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Struggling to regain control of my life
I've always been a strong positive woman with an internal locus of control...until blindsided by DH's dementia. These days my life runs me, time is not my own. I stay on top of all that needs to get done, take care of my husband but find there's no time or energy left for myself. We put everything in to caregiving and…
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Social worker coming .
Any comments on palliative care ?
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Does anyone forget how far there LO is
Sometimes I forget what stage he is in. I think I do alot of scaffolding without realizing it. Today I went back and looked at his test results. Not good. He has both VD and Ad. It was just a reality check.
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Lessons learned
Sometimes we act emotionally instead of rationally. My DH with VD and I both miss the RV trips we used to take so I decided we should continue to make a few more memories while we can. This trip was more for me to have some recent memories when he's gone than for him. Not my wisest idea. We stayed close to home and only…
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Medication Thoughts: Quetiapine, Risperidone, Lorazapam, ABH Gel
My wife is in Stage 7 Alzheimers per the FAST Scale and has changed her behavior in the past weeks including being more Anxious, Confused and Combative. This week she had what I would describe as a hallucination episode and was very anxious, upset and uncontrollable for about 30 minutes. She has severely restricted her…
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Long Distance Mom has Dementia, and I am the only Child
Hello, I live a plane flight or 1.5-days driving away from my mom and I am only son. She has dementia and lives alone with her dog and cat. I can see her deterioration and have taken over all of her bills, taxes, online shopping, ordering food deliveries, etc for her. I have three children (teenagers) living with me and…
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Reappearance of distanced siblings
My Father was diagnosed with VD with onset AL 4 years ago. I took over as POA due to a broken unrepairable bridge between my Sister the former POA, and Dad. I've learned so much about their former relationship in the last 4 years and frankly, I wish I woud have found out sooner in order to rescue Dad. She kept him in the…
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Mom is losing weight
Hello, some people say when they stop eating that's when the end is near. I don't know,I believe it's up to God. My mom will be 89 this year God willing. The best part of visiting my mom today was that I saw her with my sister. And we really bonded today. It was very nice today. God bless.
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Dad with Early Dementia
My mum has alzheimers and late on now but with Dad im experiencing far more of the i dont live here or getting taxi home and not sleeping at all. He gets up in night with clothes on occasionally and i stop him going but now i am wondering if thats the right approach as there is no "other" place/home. Really exhausted with…
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What was I THINKING 🤔
yesterday we / I decided to join our daughter at the Casino in Laughlin for dinner and play a few slots. Dinner was great then we all headed for the slots😆we all thought my LO( loved one) was with the other ? After about a half hour we realized we lost him 🤦♀️after searching we found him sitting alone at a machine with no…
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Coconut oil?
Been doing some research on diet changes and the effects it has on Alzheimer’s. Has anyone ever heard about/or tried coconut oil to slow the Alzheimer’s process? I know omega 3s are important. Just trying to see if there is anything else I should be doing for my mom besides the standard drug treatment.
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Just need to talk to my friends (203)
It has been a beautiful day, sunny and 75. Meant to check on the daffodils but forgot. The ones I can see from the kitchen window look okay! QVC has started their gardening shows so Spring is near. They had the perennial Gerbera daisies again today. So pretty. I bought them two years ago and had one bloom and they didn't…
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Advice
My husband was diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer’s three weeks ago. His doctor has recommended the leqembi treatment. I’ve read all of the risks and comments on this site. My problem is, do I tell my husband the risks and scare him even more or do I make the decision for him, knowing that he would want to try even with…
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Loneliness, Fear & Sadness
New to this forum. My husband has ALZ and is no longer the kind, considerate, thoughtful, brilliant man he was. I'm feeling overwhelmed with grief, loneliness and functional depression. Although I get through each day and night, I do it without grace. I struggle each day to find my old personality — I was kind, and patient…
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EOAD and Amyloid PET Scan
DH just saw a new neurologist and she is trying to get an amyloid PET scan for confirmation of EOAD or FTD. MMSE is showing he is in stage 2 with mild dementia. No longer in the MCI category. Have any of you had the scan? Did your commercial insurance plan cover it? The doctor said it will reveal EOAD so we can talk about…
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It's not 'agitation' - It is RAGE AND AGRESSION
and it gets worse. I have watched my husband who was officially diagnosed with Alzheimer's near 3 years ago simply marinate in his misery. Nothing I have tried has served to help him. There were unresolved issues that were percolating before the more serious onset of the disease (forced retirement with no interests,…
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Revenge
I didn’t know that a person with dementia could be so revengeful. My husband is a hoarder and he has been collecting things from all over the house. It could be trash it could be trinkets or food etc. He puts them in the corner of the room where he sits. I have to clean up or it will get unreal. I sometimes throw things in…
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New to caring for a parent with ALZ (and to this forum)
Hi all. I am new to this board/ website. I just found it today and figured I would dive in. I am not sure I know what I'm doing writing here other than sharing my story and letting it out in a safe place. It's ok if I don't get any responses, I just need to let it out. My dad turns 80 next month and has ALZ. He was…
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Advice for Going Back to Work
I took FMLA for a year to assist with the new diagnosis of Alzheimers for my mom. It was intermittent FMLA so while I still worked, I was able to take off for appointments, my own mental health, and days that seemed like my mom just needed someone to be with her. I was averaging about 20 hours a week rather than my full 40…
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The hurt from letting go
My DW is in the middle stage of memory loss. When she was lucid, she said she felt I didn’t love her anymore. I have to admit that my feelings are changing. Her behavior can exhaust me, and I realize that I communicate less simply in order to reduce my stress. It is a lousy spot to be in for both of us, but I don’t see any…
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A Wife and A Partner
Not sure why I'm posting this……I'm not looking for validation and certainly don't need judgment. I guess just sharing my experience. My wife was diagnosed with early on-set Alzheimer's over 7 years ago. She is currently non-verbal, fully incontinent, and unable to do anything for herself. I am blessed that she is still…
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Navigating Alzheimer’s Risk While Caring for Both Kids & a Parent—How Are You Coping?
Hi everyone, I’m in my 40s, raising kids, and also caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s. My mom has APOE4 x2. Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about what this means for my own future—both emotionally and proactively. I recently started looking into early detection tests, including: • APOE4 genetic testing • Blood biomarker…
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How do you know when it's time for hospice?
Several people here have shared their experiences with hospice. I'm not familiar with it at all, so any advice/explanation would help. My DH is showing more physical signs of decline: losing weight even though he still eats well (160 lbs from 196), is starting to stumble, and becoming incontinent. I know some of that is…
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UTI, Pneumonia, Sepsis and Hospital = Sharp Mental Decline
I have read here many times about how UTI's and hospital admittance escalates dementia and now I am experiencing it. My DH is in stage 5 of Vascular dementia. He was admitted in hospital Sunday evening with UTI, pneumonia and sepsis. He is 83 years old. Fortunately, we came home yesterday afternoon as he responded very…
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My First Community Post
In the words of the poet, "please allow me to introduce myself," although when it comes to "wealth and taste," I'm lacking on both counts. LOL. I was born and raised in the Chicago area, not far from Midway Airport, with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, which caused me to spend a lot of time with doctors. It has been…
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Planning first visit to memory care
I'm planning my first visit to see my parent in memory care. I'm out of state so it's a big endeavor. I'm traveling by myself without my family. Besides visiting with my mom, The purpose of the trip is to check out the memory care facility, meet the staff and then check out the surrounding area to plan excursions with a…
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Providing Support for my Family
Hi, I am looking for some advice. For some background, my mom (58) was recently diagnosed with EOA. She no longer works and is home during the day with my brother (28 with down syndrome). My dad lives with them, but works full time. I (25) live nearby with my fiancé and I also work full time. My mom is obviously going…
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How often do you visit your LO in Memory Care?
I am sure there is no routine or common visiting schedule. Someone recently asked me how often I visit my mom, and I told them about once a week. In reality, it is less than that. I guess I thought if I told them the honest truth, I would sound like a horrible person. Truth be told, I could visit my mom every single day…
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how to pay for long term care/MC
Hello, My father has unspecified dementia-has never been officially diagnosed. Like others, he refused to go to an MD in fear of being "locked up" in a nursing home. Now he's in the hospital- which brings up future plans of LTC or MC when the time comes. However, my mother has no Medicaid, no long term care insurance, and…
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My first post - coping as a young person in a family with a history of alzheimers
Hello, I am a 24 year old woman who helps to care for my grandmother who has alzheimers. I live about 3 hours from her, my mom and grandpa are her primary care givers. I make trips to visit about once a month. I have joined this forum in hopes of finding folks to talk to about my experience as a young person who has…