-
Riding the struggle bus
It's been 3 months since DH moved to an assisted living. I thought it would relieve some stress, but it hasn't. I am confident in the placement, the staff has been great. However, my husband has declined so much so fast. I fight feeling guilty all time even though I know it's impossible to have him home. I go visit almost…
-
Hallucinations Delusions that won’t stop
Hi My Mother in Law was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s 6 years ago and has been experiencing auditory hallucinations for the last 2 years. In the past 6 months they’ve turned into full on delusions that are continuous and is afraid. She asked to be with us for the last 2 weeks because “they” (an 85 yo upstairs neighbor)…
-
Nothing going as planned….what to do
My husband is the Type 1 diabetic who has been stuck in hospitals since mid July. He went from home to ER, to a GPU, to home for 2 days, back to ER, to IcU and has been in a med surg bed since, a couple of weeks now. No surprise that there has been mor decline during this time. They could not find a GPU placement. They all…
-
LO Starting Hospice
In the last few of months my LO became incontinent; I could handle that. He was still ambulatory albeit slow but he could get around with my assistance, could feed himself, I could get him in bed, and other daily tasks. Just like that, overnight two days ago his legs are gone; meaning he cannot stand, walk, get in bed, he…
-
Stage 8
My DW has gone to be with our Lord. On September 1, she fell and injured her ribs. The Hospice nurse told us to give her Morphine every four hours. She was not eating or drinking so I suspected we were near the end. On Thursday, they increased the Morphine to every hour. She was snoring loudly. Sunday morning at 1:15 I…
-
Power of Attorney
My wife has early-mid stage Alzheimer’s and anosognosia. I’ve been told I need power of attorney, but I have questions about that. Do I really need this, given that all our assets are held jointly? Is there a way to set up power of attorney without confronting her with her condition? She gets upset when that happens and…
-
Cleaning spree
After a year of not doing much of anything DW has suddenly gone on a cleaning spree. sorting through her piles of stuff, throwing stuff away, vacuuming and dusting. I don't know what to think.
-
Med Care providers
Hi. There is a good chance my husband will be going into MC soon. The facility offers a medical service where he can get med help by their own PCP, a nurse practitioner. I fully understand the convenience and efficiency this could provide. However my husband has been receiving great care from his current PCP and team of…
-
Out of the hospital and on to memory care
DH left the hospital on Friday. His sister and I took him directly to the memory care I had selected, which was more than an hour’s drive thanks to our city’s always terrible traffic. Everyone made a big fuss over him when he arrived, and it was great to see him smiling again. He asked me once, “Why am I here?” And I told…
-
DH suddenly in end stage…
It looks like DH is eligible for hospice due to “failing to thrive” from CHF, moderate brain atrophy, NPH, and other issues. After months of stressing over the losses of his decline, trying to prevent him from falling, to figure out how to care for him for possibly another several years, now I’ve been in his hospital room…
-
Just me
I’m an early AD individual. Each day is fine. I also take Lexapro for impulse control and cannabis to get by Good 9/11 so far off for coffee with Howard soon
-
Newly diagnosed MCI
My husband and I were both just diagnosed with MCI. He is showing more cognitive issues, I’m having trouble naming things and short term memory. I’m reading that MCI doesn’t necessarily advance to AD. what is the experience here with that?
-
EOAD Delusions about son, advice?
Hi, My husband has EOAD. In middle stage. He believes our son has brought his friends over and they ate all the food. Current he does not want to see our son when he visits and is upset/restless when he is here. For now our son is staying away while we figure this out. My husband also will say I don’t know where our son is…
-
If it's really hard, and you don't think you can do it anymore......
Many of you won't recognize me because I'm not posting anymore. My caregiving days are over. I am now in stage 8. But I still feel bad for those of you who are in the trenches. I have nothing to gain from the following, but you do. Even if you're in the beginning stages of caregiving, you should find this free 5 day course…
-
Is it too early to put my DH in memory care?
My DH is mid-stage six of Alzheimer’s. I’ve learned to care for him 24/7 and deal with all the issues of that stage. In the past several weeks, however, he has become verbally combative and uncompliant in certain areas where he doesn’t get his way or is asked to do something he does not want to do. He is very sweet, but he…
-
Dentist and Optomistrist
Did any of you decide at some point that these appointments are no longer necessary? My DW is entering Stage 5 and is beginning to struggle recognizing items right in front of her. I know that's the dementia and not her eyes. She's also always had great teeth and took excellent care of them. When do I stop the hassle of…
-
First Visit MC - traumatized
Moved mom in 10 days ago to MC unit close to my home from an AL further away. I’ve had no communication with her since the director advised me not too. (Had her cell phone at first but she called the cops when we weren’t answering.) Director told us it would be okay to visit today bc it’s grandparents day and they are…
-
Communicating during an hallucination
This is my first post. I have been reading here for months, learning from all of you, and praying I have half of the courage you display and trying so hard to not project into the future. I cannot find any answers for this problem. My DH has hallucinations, usually at night, usually not frightening. Doctor doesn’t want to…
-
Placement or Home Health
I’m at a crossroad. My 75yr DH has landed himself in the Psych Unit. He became very agitated. His reasoning is broken and there is no real reason for his behavior accept his delusions about money and his disabled truck. He also hallucinates and wanders. He is no longer able to talk coherently, except for a couple stories…
-
Don’t know who to address as question
for those of you who may not know me my wife is in a good place with this so far. Doesn’t drive, not interested in cooking. Has short memory loss and confused at times. Can be left alone and people surprised when I tell them. Ok question. Last 3 nights at same time she gets up to go to bathroom and pees on way. She’s aware…
-
My Stage 8
My DH passed on 4/17 at 73 after a 12-year journey with AD. The last five were tough years. He was in memory care for 6 mo. After being in a psych unit for a month, due to behavior. He went to a second MC at mid stage 6, developed aspiration pneumonia and was gone in 5 weeks. This week I finished the required paperwork for…
-
Condom catheter
DH is incontinent at night. He doesn't wake up once he falls asleep. Needless to say he is soaked and often the sheets and waterproof mattress pad also. His urologist suggested a condom catheter ( for my sake). I tried it the other night and had a terrible time putting it on. It stuck to his hairs and I had to take it off.…
-
A laugh at the end of a tough day
I won't vent about my day - we all have them. I will share something that made me snort-laugh. So my husband was pointing at the dog on this magazine. I said "oh, it's a cute dog" and he replied "well, it's Kevin Costner."
-
What does it mean when they don't know they are home?
Tonight has been so hard. My DH just wants to go to our home - but we are home. He's angry that I won't go home, he doesn't believe me that we live here. He tells me he is being treated horribly. He says he can't imagine being treated his horribly. I am a really patient person. I work every day to treat him well. I know he…
-
I'm angry and sad
Hello, I'm new to this site and this is my first post. I lost my Mom almost 2 years ago. She had AD and Cancer. I keep thinking that I will feel less sad and angry any day now but I seem to find myself stuck between these two emotions. There were some unresolved issues when my Mom passed and I never could have a…
-
Aggressiveness & Depression
My father is 90, still very mobile but has frequent episodes of anger and depression. He also at times still thinks he is only 50. His memory is getting worse daily and I am concerned that he will even forget who my Mom is and perhaps become violent. Are there medications that can calm him?
-
The End is Near
Last Wednesday hospice called and said that the CNA felt there were major changes in DHs breathing. I quickly went to the facility and was surprised to see his breathing pattern. I believe they call it cheynes stokes. Several big breaths, then nothing for as long as 65 seconds. It was alarming to watch. By friday his…
-
New diagnosis- she won’t accept it
Stepmom just got a diagnosis of moderate dementia, likely due to Alzheimer’s. Dad has Parkinson’s but is still able to do most things independently and is still pretty sharp mentally. We saw stepmom starting to shift mentally (memory, behavior, moods) 2 years ago but explained it away for some time, and she has been in…
-
Father with early-onset now in late stages
Hello, I was made aware of these discussion boards through resources at my university and thought I'd give it a shot. I live in Orange Country, CA. I'm a 26 year old Female and my father got diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's when I was 13. He was in his early 50's. He has progressed extensively in the last six years.…
-
DNA test to help with medication selection?
Just got a call from a nurse at my husband’s geriatrician’s office. She was telling me about a new program they have for their dementia patients. One service they offer is DNA testing to see which medications and what dosages might be most efficacious. This would be very useful in trying to find the right medication to…