Mom’s Computer?
My mom is now in her third month in AL after a fall presented the opportunity for a change she had been resisting. She’s not as happy as before, but she’s managing and at least she really likes the food. Recently her ancient Chromebook died. She does post on FB occasionally and checks her email maybe once a week. She also…
-
This is fantastic! 5 day course from Dr. Natalie Edmonds
A few years ago I took a 5 day course from Dr. Natalie Edmonds. I was told I could share it. This was supposed to not be available anymore, but I was cleaning out my emails tonight, and decided to try the links. They are live. I thought the class was excellent!! If you watch the first one, you'll know if it's for you. I…
-
Books about Alzheimer's Disease
I want to start a thread for books regarding Alzheimer's Disease and caregiving. I invite anyone with a pertinent book about Alzheimer's Disease or the other dementias to post. If someone has the link for Understanding the Dementia Experience, please post it here, so new members can readily find it. The first book I want…
-
Am I being overly concerned?
My husband is in the mid stage Alzheimer. He showers 3 times a week. On the days he doesn't, he will get dressed before he comes out of our room. I am usually up hours before him. He will put his clothes over his PJ's, won't change his underwear, socks or tee shirt. It drives me crazy. Should I just happy he does it 3…