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Overwhelmed? It is the loved ones of those with Alzheimer's who bear the greatest burden.
It is the loved ones of those with Alzheimer's who bear the greatest burden, and often care for them at the expense of their own well-being. It is common for family members and loved ones to find themselves thrust into this nightmare completely unprepared and ill-equipped for it. Sadly, much will be damaged or completely…
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From Maybe to Reality
DH in ES thought. Then, several episodes of mis-rememering, including asking our adult son if he remembered a certain episode from his (DH's) youth. For the past 3 weeks he has been just fine, more or less, just the occasional lost word. In my mind I knew he still had Alz, but it just seemed like , well, maybe it will be a…
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In need of support
Hi all, I’m new here, and new to supporting someone with dementia. The long and short is, my aunt has dementia. We haven’t been close, and I hadn’t seen or heard from her much in 30 years. I reconnected with her about 1.5 years ago and she was mostly lucid. She was determined to move to Colorado with me and my kids as she…
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I wrote this essay to help others after losing my father to a long battle with Alzheimer's.
After losing my father to a long battle with Alzheimer's, I wrote this essay to help people navigate through the devastating journey of having a loved one with Alzheimer's, because it is the family and those closest to the individual with the disease who bear the greatest burden. Most people find themselves thrust into…
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Arguments that seem impossible to stop
Hi, alright I am new on this and taking care of my 72 year old mother. Are there any simple ways to get a person with dementia to stop arguing? Once my mother gets mad it seems impossible to get her to even attempt to think of something different. She likes to just make it seem like I have ruined her entire life and no…
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Did I Give Up Too Soon?
Following a violent outburst (mom attacked her in home caregiver) when she had a UTI, I made the difficult decision to place mom in MC. Tomorrow will be 2 weeks. She is more lucid than the other residents in her MC, but 'loops' verbally a lot, and it is clear that there's significant decline within the past 3 months. I am…
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Timeline
Took my mom to her appointment on Thursday and we were given an estimate of how long we have with her and I just don’t believe it. She still walks and talks. Yes, she needs care with showing and toileting and only sometimes how to eat. But has so much personality still. Has anyone ever got an estimate and how accurate was…
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Supporting both parents
Both my parents (79 and 78) live with us in their own attached apartment. My mom (79) is in the very early stages and is still very active. My dad is struggling with her memory changes and becomes angry and frustrated with her. I am looking for how best to support my dad wand how best to support myself as we navigate this…
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I wrote this essay to help others after losing my father to a long battle with Alzheimer's.
After losing my father to a long battle with Alzheimer's, I wrote this essay to help people navigate through the devastating journey of having a loved one with Alzheimer's, because it is the family and those closest to the individual with the disease who bear the greatest burden. Most people find themselves thrust into…
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New Years Eve
How excited was I when we received an invitation to a NYE party from our Sailability Coordinator. I thought this will be great, they understand, we haven’t been out to a party for the last 4 years. When we arrived I noticed the table set for 6 that meant us, the hosts and another couple. We had perfectly cooked medium rare…
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Getting my mom to her doctor appointment
I made my mom a Neurology appointment on 1/13. My dad is worried that if she finds out she'll have a total breakdown. So far she doesn't seem to have gotten any notifications about it, but she likely will get a text and/or email reminder for it. If we can even make it to the appointment day without her finding out and…
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Hypnagogic hallucinations
My wife told me she's been having trouble when trying to fall asleep because she's seeing things like vivid scenes of people and something like static on an old TV. We did a Google search and it sounds like hypnagogic hallucinations. We haven't been able to find any connection with MCI or dementia. But this is something…
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Rapid Progressive Dementia/Covid19 Related
MY DW passed on 12/06. After a relatively short, but intensely difficult journey. We did not have a confirmed diagnosis, as the tests were all negative and normal for her age. Her health eas rest of a healthy 45 year old, had not had any hospitalizations, rarely sick with a cold. Sometimes allergies. P. She wa sky…
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Dealing with addiction
Hello all, I'm new to this community so I'm not sure on the etiquette but I desperately need help. I recently had to take on the caregiver role for my grandfather. It's mostly okay I'm learning to handle all kinds of things I never knew I could do but I am struggling to deal with his addictions. He drinks and smokes…
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Change of living arrangements
Hi all, first time posting on one of these discussion boards but hoping for some help to support my partner as she navigate’s her grandmother’s dementia. Grandma (in her late 80s) has had several strokes which have accelerated dementia symptoms. Until recently she had been able to live somewhat independently in her own…
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Apparently dementia can cause Grinchiness
DH took down the Christmas tree I put up last week while I was in the shower. He had been complaining about it being up. He took it off the table and put it by the back door. It was a small fake tree. I am so thankful that none of our beautiful ornaments were broken. I put the tree away but left some ornaments out and hung…
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To all caregivers Merry Christmas....
Oh how the holidays have changed. Blessed are the caregivers like me.
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New Here - 33 looking for support for mother diagnosed with AD
I am not normally one to reach out for support in this format but I feel very isolated in my mother’s recent Alzheimer’s diagnosis. We have seen her condition worsen over the last few years and last year there was a huge red flag for us when she couldn’t remember opening gifts at Christmas. I was 2 weeks postpartum and…
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From the NYT: The Lives They Led
This end-of-year article includes a section on Naomi Feil. You'll need to scroll down quite a bit to find it. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/12/20/magazine/people-who-died.html?unlocked_article_code=1.jE4.z51J.efbTs9_Va8M0&smid=url-share
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Daughter helping care of DW
I searched all over for comments about my daughter helping me care for my DW. Most of what I saw were complaints/concerns about lack of help. So is it reasonable for me to think that we can do it? And for how long? DW was diagnosed MCI in 2016 and AD 2018. Age 73. Behaviors don't perfectly fit a stage, but it is probably…
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Help needed… grandfather thinks he fell in love with a nurse and had a big outburst, dementia?
I'll try to keep this as short as possible. My grandfather recently had a toe amputated about two weeks ago as it became infected (diabetic). He had to then come home on IV antibiotics, that I was to administer (i'm his grandson and POA). One day when I went to visit, a few days after the surgery, he had a nurse in his…
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Guns
Hi my father is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. We live in rural Alaska and he has always had an arsenal of guns in our home. He always carries one with him everywhere we go. He hasn’t given me any reason or worries about his guns. He also hasn’t shot them in almost year or so. But I know there is going to be a day…
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New to the group
Hi to all of you. I just stumbled onto this site. I don't know if it's normal to have a dramatic turn in abilities or memory or if it comes and goes quickly? My FIL started down this road last December. He has bouts of not knowing how old he is. He's 77 and he thinks he is 20 then 30 then 50. He has always worked right up…
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Building diet resources after my father's early-onset diagnosis - seeking your experiences
Hello everyone, My father was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's earlier this year, and through our journey, we've found it challenging to find good dietary resources and support. I'm working on building an online resource to help others facing similar challenges. Before building it, I'd really value hearing about your…
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Moving LO to a condo
Both my parents have dementia/AD. They both are in the moderate stage and they can no longer live in their house far from any family. My siblings want to buy a condo with my parent’s funds, move them to it and get them 24/7 care. They think my parents will easily adjust. I’m not convinced this is the right solution. I’m…
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Living with a parent with early onset dementia
Hello 👋🏽 I am new to taking care of a parent with dementia. It has been a complete struggle for me. I am a single mother to a beautiful son who is diagnosed with autism. My mother was told by her doctor that he is taking away her drivers license and has asked me to “hide” her car. She is now questioning me about her car…
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Should I share my own surgery recovery with my LO that is in assisted living?
I have been caregiving for my mom for 4 years, moved her to assisted-living two months ago. I was consistently visiting her 4 to 5 times a week to assure her she is still loved and we are not abandoning her. She has vascular dementia and is resistant to much care so she doesn’t let the assisted-living staff do hardly…
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For Older Unmarried Couples, Caregiving Obligations Can Be Murky
Gifted link from the NYT. An article about caregiving issues specific to older unmarried couples. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/10/health/elderly-unmarried-couples-caregiving.html?unlocked_article_code=1.ZE4.JvyT.QUUSabGS4hNM&smid=url-share
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Donepezil and Memantine-Extreme Side Effects
Hello Everyone! This is time on the site. My DH was officially diagnosed with VD about eight months ago. But because my mom also had dementia, I knew three years ago that something was wrong. His doctor didn't listen to me, and not until he had three mini strokes, and carotid artery operated on did anyone start listening…