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Wandering
Question: how to redirect or distract a LO that has begun their journey to “that” place. Many posts on this forum about wandering and attempts to redirect/distract before, but, i could use some thoughts on how to get a LO that has started of on their journey. I have posted before about wandering and a recent event. 99% of…
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plan
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If YOU had to pick a med for your loved one...
This probably sounds like a weird question and yet it is exactly what the pharmacist asked of us! He called us and told us that the geriatrician gave us three categories of meds and let us kind of pick what we wanted to try!! So the category was anti-anxiety meds, anti-convulsant meds, and anti-psychotic meds. We were kind…
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So which end is up?
Yesterday, my DH and I saw the neurologist in response to recent deepening confusion. But at the appt, he was on track, MMSE test higher than last year and he sounded much like his old self. I was shocked. From there the conversation with neurologist was light and overly optimistic. My DH said he exercised regularly,…
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Smoking and AL help
Looking for advice… My LO, a parent, is a lifelong smoker, which is problematic now that he needs a more supportive living arrangement since none of them allow indoor smoking and winters here get brutal. Ultimately, it looks like we’ll need to explore cessation (which has been tried so many times already) since this is…
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Sleep
I have read several posts about long sleep sessions. I think I even posted one. But, up til this month they have been maybe one a month. This month they are weekly. Normal bed time between nine and ten. Later if the "going home clause" is invoked. She is normally up ten or eleven. Getup time has moved out til as late a…
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Does she really have Vascular Dementia?
My mother received a diagnosis of advanced vascular dementia during a recent hospital stay. She was in the hospital after seeing robbers in her apartment and fleeing to her neighbor’s apartment. She is currently at an ALF after a month in memory care. Everyone around her or people I talk to say she has dementia, but I am…
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stress
You guys, I feel like I can sense the stress related chemicals having an impact in my body. Like I feel like I am running "hot" or revved up. I guess this is what this season feels like. Or at least I keep telling myself that it is due to this current season. I've mostly talked about dad here. Mom also struggles, but is…
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Does your loved one complain??
like I always say for now my wife isn’t too bad yet, but was wondering do others complain of issues like stomach ache , back pain, leg pain etc????
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Out of ideas
My Mom has been in memory care almost a year now. It will be a year the first week of September. She was in AL at the same facility for about six weeks before they insisted she be moved to MC. She was wandering at night and anxious most of the time. Once in MC, there was a transition phase, but it didn't have anything to…
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Neurologist visits
After my mother was officially diagnosed with Alzheimer's (lumbar puncture test), we met with the neurologist very briefly, but he didn't make a clear determination of her progression in the stage of the disease. We are scheduled to see him again in October. I'm not sure if he intends to run a battery of cognitive tests or…
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Random Bits
I am so sure we all see a variety of new behaviors in our LOs, some of them even maybe lighthearted (if still sad). My wife now thinks the local newscasters are looking at her from the TV. She finds that fun and funny.
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smoking. How do you all deal with it. I am
running out of ideals. Peewee (My Husband) Smokes so much more now than he ever has before. It's because he can't remember when he put the last one out. What he don't smoke himself he gives away. Has anyone's loved one just forgot that he or she is a smoker and just quit?
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High Anxiety / Anger Issues
I am trying to help my 81 year old father who is my mothers primary caregiver. They still live in the house they raised 3 boys in for the last 56 years. I work two jobs one of which is caregiving for seniors in the evenings and weekends. I am the only one able to help my father as my younger brother has passed and my older…
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Any advice on potty issues?
I am caregiver to both my parents right now, my mom with AD and Dad with D. Dealing with Dad yelling at mom because he can't remember that she can't remember. She is to the point where she tries to pretend she understands what you say, but literally understands next to nothing of what you say. And Dad forgets things and on…
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In-Home Respite Care
I am new to posting. My DW was diagnosed with ALZ about 5+ years ago. Her Neurologist says that she is toward end of MS ALZ. I am her only caretaker and spend nearly all of every day with her. I need to to get her to accept someone coming to the house so that I can get some respite time but she is adamant that she doesn’t…
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Memory care placement update
as some of you may recall I placed my sweet Tommy in memory care 2 weeks ago. It was soul sucking, one of the worst things I’ve ever had to do. The placement day was terrible but I followed the doctor and directors instructions and didn’t visit for the first 2 weeks. I went today for my first visit and it couldn’t have…
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The incontinence blues - I'm not handling it well
We've had a couple of rough days. Over the last few weeks my husband has moved into full time incontinence. He's been incontinent for a while, but until a few weeks ago it was almost always urinary and not all the time. Then The last 48 hours... Fecal incontinence and he's fighting me hard on clean-up. He won't let me…
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Communication problems
For the past month or so my DH does not make sense when he tries to communicate. He cannot find the right words for what he wants to say and most words he uses for nouns or pronouns are made up words. He still talks quite a bit, more so late afternoon or early evening but never anything that is reality, as no longer is…
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Just venting about driving...
My DH hasn't driven for over 2 years now. I don't mind driving us around everywhere but it takes all of my patience to stay calm. He hates any little bump so I have to drive around them if I see them. I'm either driving too fast or too slow. I have to park EXACTLY between the two white lines (he gets out to check, then…
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Helping Dad understand the diagnosis...with anosognosia
Hi, our Dad was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's and we're looking to help him understand what this means/how it will change some of what he needs. Is there someone—a clinician, a social worker, or a group that we can go to in order to have an open conversation, where he (and we) can ask questions about his diagnosis…
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Behavior: Dangerous, harmless and something in between
When I see a PWD attempt something dangerous, I put a stop to it, even if it results in some agitation or disagreement. For example, despite my best efforts, a PWD can attempt to jam a fork into a live electric toaster to pull bread out. So I can't "live in their world" in this case and sometimes I can't spend every single…
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Support for LGBT spouses
hello, my wife has recently been diagnosed with EO. Anyone know of any support sites for LGBT spouses? Thank you.
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Compulsive behaviors
1st time here. My DW of 47 years is in final stages of dementia, she's on hospice. Mostly non communicative, incontinent, but can walk. She is on a liquid diet as she can't swallow solid foods. I am essentially her only caregiver. I can handle most things but she drinks too much, milk, water, protein drinks etc. Then she…
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HELP me please
So I’m a 38 yr old caring for my 88 yr old grandma with dementia/alzhiemers at my home. Well she is starting to get physically MAD and throw things at me and hit me with my 2 yr old son around. Someone please tell me what do I do?? I have to learn how to control myself and my mouth and my anger bc i honestly feel like…
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Visiting friends said parents looked great not sure how to respond
First of all, my parents do not "look great" as a family friend told me after she visited my parents at their ALF. To me, it is so obvious they both are on a decline with several challenges that have taken a toll on me emotionally and sometimes physically and I find such a statement is invalidating. How do you reply to…
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Having surgery.
Hello all, I plan on having surgery soon and I have been told that i could progress because of this. I guess it will be a “twilight” type of sedation. So, not sure if anyone has ever gone through and felt off after?
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I'm shaking as I write this
Today was supposed to be a happy day. I had invited some close friends over to thank them for all their help during my recent move. Right after they arrived the MC called. It was the social worker and her voice told me something was wrong. She told me my DH had tried to get too friendly with a volunteer. She said the…
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Pleasantly flabbergasted
just had to post this, sent to me this afternoon. I left my partner asleep as usual about 2 pm. The picture is nothing special, but she actually got up and for the first time ever (remember we’re 2.5 years in) joined a group activity! The director was as surprised as I was- hence the picture. Will wonders never cease….time…
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