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And that went well (not)
I often tout the use of fiblets and redirects here. However I failed miserably at that myself earlier today. Backstory: I saw Mom last Monday( brought groceries). Talked to her on Thursday. My son saw her Friday. She told him she hadn’t seen me in ages. I saw her on Saturday ( brought groceries). She told me ( in front of…
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Reflections and a new lease on life
Here I am almost seventy year’s old, living in a new state, with my husband residing in a memory care facility, our grandchildren busy in elementary school, and our kids working full time. It’s not been easy to make friends in this new locale as a senior. I’m lonely living alone. Since I’ve been swimming laps for two…
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Tips on Water Intake
Hi everyone! Happy (almost) fall :) I'm writing to ask if anyone has had any experience with their loved one not remembering to drink water. My mom has recently started on Lexapro to deal with her anxiety and depression, and I know from my own experience with Lexapro how dehydrating it is and therefore causes awful…
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My Mom and Lifelong best friend Dx with Alzheimer’s
My mom was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. She has been my best friend and person my whole life. This disease has changed her personality, morals and values. I am only 50 and I miss my Mom and my person every day. I am so angry at her for having this disease, which I recognize is ridiculous. But I’m already grieving…
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TSA UGH! Airport Experience
I need to vent! DH with ALZ and I just got back from California visiting family. I expected some increased challenges due to travel but did not anticipate this one. DH was pulled out of line for “pat down.” search in San Francisco International Airport. I tried to tell them he might need me close by to help communicate…
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FTD Meet and Greet
I’m hosting Meet and Greet on behalf of the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration in Middletown, DE on Saturday, October 26. I’ll post again as we get closer but save the date if you live in the Delaware/Philly/Eastern Shore area. It will be a great chance to meet and make friends with others on this journey.…
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Clothing
Hello, can anyone suggest a source for clothing that's easy to put on/take off? Especially the take off part. This morning I had to literally cut the back of his sweatshirt open with scissors. He's always cold and wears long sleeves but they are too hard to get off. Thanks for any advice!
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Redirection on Delusions
Hello my heroic, supportive, and likely exhausted friends. DWs waving at the people on tv has gone from sad/but kinda cute, to just sad. She now thinks they are waving to her and sometimes coming out of the tv into our house. I've found her hiding in the pantry from them yesterday. She also really thinks there are people…
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Bathing why it’s a struggle
I’m new to all this and the group. Yesterday was a bad day for me I have never reached out before but mum for the first time ever got so angry and nasty to me it was a shock never has she done this before in my whole life and I’m 52. All because I’m trying to get her to bathe. I hope and pray she doesn’t start to associate…
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Automated pill dispensers
hi. Does anyone know of a good automated pill dispenser? I was on the alzstore.com and I ordered an automated pill dispenser made by med ready and it doesn’t work. For some reason I thought this store was connected with the Alzheimer’s Association, even though it doesn’t say so, and it turns out the return policy is really…
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Irritating new popup-am I the only one?
some setting has been changed this morning so that unless I “accept all cookies” there’s a pop up with every thread. Anyone else seeing this? It won’t accept anything less than “all cookies…”
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NY Times: Memory Loss Isn’t the Only Sign of Dementia
30-day gifted link to NYT article: Memory Loss Isn’t the Only Sign of Dementia. Readers of this forum may be familiar with these signs, but still may be useful to read. I learned something new.…
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Power of Attorney
I am my DH POA. We have a joint account at our bank. He is newly diagnosed for Alzheimer's a few months ago. He and I both have a debit card. He is still driving, and goes to Walmart frequently sometimes 2-3 times a day buying over the counter medications for cough sinus bandages, tools, etc. whatever he thinks he needs.…
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One of my biggest concerns
I am concerned about having to get medicaid for my husband in the future for help with caregiving Having to meet there spend downs and leaving me in bad financial situation for my life after. I have researched it all. I know that is just the way it is. So my only plan to avoid is to keep him home until the end. Which I…
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Seeking Easy To Understand Printed News Sources
I am a therapist working with a person with Alzheimers who has a great interest in the upcoming election however they have found news articles from the NY Times difficult and overwhelming to comprehend. I am seeking suggestions of newspapers/magazines with very simple, easy to understand verbiage about the candidates and…
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Caregiving compensation
I have recently resigned from my teaching job to move in and care for my father full time. Is there compensation available. He does have Medicare.
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Any alternatives to Hospice?
Hello, My mom is getting over her 3rd hospitalization for aspiration pneumonia. With the Lord's help, she's getting over it, but both hospitals I took her to have pushed hospice and "home health agencies". Been with two different home health agencies and not all impressed. Seems they can't do much for liability reasons.…
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Really disheartening first experience with hospice
Yesterday, I asked DH’s doctor at memory care if it was time for a hospice evaluation. DH has been there less than three weeks, but those of you who have been following our story may recall that since his first hospitalization Aug. 14, he has lost, by my estimate, 20-30 pounds. He pretty much stopped eating four days into…
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Red Flags?
I have made the decision to place my Mom in a MC facility. She is no longer safe at home and needs 24/7 care. We all work so living with one of us is not an option. I am visiting facilities this weekend. They show your their best, of course. What are things I should be on the lookout for that might give me pause. Are there…
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Big fall
Well, it happened. Out of the blue while walking to the elevator to go to lunch my mom face-planted, breaking her left wrist and fracturing her cheekbone, eye orbit and sinus. It was brutal and she doesn’t remember anything. She’s very oriented in the hospital but weak and unbalanced with a huge heavy cast. No surgery for…
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Memory Care (in SNF) recommendations for Florida
Hello, all. My mother is currently in a secured memory care unit (of a skilled nursing facility). Wanting desperately to move her, as the place that she's in currently is terrible. (The management is criminal.) If anyone has a loved one in memory care in Central or North Florida, would appreciate recommendations via…
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PWD and parallel universes
Today, when speaking with my mother (in SNF-MC) by phone, I wasn't sure where she (or I) was in her timeline. Normally, I do not offer that I am her daughter; I merely state my name and she will reply "my darling daughter". But, today, I asked who I [by name] was to her. She said "my sister". I corrected that I am actually…
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Bewilderment
Hello everyone. Looking for some insight here. The background is (for those who don't know), admitted mom to hospital at the beginning of Aug for delusions, hallucinations, and dementia (not safe at home). Got her Medicaid approved and found a MCF. Moved her in on Aug 19. About 8 days later, she was rushed to ER with what…
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Struggling Only Child
Hi ya'll, I've recently become a caregiver at the age of 29 as an only child for my father with dementia who is 74. He was diagnosed back in December 2023 with very little notice and had to be moved into a memory care close to my home - I work a full time job and am unable to stop working. It's just him and myself in our…
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keeping on
Hi community, I really wanted to title this something like "struggle bus" or "it gets better on some days, right?" I want to keep myself going in a positive direction. At least the most positive that I can muster up, but I'm honestly not having much luck with it today. So I re-read some words I saved from here by…
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legal issues
people say to get power of attorney, but because of his dementia he, my husband, can't hand it over to me. I've talked to several lawyers, and they say no. The only way to get custodianship is to take him to court in front of everyone he knows, it's a small town, and have him deemed incompetent. I can't do that to him. So,…
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Memory care visits
I am still adjusting to not taking my mom out for visits. She hates it, wants to go out and not come back. I have a hard time getting there early, which is when they have activities. Which she never wants to do anyway. I am at a loss for what to do during visits. We sometimes go downstairs and visit with others. She has no…
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eating too much
DH in ES ALZ, has lately started eating everything put in front of him. Six months ago, if I served him a large steak, he would eat his fill then save the rest of it. Lately, he eats the whole thing in addition to sides. Yesterday, I made chicken salad, enough for 3-4 lunches. He ate the whole thing for lunch, in addition…
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Hurricane Helene
Those of you in Florida be safe and let us know how you are when you can…
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Rough visit wit mom
It started with her wanting me to take her to the store. She just likes to buy crazy things she does not need. If we let her she would fill her apartment. She gets mad if we don’t take her to the store and mad when we do and don’t let her buy whatever she wants. I told her I was busy and didn’t have time. She says they…