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After EEG and MRI - Questions for Doctor
After reading here for a while, and becoming familiar with the Tam Cummings assessment tool I have some ideas of what's coming. I have read here that a good strategy is to provide the Dr a list of questions/concerns to be addressed during the appointment, but to do it out of sight of the PWD. There are things I've read…
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It’s not easy being green…
Before dementia and incontinence, we used to be so careful about recycling, using our own grocery bags and waiting til we had a full load of clothes before doing the wash. Living in California, we were careful about water use. Our regular trash bin was seldom more than about a third full. Now I order incontinence underwear…
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Devastating disease: Mentally, physically, emotionally, socially and financially
DH has been exhibiting executive function deficits for a long time. He was diagnosed with MCI 4 yrs ago and he is getting worse cognitively, physically, socially. Finally getting an assessment this Friday. I have accepted that he has dementia, (his mother died from ALZ and his brother too last year. I understand it is a…
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Mom is hitting; is it reasonable to expect an action plan?
I'm new here, struggling to find some info so any help is appreciated! - also, sorry for how long this is. Last fall, my sister and I convinced our dad to put Mom in memory care. She's advanced enough that she can't manage personal hygiene or communicate her needs effectively. Mom has this fun thing where she often has…
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Long Term Health Care
I have been starting to look at our LTC policy and information as things progress. One thing i have trouble understanding is the 90 Day waiting period (that’s what we have). It has been described as a ‘deductable’. I’m guessing you have to spend so much to get to the 90 day point, what i cant find is what counts and how it…
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Is it normal to hate your parents?
Every last bit of empathy I had for my parents is gone. It has been a long road, and there is no end in sight. I want to be done with them. I believe both mom and dad now have dementia. Mom's condition has been clear for about six years and she has steadily declined. Dad's just became apparent recently. Mom is 86 and dad…
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Wondering ...
How would you handle this? A relative regularly calls me to check up on us, and I’m very grateful for that. But nearly every time I talk to her, she says to me that she’s so glad that although her husband has numerous health issues, at least she can have a coherent conversation with him. And every damned time she says…
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Question for this beautiful but lonely Sunday
What is more detrimental, the physical or emotional toll of a caregiver’s day?
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Ups and downs in late stage Alzheimers and Hospice
hello, My husband is 71 with late stage Alzheimers and vascular dementia, diabetes etc.. He has been in hospice care since March 8. Hospice was recommended by his PCP due to difficulty walking, incontinence, trouble swallowing pills, weight loss etc. Hospice gave him 6 months in March. Some days I think they are correct,…
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Feeding tube - Resource that's helping me discern this - (Catholic perspective)
Hello ALZ Connected, I've received much love and support over the years from ALZ Connected and ALZ specialists that I thought I would share a resource with you all. Since I'm Catholic this post is from the Catholic perspective. I think it could benefit anyone though going through deciding what's right, or not right, when…
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Is meeting someone new a possibility?
Hi. I am new here. My DH was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s a year ago. He is 57 and I am 49. He has mild to moderate symptoms. His behaviour started to slowly change about 8 years ago. Although of course then I didn’t understand why. Before we realised he may have dementia I had started contemplating the fact that I don’t…
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How do I respond?
Hello, I am new to this board and I’m not a caregiver, just a friend who recently found out that a dear friend of 40 years has early onset dementia. I’m afraid I don’t know much about the disease or its stages, but I know he’s had it for probably about 4 years. I reconnected with him a few months ago. Since then I’ve taken…
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Third generation in my family
Hello, my name is Tracy. I’m 66, and represent at least the third generation of Alzheimer’s in my mother’s family. Prior to my recent diagnosis, my maternal grandfather, my mother, and one of her sisters had Alzheimer’s. My husband and I started noticing my memory difficulties at least a year ago. Newer symptoms include…
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Anger and agitation - how much is too much?
Over the years I have managed to develop a lot of patience and compassion for what DH is going through. But, I really struggle with anger and agitation. Throughout our marriage we were never screamers. With this disease the occasional yelling, screaming, and verbal attacks are killing me. My stomach immediately ties up in…
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Activities for PWD
Anyone have ideas to help keep PWD active and engaged with something to do? I'm sure it depends on the stage. When I'm able to make a weekday, daytime visit to mom's MC, I sometimes find her sitting among the group that is doing an activity, but she is rarely participating in it. I have gotten her to do things like…
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Seroquel effects?
We started my MWD on Seroquel about a month ago, 12.5mg once each evening. It seems to have generally helped with that time of day. However, just over the past 7-10 days, she is now way more agitated than she used to be the rest of the day. From the time she wakes up until the evening dose, she is scared and wanting to go…
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My spouse can’t stop eating.
He goes out several times a day to buy food. He has hypertension and heart disease. He eats highly salted food. I am afraid he will have a stroke. Any one relate?
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Who offers Medigap for elderly people with dementia?
Hi All, my Mother is 81 years old and has dementia- I am needing to sign her up for supplemental health insurance because the MC facility I am trying to get her into requires it in addition to her Medicare. All the companies I have called so far to ask if they offer Medigap for someone with dementia have said no. I need…
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Tough Decision
I’ve posted a lot about mom’s move to MC and how amazing her facility handled things. She’s been there since August and it’s been hard (as expected), but mostly positive. Of course she says she wants to leave sometimes but I think everyone feels that. Now, it turns out the former director - who left shortly before my mom…
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Jo C, privacy and a good wishes thread
While I have been away a long time and only just discovered Jo C's illness, it is wonderful to see how many discussion board members care and are concerned. During our years together as Peer Volunteers, we often discussed how important our privacy was and how it was necessary to have boundaries to keep our identity…
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Brand New to This- Mom will NOT go to the Dr. but she's definitely developing dementia.
I'm going to have to care for my 83 yr old mom without an official diagnosis, but her mom died of Alzheimer's and now my mom is heartbreakingly losing her grasp on memory, reality and her own personality. My mom has been my rock my whole life and is such a generous loving soul. Sometimes I don't know who she is when she…
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I'm overwhelm!
My DH was diagnosed with dementia a few months ago I don't really know witch one because every time we see the doctor it changes. He sees things that I don't see. I'm amazed how fast its progressing the way that he cant remember things. He is only suppose to be in the mild stage. What really gets me is all the paper work I…
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Dental care
I haven't seen much here and need some suggestions/advice. Wife is early-mid stage 7. she could use a good dental cleaning, lots of plaque. Brushes daily but breath is getting really bad. She cannot travel anymore and is at home. Hospice care.
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Rough times
I’m a newcomer to this. My DW is in mid stage dementia, starting last October and is aggressively getting worse. Being the caregiver and trying to to work with an elder lawyer is so overwhelming. My DW is only 67, it’s difficult thinking I’ll have to deal with MC placement in the future. In the afternoons (I’ll call it…
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Renovations
We will have to do some renovations to the house, mainly doors and bathroom and ramp to resolve access issues. Is there any advice on how to do this without causing stress for LO. Thank you
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Vascular dementia, alcohol abuse, presenting well around others and friends who tell her she's fine.
I am taking care of my 74 yr old aunt who has vascular dementia (middle stages) and suffers from alcohol abuse. I moved her 1yr ago from STL to SFO and got her an apt where my 77yr old father stays with her for company. She had been having falls regularly in STL and when I moved her she had just had 12 staples remove from…
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"Who am I?"
Today I realized again that DH isn’t always sure exactly who I am. He knows my name, at least, but not necessarily that I am his wife of nearly 49 years. He seems to believe that he was married to someone else before me, and I suspect that this is partly because I don’t look the way I did back then—of course, neither does…
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I just don't know what to do.
Those of you on this site have probably seen me post several times. I am all over the board. As background — my DH was diagnosed with Alzheimer's 6 years ago after 4 or 5 years of symptoms. I quit my job and stayed home with him, and things went pretty well until three months ago. It was tiring, I couldn't get much time…
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As of 2:00 today, my DH is in Memory Care
When you say for better for worse, in sickness and in health, I'm not sure I thought about dealing with dementia. My husband who was diagnosed with FTD 3 1/2 years ago is not in a Memory Care facility. My heart is breaking. We met 41 years ago, and have been married almost 38. I'm not sure I'll ever be ok without him
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On a lighter note……one year in
Last Sunday marked one year without DH. On Saturday, I felt the need to carry out a threat that I had made many times over many years. DH coached HS baseball for 43 years on the field that is now named in his honor. He was successful, well respected, and well loved, but he was unable (or unwilling) to stay in the 3rd base…