Welcome to ALZConnected! You are not alone.
Discussion List
-
NAD + supplements, NR or NMN (and caretaker's guilt)
Has anyone had any experience with these supplements? I did what research I could find but there is very little and the results were mixed. My kids are pressuring me to add them to DH's meds, which i might, but they are convinced that this is going to stop the ALZ or even reverse it. Second question: how to deal with these…
-
People just don’t understand
I have found that people just don’t really understand how hard this is if they haven’t experienced it. And that you feel so alone although you’re never really by yourself. The first couple of years after diagnosis wasn’t too bad, but the last 5 have been pretty overwhelming at times. My DW hasn’t remembered that we’re…
-
Caregiver - Therapy
I've been primary caregiver for my mom for nearly two years. She's still living at home but no longer driving. Moods are hard, depression is a thing. My SO and daughter help with check ins but it's still a lot. I've been considering looking into therapy for myself. Any suggestions? Tips? Things to consider when finding the…
-
What are the options for severe agitation, aggression when seroquel and rexulti can't help?
My 94 year old Mom is in her 12th year of Alz dementia. She is at home. We're not considering a facility but I'm curious what a facility would do in this situation. She will throw dishes, threaten violence, and punch and scratch during any interaction that requires her being touched. Can she be sedated in bed full time?…
-
Caring for Parent
My mother has decline cognitively and it is dangerous for her to drive, but she has these outburst about driving and sometimes says she might as well die if she can't drive and be independent.
-
When is a person considered incontinent?
I wouldn't call my husband incontinent but he urinates frequently, like every 15- 20 min. We are home most of the time and he does go to the bathroom himself but every single pr of underwear has urine stains. He only goes a little each time he urinates. When we do go out he uses the urinal in the car 1-3x per outing and…
-
Finding my place
Hello, new here. As an adult child my mom is newly diagnosed with ALZ. They mentioned moderate stage at this point. She is now on meds for her mood swings and aggression. Yet she is still having bad days. I also should mention she is married to my stepdad of 30+ yrs. He refuses to see the bigger picture of all the above.…
-
I am frantic
Over the past few months I have noticed cognitive decline in my husband. He often forgets things, brings me the wrong item I've asked for, cannot remember events that happened several minutes ago, i.e. that is, I will tell him something and he will ask me almost immediately for info I just provided. Our PCP has referred us…
-
Baclofen
DH has had several episodes of hiccups lasting an hour to as much as 36 hours straight. The PCP gave us Baclofen 5 mg to use PRN. I read online that it is a muscle relaxant and side effects can be weakness, instability, and confusion, which all showed up. Today he is exhausted and sleeping. Has anyone used a dosage less…
-
Getting lost while driving
Husband got lost for 2.5 hours the other day while driving to a nearbypark that hes been to a thousand times. Since then I have discouraged him from driving and now hes just really mad at me. I just don't know how to handle this.
-
You have to laugh sometimes
DH tried to clean the toilet today. I walked in and it smelled industrial so I asked if he had sprayed something. He said yes he had cleaned the toilet. I asked him to show me what he used….. It was rainex windshield water repellent treatment😂
-
Inheritance/finances
There was an error rendering this rich post.
-
NEWLY DIAGNOSED VASCULAR DEMENTIA
Hi! I'm Matt, 21, 4th yr CpE student. My mother was diagnosed with Vascular Dementia literally a few minutes ago. During the doctor's assessment, I can see the massive decline in her cognitive function, which saddens me extremely. It breaks my heart to see my mother suffer from this. She is a pre-school teacher and she…
-
DH somewhat aware of his mental state - how do you respond?
Hi everyone, I'm here again partly to vent and partly to see if anyone has any insight. My DH, diagnosed with Alz over a year ago <but I noticed signs over 3 years before that> and showing signs of being in stage 5. He still takes care of his personal care just fine and even does small chores around the house still. With…
-
dont know where to start
Hello, I am currently taking care of my 89 year old father. He moved into my in-law unit in my backyard about 10 years ago. He lost all his savings, property and retirement in some bad business decisions. About a year and a half ago he started having short term memory problems. Asking me the same thing over and over again.…
-
Mom was newly diagnosed
my mom was newly diagnosed , and she has lost the ability to keep track of the day , dates , appointment times. She will ask multiple times daily what time an appointment is , or what is the day /date even though it’s a week away , and even wake early in the morning & start to get ready saying I’m picking her up to go. She…
-
Taking control of medication management - early stage
Long story - mostly venting but all suggestions welcome. Mom 85 has unspecified dementia; cognitive tests indicate Alz but amyloid PET scan was negative so could be vascular or other type. Mom has taken the negative PET result to mean Alz was "misdiagnosed" and therefore she is "well". Short term memory is in obvious…
-
Bowel incontinence
My DH is stage 6. Up until recently he was bowel incontinent occasionally, maybe once or twice a week. Now it’s all the time. He’s always gone to the bathroom a couple if times a day, now I’m having to change him, clean him, 2-3 times a day. I guess he no longer has any control over it. I do have caregivers during the week…
-
In my feelings
I’m new to the forum. I’ve read a lot of the posts over the last several months. The cliff notes version of my story is, my wife and I were married young. This past summer we celebrated our 33 rd anniversary. She was diagnosed with young onset Alzheimer’s disease at age 49. I was 46. We are in year number 7 of this…
-
Seroquel for non violent delusions
My parent is having non violent delusions for the past 6 weeks. She lives in memory care and is mid stage. Her mood overall is good and these delusions do not cause significant agitation but they can be upsetting to her in a normal way. Ie if she thinks someone passed away she will be sad they have passed. Examples of…
-
Benfotiamine
Hello. My 86 yr old Mother has Dementia. Has anyone here had any luck with the OTC supplement, Benfotiamine (Vitamin B1)?
-
NYT Vaccines associated with reduce incidence of dementia
very very interesting information https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/health/vaccines-dementia-heart-elderly.html?unlocked_article_code=1.BlA._5TY.m7ZpIEBHONeq&smid=url-share
-
Memory care guilt
My mom was driving and living alone 3 years ago and now can barely walk with a walker, has total incontinence, can't dress herself, and is furious I put her on memory care, where im sure frightens her because she sees her future there. I am overwhelmed with guilt over this decision. It was my decision alone because my…
-
Quiet Cracking - So many of us suffer from this
Quiet Cracking: The Caregiver Struggle Nobody Talks About By Ellen Samson Not all caregivers burn out loudly. Some don’t quit. Some don’t collapse. Some don’t cry in front of anyone. They just… crack quietly. Quiet cracking is when you keep showing up, doing the work, and taking care of everyone else while slowly falling…
- Grief...
-
Habitual arm picking creating open sores
My LW has developed a habit of picking/ scratching her arm creating open sores all the way from the hand to above her elbow. It’s been going on for 9 months. I’ve tried everything I can think of to stop her from doing this including full arm sleeves. She just picks thru them. I’ve even woken up at night to the sound of her…
-
Feeling a bit sad - one more step in the progression
Let me start by saying, I know how lucky we are. I am, really am, counting my blessings. But my LO is quite elderly and their condition is declining. They have been on hospice since the summer. The hospice has been great. But this week both the social worker and the RN independently asked if we would consider a hospital…
-
Christmas Decorations
Mom is in a nursing home. There is not much room. I brought a few decorations (a couple of Christmas wall hangings she made) and a three foot Santa to set in the hall by her door. She has always wanted Christmas decorations taken down as soon as Christmas is over, because she gets depressed after Christmas. After…
-
how best to cope with continent spouse who needs help 5x per night to pee
Wondering how others have dealt with this situation. My husband is probably around stage 5 (late) or early 6, but not yet incontinent. During the day, he needs to pee every 3-4 hours, and we halt all fluid intake at 6 pm. I don't go to bed til midnight, but I am having to wake and get up to help him about 5 times each…
-
Early sign of dementia is loss of Executive Function
From Speaking Dementia: “One of the earliest signs of dementia is the loss of executive function , not memory. Executive function is the brain’s ability to: • plan • organise • make decisions • manage risk • cope with complexity When this starts to fail, people may still sound intelligent and hold conversations. Even their…
Commonly Used Abbreviations
DH = Dear Husband
DW= Dear Wife, Darling Wife
LO = Loved One
ES = Early Stage
EO = Early Onset
FTD = Frontotemporal Dementia
VD = Vascular Dementia
MC = Memory Care
AL = Assisted Living
POA = Power of Attorney
Read more
Dementia Resources
Looking for information and support for Alzheimer's disease or other dementias? Click here to view our Dementia Resources
Categories
- All Categories
- 704 Living With Alzheimer's or Dementia
- 407 I Am Living With Alzheimer's or Other Dementia
- 297 I Am Living With Younger Onset Alzheimer's
- 19.1K Supporting Someone Living with Dementia
- 5.9K I Am a Caregiver (General Topics)
- 9.4K Caring For a Spouse or Partner
- 3.4K Caring for a Parent
- 249 Caring Long Distance
- 208 Supporting Those Who Have Lost Someone
- 13 Discusiones en Español
- 1 Vivir con Alzheimer u Otra Demencia
- 1 Vivo con Alzheimer u Otra Demencia
- Vivo con Alzheimer de Inicio Más Joven
- 12 Prestación de Cuidado
- 3 Soy Cuidador (Temas Generales)
- 8 Cuidar de un Padre
- 23 ALZConnected Resources
- View Discussions For People Living with Dementia
- View Discussions for Caregivers
- Discusiones en Español
- Browse All Discussions
- Dementia Resources
- 8 Account Assistance
- 15 Help
Popular Tags
- Asking for Help 539
- Caregiving 417
- Dementia 400
- Behaviors 281
- Adult Child 232
- Support 215
- Stress 204
- Care Options 173
- Memory Care 173
- Burnout 160
- Anxiety 160
- Early Stage (Mild) 158
- Communication 138
- Changes in Relationships 136
- Newly Diagnosed 136
- Anger 134
- Accepting Help 134
- In-Home Care 125
- Grief 124
- Caregiver Health 118
- Planning for the Future 116
- Long Distance Caregiving 112
- Self-Care 101
- Delusions 100
- Helping Family/Friends 98