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New Here! Mum diagnosed 6 weeks ago. Struggling with evening sundowning/looping—any advice?
Hi everyone, This is my first post. Recently, my mum was diagnosed with early-to-mid-stage Alzheimer's. She is 67. This has hit our family pretty hard, especially my dad, who has taken on the mantle of primary caregiver. I still live at home, so I am exposed to the daily realities of the condition. Lately, she has been…
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Hello again from NW Indiana
Hi Folks. It's been a while. Life, as I'm sure you know is very different for me now. I sincerely hope that some of you have had your lives get a little easier, although I know that's not typically the case. Just wanted to update you on how things have gone for me since I don't have boots on the grouch anymore. Like I…
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A lot of tests and Q about Aricept
My letter was just eaten by the app. Dang. I haven’t written in ages, but I have taken tons of tests. Finished and have results of P tau and Pet Scan. Counting disclaimers so far AlZ is what I have. Friday was the neuropsych test which truly upset me. I take generic Aricept which is working until it stops. I am on 5mg.…
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MC sent my Mom to ER with a psych hold
My 92 year old Mom has been in memory care for almost 3 years. She is probably late stage 5 or early stage 6. She has become more agitated over the past 6 months and has begun lashing out at caregivers and other residents. A couple of days ago she hit 3 residents and the MC called an ambulance and put her on a psych hold.…
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See you at the funeral… Cutting off relationships.
”See you at the funeral,” as of late is what I am constantly wanting to say to family and friends. Life is exhausting, both physically and mentally. I am aware of what I have in me and I choose to save this for my DH. As things change in the disease progression, it is disheartening and disappointing to observe the level of…
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Wife’s Anger In The Mornings
Looking for advice I have a PSW coming in every morning at 7.00am. Her job is to wake my LO, do the toilet , wash , dress give her breakfast and then drop her off to the Activity Center by 9.00am. The PSW has been coming now for 6 weeks, but unfortunately my wife gives her a real hard time telling her to “ get out, shut up…
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Random Balance Issue
DW had her first real fall last week. We were prepping supper. I turned away from her, and she went crashing into the counter onto the floor. Luckily shoulder first not headfirst. Now has a big, nasty bruise on her arm. I had noticed days prior that she would be standing still and then all of a sudden stager step backwards…
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New Alzheimer’s diagnosis
Found out today I have early stage Alzheimer’s today. I’m been having symptoms for 2 years and went to 3 different neurologists before I found one who went forward with tests. When I was introduced to Alzheimer’s I was 10 with my grandmother. Ever since I have been afraid of having the same thing. I am scared and worried…
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I’m feeling guilty - second guessing decisions
Hi - I have the longer story below, but basically, I’m wondering if my decisions for my mom’s care made her dementia progress faster. I know this may not be true, but she’s progressing pretty quickly. She just turned 77. I’ve tried not to, but I’m feeling a lot of guilt about the decisions I’ve made. I apologize. This is…
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His understanding vs reality ... how to respond.
My DH is mid to late stage 5 depending on the day (as you all know). We were invited to dinner by our neighbors, a couple we've known for some time. My DH gave a heavy sigh when I told him and when I asked why he said it was because he couldn't say much (can't keep up with conversations). I said we didn't have to go, but…
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Helpful Tools?
My husband was diagnosed in 2018. He is 84. He has always been a home body and loves our home. He sleeps a good deal of the time. I have been going on quick grocery runs and physical therapy twice a week for knee replacement. The grocery is 5 minutes from our home and the Phys therapy and exercise facility about 10 Minites…
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Today Is Another Day
So today is Monday morning I am working on the gentle discipline of our routine, with the help of some soft music with words of love to keep me on track. We shower, we breakfast with the birds in my garden outside. I have my regular phone call from our daughter. DH is now having trouble swallowing his pills but we get…
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Memory Care Adjustment Challenges
We just moved my Dad to memory care two weeks ago. My mom continued to take care of him at home as long as she could, so he had a good routine, but could not longer handle the challenges of caretaking. My dad has always been opposed to moving out. He is having an incredibly hard time adjusting to a new place. We thought it…
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Taking care of 91 year old mother
It’s been 2-3 years since her anger started kicking in. I am only son, she lives alone. She has VD and perhaps some Alz. I am at wits end. Have joined support groups, 1x1 therapy, have a supporting wife and son. But LO continues to accuse me of stealing, hiding, ignoring abandoning. Every conversation is bad. I am there 3…
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Pop Part 2
Things are progressing rapidly. He is getting aggressive with home health and acting out. Nothing physical, just being ugly and wanting them to leave. I have a VA appt to discuss medications for sleep, depression, anxiety and calmness. Any of you have this? If so, how did you manage?
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Father with dementia, just moved into my home
My 87 yo widowed father has alz(diagnoised 8 years ago) and vd. He fell asleep after a dr appt in awaiting room and was wandering confused with delirium in the facility after he woke up. He was seen in the ER and admitted for mental status change. He has had a couple of other incidents similar but not in the…
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Seeking thoughts on timing for MC
I've been the sole caregiver for my 79-yr-old DW for almost five years. (I now have aides two mornings a week.) She has ALZ and vascular dementia, probably now in late stage 5 / early 6. The past six months have seen a sizable deterioration. There may be "silent seizures" involved. She is still fairly healthy physically,…
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heard this song today.... Missing Lonny...
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Newly diagnosed DH with early onset Alzeheimers
My DH was diagnosed with early onset ALZ November 2023 at the age of 62. We are doing a trial drug through Lily in Plymouth Meeting, PA. He'll have been in the trial for over 15 months as of Feb 2025. I am wondering what early symptoms I should look out for. He has a bad short term memory, finds it difficult to find words…
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Does anyone else worry that they are making the wrong decisions?
My dad has some good days and can be very lucid/agreeable and other days he is very forgetful and or angry. Right now he is angry, refusing to get out of bed, eat or drink, take his meds because I won't take him back to Florida to live in his own house. I tell him that I am following the instructions from the doctor and…
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Be careful what you say as a joke <sigh>
So my DH (mid to late stage 5) was talking to me yesterday about how he was itcy most of the time and he thinks it's the body wash or something he's using. Although I don't ever see him scratching at himself and I'm with him 98% of the time. He showed me his arms (which looked pretty normal to me) so I jokingly say "ah,…
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Sundowning is torture
My DW is suffering from FTD and is likely past the halfway mark of progression, as if that means anything. Most, but not all mornings she is cooperative with our caretakers and accepts her morning shower and getting up, dressed, and moved into our living area. The afternoon and evenings present the rough spot in her day.…
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Time Marches On
I get mad at time as it marches on, seemingly forgetting that something devastating happened on June 26th. It never slowed down once to take notice. It just keeps marching on—day by day, moment by moment—keeping track of the days without him. Constantly reminding me: It’s been this long since I heard his voice. This long…
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Open to any and all suggestions!
Hi everyone, I’m looking for advice from others who have been through this with a parent or loved one with Alzheimer’s. My mother-in-law, Diane, was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s after extensive neuropsychological testing. She is still very capable in many ways, but has significant short- and long-term memory…
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Mother refuses to go to memory care appointment for diagnosis
My mother has been showing obvious signs of some sort of cognitive decline over the last year though may have been dealing with it for longer. She is very good at hiding it because she is quite socially skilled. We had to move my father out of the house they shared and into independent living because she was getting very…
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Thank you
Although this is my first time posting, I have been following this board since the beginning of the year. My husband was officially diagnosed with EOA in January 2022. I was his full time caregiver at home while working from home FT - not easy, and not something that I would recommend to others. This board was such a…
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40hz light therapy
Good morning. I recently saw an article on light therapy and helping with mood and memory. Has anyone tried a 40hz lamp? My mother has advanced Alzheimer’s, but was thinking if it helped her mood that would even be beneficial. Also any supplements that have been helpful? Thanks in advance!
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Sleep issues
My DH is 66 and was diagnosed last year with AD. The dr. said staging wasn't important and different with everyone, so I don't know where he really is right now. We are seeing a new neurologist Aug 7. Lately, his moods are up and down and his sleep is really off. He may sleep 3 or 4 hours and then want to nap all…
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Anger Issues
My sister was diagnosed with dementia in April of 2024. She has recently become very angry with her daughter and myself. It seems that whatever we do it is not right. She doesn’t give us a chance to explain when she misunderstands what the conversation is about. She continues to talk over you and says we don’t hear or…
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He is now bedridden
My DH became totally bedridden a couple of days ago. He can't support his body anymore or sit up in the wheelchair. I asked the nurse what I could do to know if he tries to get out of the bed since he would wind up on the floor. She ordered a bed alarm. So the bed alarm is pretty cool. It looks like a long heating pad that…