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Isolation
My sweet DH with VD Aphasia and stage 7 has been more agitated than usual. Because of his Aphasia I have taken to using my phone more and more for keeping in touch with family and friends, doing the accounts, ordering meals and other essentials online (it’s so hard to get to the shops), checking the news (the radio is…
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Bathroom accidents
Hi everyone. My mother is the primary caregiver for my father, who has Alzheimer’s that has been progressing quickly. We need some advice. Over the past few months, he has started having significant difficulties with toileting hygiene. He’ll use the bathroom but is no longer able to complete the wiping process — usually…
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New controversy with Donanemab (marketed in the US as Kisunla)
Donanemab: Conflicts of interest found in FDA committee that approved new Alzheimer’s drug https://www.bmj.com/content/386/bmj.q2010
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How do I respond to my parent talking about me as if I were someone else?
As life would have it, my parent who I just moved over a thousand miles is now seemingly fuzzy about who I am (her only daughter). She 100% recognized me back in late January. When healthcare professionals ask, "who is that sitting next to you?" She will answer "my daughter" and say my name and act like it's a ridiculous…
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When shouting is necessary to avoid harm?
I realize it's best to redirect, distract, avoid any actions to lead to failure, but if a PWD is about to cause harm or an accident, it may be necessary to forcefully pull their body or hand away from harm, or shout to stop it. For example, if I look away for a moment, PWD walks inand a) put hands on a hot stove or b)…
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Hoyer Lift in Nursing Home
My DH is in a 5 star medicare rated nursing home. His mobility has decreased to where he needs a 2 person hoyer lift for assist. The aide operated the lift alone and when I questioned it the aide said it's ok. I mentioned it at my husband's care plan meeting and the aide got some type of reprimand. The aide no longer…
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Mom at my wedding?
I would really like my mom to be at my wedding but thinking about the logistics is a lot. She lives in memory care 1 hour from the venue. I would help her with getting ready and getting here there but I’m worried about everything after when I won’t be as available for bathroom help, reorienting, keeping her from wandering…
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A Different Perspective Today
Almost nine months since I lost my DW to this nightmare disease. Deep in grief now and hard to see a way out of it. Day to day, it is all I can do for now. And then, as I was reflecting on my situation and that of so many others on this forum, a new view of my situation emerged. I hate being where I am without my DW. But,…
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Vitamin B12 1000 MCG
When we went to our Neurologist for the first time in February, he noticed that my DH's Vitamin B was very low so he advised us to take 1000 MCG per day. After 2 months of taking it, I noticed some real changes in my DH. More REAL conversations, less shuffling of his feet and much less napping during the day. We had our…
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Witness of My Mother’s Passing
This piece is a witness to my mother’s final days with Alzheimer’s. I wrote it some time ago, but I wasn’t ready to share it until now. For privacy, I’ve changed names and identifying details, including her last name and the town where we lived. This piece includes honest descriptions of the dying process, including…
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New diagnosis
Hello. I'm a 77 yo female newly diagnosed with very early Alzheimers. I told my doctor about a couple of experiences that I thought could be more than old age cognition and she offered me the p tau 217 blood test. The result was 0.28. She then ordered an MRI which was determined to be 'normal for age'. She started me on…
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Exhausted and angry--venting
Please forgive my ridiculously long post. It's a character flaw. Background: My mom (91) was fully independent til last October. In hindsight, there were signs that she was deteriorating--she was suddenly unable to navigate the remote control and the phone, for example, and I made quite a few drives to her house to assist…
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Grieving the living
My mom has Alzheimers. I moved in with her and my dad 2 years ago. At first my dad was taking the brunt of the abuse. She is so mean to him and occasionally hits him. Normally my mom is sweet, conservative, and very religious. Now she is mean, conniving and the complete opposite of who she was. We finally heard of medicine…
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Not liking me or DH much these days
It’s very apparent to me that everything and I mean everything my DH does or doesn’t do these days annoys the heck out of me! Trying to get him to shower or change his clothes or eat a decent meal (and not sweets) is always a battle. I take him out everyday and no matter what we do he complains about something. If I leave…
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Occupying Time
My father has recently lost the ability to drive and is particularly bored. My mom is home with him, but I know it's taxing for her, and all the children are located elsewhere, so we can't support. Can anyone offer suggestions so he isn't just on his phone all day?
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Mom struggling to remember my late Dad :(
I was really taken aback today. My father passed away in December. My mom has been heavily grieving him ever since— I know she would look at his picture every day and have a good cry. We moved her from their home into AL near me this past week. Today I had lunch with her, and I was thinking "Wow, she seems really with it…
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Newly Diagnosed Physician
I am a 60 yo newly diagnosed with Alzheimer's. I am a retired Family Physician who noticed issues approximately 18 months ago and was diagnosed with MCI. I stopped practicing medicine and was given disability benefits. I am fortunate to have had that option but despite all my expertise the process of getting a definitive…
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New Normal or Just Tired?
My DW has been a bit more confused and more tired the last two days. Her gait has also changed to a more half step with some shuffling. She has been going to daycare three days a week and has stayed longer twice so far this week. We’re only up to her staying close to three hours but, yesterday she was tired when she came…
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Breaking Point
My Mom (78) was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s MCI about 2 years ago via Blood test, MMSE, MOCA. I don’t recall anything other than normal aging from the brain MRI at that time. She has not yet had a neuro psych evaluation. I was not terribly impressed with the neurologist that we saw. My Dad passed away in late February.…
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Sex
my elderly husband was recently diagnosed with dementia/Alzheimers. He has always looked at porn but lately he has started interacting. He asked one if they could meet up for sex. He sent a picture of his genitals to another. And he has said negative comments about me. We were having sex 2-3 times a week. We’re both 72. I…
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Memory care placement too early
I am checking my mother into a memory care unit tomorrow. My 87-year-old father cares for her today but she’s had so many delusions lately and fixations! She’s become aggressive with him as well. Cognitively it feels too early for her! I’m choosing a respite option so I can potentially move her out if I realize it is too…
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Resentment
I visit mom once a week and take her out to lunch most weeks if the weather is good. Yesterday before we left she told a friend she would not be down for lunch because her daughter was taking her out. The friend made a comment about how lucky she is that she gets to go out so much. Mom replied my son takes me out a lot…
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Crisis of Faith
My DH died on January 7, and I am finding it so hard to believe in "God's will" and all of the other platitudes I am hearing. It is almost impossible for me to attend church, because I am so angry at God. While I am sitting there, hearing all about the goodness and love, I just want to ask - why us? why him? Why didn't we…
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Thinking of moving my mom out of care facility
My mom, 87, is in the later stages of Alzheimer's. She was never formally diagnosed, but it has been at least a decade and probably closer to 15 years since she first started noticing she was having memory issues. Unfortunately her concerns were dismissed as just normal aging memory loss. She lived with my brother until…
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Hallucinations
My husband was diagnosed with Alzheimers last year. He is experiencing quite a few hallucinations nearly all day. Has anyone dealt with this much and if so what did you do? He is aware that what he is seeing is probably not there but is confused because he really sees it. Just wondering if there is any meds out there that…
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Way forward
Hello, I am here to join one of the worst clubs. I’ve been having a hard time lately, especially because my husband has started to accept—without much resistance—that he needs help. That’s not like him. I mentioned adult day care, and he said we should talk about it. He is legally blind and was diagnosed when he was around…
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New to taking care of DH
My DH has been diagnosed for about 1 year. I recently decided to retire to take care of him. It is a lot harder than I thought. I guess my work distracted me from what was really going on at home. He does have the anger and distrust with me. We are going to move closer to family and at first he said no but now agrees. He…
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How to find case/social worker to help
My parents have many health issues, including my father who has dementia. All of my siblings and I live hours away. We have set up in home care, but it was dependent on my mother being there to regulate/direct my father. We have each spent weeks living in our old bedrooms trying to make the in home care work without us. It…
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Vagus Nerve Stimulation Information and Trials
I would like to know who I can contact or where I can find a research trial for my wife using Vagus Nerve Stimulation therapy to treat her dementia condition. Any help would be appreciated. We live in the Cincinnati, Ohio Metro area. Thank you.
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Camera advice
Hi I am caring for my aunt who has Alzheimer's and vascular dementia. I have one family member who is trying to go against everything that we are trying to do for my aunt. I had place cameras in her apt ( common areas only) as well as sensors on her doors to obviously keep her safe. WELL her brother told her about the…