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DW Doesn’t recognize me
My DW (65) has been battling Alzheimer’s for the past 8 years and is now in early Stage 7. I have been her primary caregiver throughout this journey, although earlier this year I hired a caregiver who comes four days a week during the daytime to help. Over the past several months, my wife has continued to decline. Most…
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CARE AT HOME UNSUSTAINABLE
My DW’s psychiatrist and non-residential memory care activities director have recommended residency, telling me that my caring for her at home is “unsustainable” and that I’m harming myself by trying to be her sole caregiver. What form could/will that “harm” take? What could happen to me? I’m stressed, sure, but feel that…
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How much sleeping is "too much"
Hi, new to this community and have many questions, but the one that's top of mind today is that my DH, who was diagnosed with VD but also elevated levels of Alzheimer's last summer, seems to be slipping away faster all the time. He's now very weak and wants to sleep almost all the time. We've been letting him eat breakfast…
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Feels Like A Different Stage
Hi Everyone, When I found this group, I knew it would be supportive. Just reading all of your responses has given me a little peace of mind. My mom is 93 and two years ago was diagnosed with possible early dementia after leaving her home at 11PM and walking to the hairdresser's. Nothing like this has ever happened again,…
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Bible Verse to Lift You Up 5/15/26
GOOD FRUIT Galatians 5:22-23 New Living Translation 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! When I was a caregiver, I wasn’t perfect but the Holy Spirit’s fruit…
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Dad recently diagnosed
Hello all. I’m so grateful for these groups. I’m just beginning my Dads journey and I’m alone and need guidance please !!! I am a paramedic for 35 years and have a lot of medical experience but I have ZERO experience with this disease. From what I’m learning this disease follows no normal patterns. I feel like a rookie…
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Alzheimers and Christian Science
My "mother in law" (boyfriend's mother) was recently diagnosed with Alzheimers. We've had suspicions for a while. As we are starting to navigate more caregiving with her around this, we consistently run into tension around her faith, Christian Science. She basically believes it's mind over matter, she will be healed thru…
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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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I lost my mother thirty years ago ...
Right away I found that sharing my story online helped me begin to heal. I started a website in her memory that is still around, although it is in need of updating, and I'm trying to work on that as I have time. It's still here: https://www.zarcrom.com/users/yeartorem/ Also, I will be walking this fall for my 29th year in…
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Shock at seeing the reality of dementia
Our local library held its first Memory Cafe yesterday…for caretakers of people with dementia and their partner. My DH is in early Stage 4 and seems "normal" most of the time. There were several people there who were quite advanced in dementia. Although I have read everything about dementia and watched numerous videos, I…
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Sleeping in everything
He's wanting to wear his glasses and sneakers to bed. The glasses press into his skin and irritate it if he does keep them on in the night. He has very oily skin so it builds up under the glasses as well. The sneakers aren't bothering his skin right now but I do worry that they may contribute to pressure sores in the…
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Cell Phone
My father is starting to experience issues with the phone and keeps calling 911, as he thinks he needs to turn his phone off after every use. I really don't want to get rid of it as we're just 2 months past taking away his car which has been a hard adjustment. Any advice?
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Downsizing While Caring for a Spouse with Alzheimer’s — Has Anyone Done This?
Hi everyone, My dad (65) has Alzheimer’s and is slowly declining. At this point, he can’t prepare meals beyond grabbing something simple, and he needs help or reminders with personal care like shaving and showering. His speech and understanding are very limited, and while he’s still in good spirits, his independence has…
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2 years in since crisis mode
Dear Community, Thinking of you all this morning and the support you've so graciously given here. Today I am reflecting and processing. Some days are for surviving. Some days are for crying. Some days are blurs of exhaustion and overwhelm and confusion and grasping for hope and help. Today is not those days for me. Today I…
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Mom (92) mod/sev dementia … suggestions PLEASE
hello … mom (92) has lived with us for 10years but there’s been a gradual decline up until maybe the last year or so … it has gotten worse. i work out of the home so i am pretty much available to her for whatever she needs & at this point i am providing (or assisting/reminding) everything. my husband /my self … our 3boys…
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DEMENTIA WITH GRACE - book & videos on Youtube
I saw this on a podcast and thought it would be helpful to so many. The book is available on Amazon or the link below is for the Youtube videos https://www.youtube.com/c/dementiawithgrace
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Potential PoA Challenge
I have PoA (financial and medical) for my LO with dementia. Other family members and I have a difference of opinion on where my LO should live. I’m just trying to honor my LO’s wishes as long as it’s feasible. I received communications from these family members that make me think they are gearing up to challenge my…
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Wants me near always
My husband only wants me with him to care for him - no relatives or caregivers. He wants me around all the time and if I leave the house, he forgets where I am and thinks I am dead, even with reminders from the relative or caregiver with him. He worries the whole time I am gone. I am his everything, which is a lot to…
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Young diagnosis of early onset ALZwgat to do first?
I’m a new member. My husband (48) was diagnosed Ed last week with Early AZ via blood test and pet scan. What do I do now?? I’m lost. Sad. Angry and need a path.
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Just moved mom in
Our mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at 65…it's been a long journey with several moves but today at 79 we moved her into my home for hospice care. She can't talk and is so frail and stiff, my only hope is I've done the right thing for her and my sister and I. I keep wondering if I did the right thing and will I be able…
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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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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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I needed an outlet to rant sorry I rambled
I am 25 and I quit my job about a year ago to help my parents take care of my grandmother with Alzheimer's. She lives with my parents but I do not live with them. I take care of my grandmother during the day and anytime my parents need help on the weekends, which isn't too much. Lately she's become very combative and…
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Fluctuating hearing
Does anyone have experience with their LO having fluctuating hearing loss? My DH with AL does have hearing loss, but has been able to understand me if I speak just a little louder than normal. But, lately, there have been several days when he hasn't heard me or everything is garbled for him. I cannot tell if he is actually…
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I need advice - My husband with dementia keeps scissors for 'protection'
My husband has dementia and has become very focused on keeping a pair of scissors with him because he believes he may need them if an intruder comes into the house. He keeps them close at all times, carries them in his back pocket, and even sleeps with them. I have thought about taking them away while he is in the shower,…
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Caregiving Song
When your wife is diagnosed with Alzheimer's and you dedicate your life staying with her at a nursing home. This song is written for both of us. Being a caregiver is not easy, this is my way of coping with the everyday stress. Hopefully, you enjoy the song as much as I did making it.…
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New member. Caring for DH
My DH is somewhere between early and middle stage. He was diagnosed in 2022, at age 71, 13 months after my mother died of Alzheimer’s (she stopped taking nourishment) at the age of 93. That was a nightmare because it was Covid with my mom and no paid caregivers were available when she started needing 24 h caregiving so it…
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Young Adult Daughter of Dad with Dementia
Hi everyone! I'm 22, just came home from graduating college and sadly my Dad was recently diagnosed with Dementia after 2 years of agitation, aggression, and eventually psychosis symptoms. With the help of medication, we are so grateful to now get glimpses of the phenomenal superhero of a man/dad he was for me all my life.…
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New member, helping my parents
My mom has Alzheimer's - stage 4 or possibly stage 5 (somewhere in between?) - clearly at the stage where she needs extra help but is incredibly resistant to accepting any help outside of family. She will basically scream about how accepting help will make her decline faster… etc (she was an RN for years and has experience…