-
Respite care for a vacation
As I waffle about MC placement, I know that what I really want is to take a vacation, by myself, preferably for 2 weeks. I have no family who would be free to care for DH. MC facilities in Tucson advertise respite care but they will say "only if we have a bed available" which makes it hard to plan. Has anyone successfully…
-
New to the group
Hello, my name is Laurie. I am diagnosed with Alzheimers. I'm 61 yrs old. My doctor wants to start me on an infusion course of meds. Has or is anyone doing this? We're you able to get insurance for it. Thanks for your help.
-
Need to vent
So mom moves into ALF tomorrow. She just called me screaming and crying. She said I can't wait to lock her up in a home and get rid of her. I know this is coming from fear, but still not easy to hear. The ALF is gorgeous, looks like a hotel , I would live there! Tomorrow is going to be worse. I just hope she doesn't give…
-
The dreaded has finally happened
my sweet DH has just begun to not know who I am. Lately he’s been asking me what my name is. He used to shadow me all the time but now it’s only intermittent. He used to say my name a 100 times a day and then he started asking me what my name is. The other day I told him and he looked at me and asked if I was his sister.…
-
So very weary...
Visited DH today for a couple of hours. Not very responsive, couldn't get him to look toward me while taking a picture. Last week he was tapping his hands on everything (table, his legs, etc.) Now he's rubbing the palms of his hands constantly. Then he started rubbing my hands. Aide says he is eating everything but has to…
-
Interesting Article on Liver Disease and Dementia Misdiagnosis
The attached article is about Liver Disease and Dementia Misdiagnosis. I actually have a close friend who was diagnosed with an unspecified dementia and he lost his job, home and driver’s license due to his cognitive decline. A few years after his dementia diagnosis he was treated for Hepatitis C with one of the newer…
-
Just needing to rant
Since my stepmother passed away a year ago, husband and I have been caring for my father with early onset Alzheimer’s. We are his only caregivers because my sister lives out of town. I have really been struggling lately dealing with the way my dad talks to me. As my husband says, “he stays on your a**.” Any time I try to…
-
Looking for memory facilities-what to look for
I am starting the unbelievable search for a facility for my DH. He is not there yet but I don't want to wait until he is in crisis. Any suggestions? This is breaking my heart and is the hardest thing I have ever had to do. To admit I can't take care of him anymore is killing me.
-
How to support my Father who is caring for my Step Mom with Alzheimers.
Deep breath, and here I go. My Father turns 67 in 2 weeks. 10 years ago he decided to take early retirement because my step-mom [will call her Mom past this] was starting to show signs of memory loss, the doctors said it was too early to diagnose anything, but he wanted to get as much fun and travelling in while they could…
-
working at dad's house and sorting through things
Hello dear ones, We're going to dad's to work on things at his house beginning tomorrow. This time my spouse is joining me, thankfully. It's a buddy system task, for sure. I think it was HB who explained it as a uniquely sad task. Agreed. And several of you mentioned having someone with me if possible when I posted about…
-
CT Scan Finally
So, here are the results from my dad's ct scan: FINDINGS: The ventricles are normal in size and configuration for age. Enlarged bifrontal extra-axial spaces secondary to bifrontal cortical volume loss. There is no acute hemorrhage or mass effect. The gray-white matter differentiation is preserved. There are no extra-axial…
-
Father in law early stages , and visiting him soon
Hi everyone! So glad I found this website right now. What a relief wow. Story goes , my husband went to visit his parents in a different state last week. When he arrived, his brother pulled him aside and told him there father is starting to forget things, ask where he is, fighting with his wife and more. Side note : My…
-
Respite
I'm a nearly two weeks out from my magical respite. I hope to never forget the feeling of those days alone, knowing my DW was having fun with her family. My stress and anger and despair was alleviated in a huge way from it. The flip side is that it's made room for grief again. I've been crying like crazy the past few days.…
-
Seroquel
I’m new to the community. My dad has dementia these past 5 years on namenda and donezepil. Lately he has started so sundown and will start having these episodes of looking for his wallet and blaming my mom (main caregiver) she’s stealing his money. Our doctor said to try seroquel but I’m scared as when I’m reading about…
-
Absolutely CRAZY in the mornings
Every morning now since a month or so .. She is totally confused, agitated, shaking, paces back and forth in the kitchen , crying, does not want to live anymore, terrified of not understanding her surroundings, does not know what to do … Then slowly she calms herself , we supervise her while she makes her coffee, her…
-
My dad is 63 with Early on set
Just wanting some support. My dad was diagnosed with Early onset Alzheimer's in September of 2023 and it seems that it is progressing very fast. He now needing help putting on clothes, seeing things that are not there, moving his hands like he is fixing something in the air, bothering well, and struggling with holding…
-
Haven't yet figured out dx, but new symptom
…has cropped up. Brief history: DH was struggling. MRI in Oct 2023 showed brain shrinkage. Initial dx: moderate cognitive decline (13 of 30 MOCA), suspect Parkinsons, and Alz. In March, Speech therapist suspected Ataxia and so far indications seem correct dx. Neurologist is waiting on Mayo Clinic results of genetic…
-
Tips for What To Say
So…..my mom has failed to recognize me as her daughter. She refers to me in the third person, "Daisy," does this or "Daisy," does that. When she asks me what "my" name is, I say, "Daisy." When I give her my last name, of course, it's the same as "her daughter's." When she asks me about my birthday, I say the same one as…
-
Middle of the night convo made me laugh
DH: (Sleeping soundly, suddenly asks a thoughtful question at 2 a.m.): ”Are you fixing…my…” Me: (holding my breath a tad, in interpretation-prep mode. Not sure where this is going or what it will mean for the rest of the wee hours I was hoping to just sleep) DH:… “Trans-ma-tazz-ma-tay-shun?” Me: (Thinking. Stumped!) “Uhh,…
-
undiagnosed
My MIL exabits many symptoms of dementia. None of the adult children have medical POA. The FIL and MIL have medical POA on each other but that is all. Both are just under age 80 and FIL has physical ailments while MIL has dementia symptoms. I communicate with their primary. Due to HIPPA it is a one sided conversation. All…
-
Does it really matter what we call it??
My DH has hadcognitive issues for many years. I noticed it when I retired 12 yrs ago. Executive function deficits, no initiative. Withdrawn, apathy. He was in denial. 6 yrs ago physical problems manifested. Sitting most of day, extreme chronic constipation, balance issues, autonomic dysfunction, nightly sleep problems.…
-
When to go from AL to Memory Care?
Wondering how we determine when the right time is to move mom from Enhanced Assisted Living to Memory Care. The plan is to move her to the Memory Care wing at her current Sr Living bldg where she is in the Enhanced Assisted Living setting. She has always been an anxious person, is currently on Zoloft and…
-
Missing my life
just missing that “Someone loves me “ feeling 🥲
-
Hospitalization for agitation-round 3
As some of you know, my DH spent much of last month hospitalized for aggressive behavior at his memory care. He spent a month at 2 different Geri psych hospital units, with a four-day break at his memory care between hospitalizations. This time he made it two weeks before getting sent out of his memory care for taking a…
-
Seeing the worst in me
I’m new to ALZConnect. but have cared for my wife over the last five years as she has suffered with mild cognitive impairment. The formal Alzheimer’s diagnosis came 12/ 2024 and she is declining more rapidly. My DW has always been controlling, and recently started accusing me of steamrolling decisions without her consent.…
-
MC Care Plan meeting tomorrow/Monday afternoon
Hi community, I am seeking feedback on the notes I've made for Dad's Care Plan meeting at his new MC Community tomorrow. If I am out of line I am inviting you to point this out to me please. Thanks in advance. Notes below: Sometimes it is hard for me to know when it's Alzheimer's talking and when it's really what Dad is…
-
Hint: preparing food in oven is less stressful
I cook most meals for PWD, unless it's takeout. I found that using an oven causes fewer problems, since using a cooktop will often encourage PWD to "help", which causes more problems and poses danger. With an oven (let's say it's baked cod on a sheet pan), you can quickly prep, put into oven and wait until done. While this…
-
Is there any early warning system for dementia?
I am worried about my grandmother and grandfather developing dementia. Although they don't have any clear symptoms yet, they often forget small things, which concerns me. My great grandmother passed away due to dementia, so I am even more worried. The dementia screening tests seem too simple and unreliable, and it feels…
-
J
M
-
Caregiver costs
I am at the stage with my DH that I may be needing care during the night so I can get sleep. Due to the cost of caregivers for 12 hrs, it is cost prohibitive. Any ideas?