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Focus on the Now, the Positive, the Moments
My name is Vickie B. I turn 50 in 4 days, and I've been living with younger onset Alzheimer’s since 2021. Have I cried? Yep- a few short times. BUT I have made it my mission to not stay/live in my sadness. I choose daily to see and find beauty and joy around me. And if I have a bad day, I give myself some grace. Honestly,…
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Showering /refusing/thinking they have
I am a caregiver ,been one for 5 years. I have not ever came across anyone with this type of situation before. My client refuses to shower. She states that she already has taken one either morning or night but has not. Family has cameras up that proves she does not shower. I have used many tactics as to we can go to dinner…
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Advice for Going Back to Work
I took FMLA for a year to assist with the new diagnosis of Alzheimers for my mom. It was intermittent FMLA so while I still worked, I was able to take off for appointments, my own mental health, and days that seemed like my mom just needed someone to be with her. I was averaging about 20 hours a week rather than my full 40…
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Feeling Conflicted and Guilty about moving on…
My wife is in the mid to later stages of AZ and is struggling to communicate, she sits quietly most of the time. In addition to AZ she has a genetic eye defect that is incurable, she is legally blind and needs help with everything. I am her caregiver and have given up most of my exercise and outdoor activities to support…
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Female spouse w/young kids looking for mom in similar situation?
I'd love to find a caregiver like myself to exchange texts with, like our own mini support group. This is likely too specific, but ideally it would be a woman whose partner is in the early stages of Alzheimer's (like, very very early stages where most people can't tell) and whose kids are still living at home (our kids are…
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Sandwich generation - having a baby while caregiving for dementia
Hi everyone, I have posted a few times here before and this forum has been so helpful. My dad (77, mid stage 5) moved to memory care in September. He has adjusted really well. He doesn't remember home or ask to leave, he is always engaged in activities when I visit, the staff love him, and I think he has made some friends…
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Showering
My mom has Alzheimer’s and is not wanting to eat very much and does not want to shower or clean herself anymore. She gets very angry when we even mention getting in the shower. I posted here before and have tried everything I can , no luck. IT has been almost 4 weeks since her last shower. I put a chair in the shower and…
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X2 now
My dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s the Monday after Thanksgiving in 2022. Luckily, it has been progressing very slowly. He lives with my mother and is watched by her full time. On Monday, my mom was also diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. It completely threw me for a loop and I am completely devastated. I’m their only son (I…
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Self-care (for the caregivers)
I'm helping to care for a parent (ALZ) with my sister. Mom even lives in a retirement community (still independent living) so day to day I do have my own life. It is still so hard. I went to visit for lunch today and now feel exhausted and can't refocus on work. I can't even imagine how much more difficult if I had her in…
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Bible Verse to Lift You Up 2/15/25
Caregivers, the rules I no longer allow me to post on each discussion, so each time I post, use the search option to look for my Bible Verse to Lift You Up for the Caregiver. Peace always. BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS! Joshua 1:9 New International Version 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid;…
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What's your pleasure?
This is my first post! This year has been very hard for me. I moved in with my parents in February, got them well enough to move to AL in April. My mom never fully recovered from the shock of moving and she died in June. My dad will go into MC next week. Along the way, I've tried to find a few moments, a few things to…
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Lack of Showering
Our father has been going for extended periods without showering or changing his clothes (40 days at a time), which has led to skin lesions. He has incontinence-related issues too. These challenges can be difficult to address, especially when faced with the limitations set by authorities who claim our father has…
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Lack of showering
Our father has been going for extended periods (40 days at a time) without showering or changing his clothes, which has led to skin lesions. He also has incontinence issues on top of it. We are limited in our ability to intervene due to legal restrictions making these challenges difficult to address, especially when faced…
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AFTD meet and greet
if you’re in Delaware, southeastern Pennsylvania, eastern Maryland, or south Jersey, I’m hosting a dementia caregiver meeting on behalf of the AFTD. It’s on Saturday, October 26 at 10:30 in Middletown, DE. Details in the link:
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FTD Meet and Greet
I’m hosting Meet and Greet on behalf of the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration in Middletown, DE on Saturday, October 26. I’ll post again as we get closer but save the date if you live in the Delaware/Philly/Eastern Shore area. It will be a great chance to meet and make friends with others on this journey.…
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NYT: Reducing inflammation may help forestall dementia & provide other benefits
Gifted link for 30 days below. Article states that GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic may reduce inflammation, which can provide other benefits beyond weight loss, and that "There’s also increasing evidence that inflammation affects dementia and, more broadly, aging itself" It also states that we can't rid ourselves of…
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Stopped showering and talks to pictures
I am new here. My DM was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s 3 years ago but is in denial. He is slowly getting worse and I think he is in stage 3-4. I have two issues: 1. He is now talking to pictures of family on the fridge all day. Yesterday he insisted I leave the light on for them. Is that normal? 2. For the last 3 weeks he…
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Support for the spouses or partners of dementia caregivers!
:/ Is there any information on support groups for the spouses or partners or the caregivers or info on what it can do to a relationship or marriage? Any information is greatly appreciated!
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Out of ideas
My Mom has been in memory care almost a year now. It will be a year the first week of September. She was in AL at the same facility for about six weeks before they insisted she be moved to MC. She was wandering at night and anxious most of the time. Once in MC, there was a transition phase, but it didn't have anything to…
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Recent dementia diagnosis
Hi all, I am a young nearly 67 yr old female. Last week I was diagnosed with dementia. Both of my parents passed from the diseasse -my mom at age 84 passed December of last year and my dad passed one week to the day of my diagnosis, July 30, 2024. I was my mom's full time caregiver while she lived with me the last 4 years…
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I'm on the autism spectrum and Mom has dementia
So, hello, I'm new here. I've been feeling very isolated, alone, confused, frustrated. My mom is a drinker. She got a dwi in January. She's almost 75. She's almost died. She was almost 3 times the legal limit after being found in a field face down next to a church near her home in 2023. She laid there all night in the…
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In home help
Tomorrow I will be talking with an agency that will provide in home help for my DH so I can do so many needed things that I have been putting on hold since his diagnosis in January. I have been utilizing family and friends to spend time with him when i have appts or do something socially, but some of his needs are more…
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Where do I Start?
I need to figure out where to start. I’ve got to have some extended “me” time. He drives me crazy with repeated questions, IPhone issues, wet pants, confusion, deliriums, pacing, rubbing his hands, running interference with his truck (I don’t let him drive) and scammers. My life is exhausting. I’m falling into the abyss…
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Is there any early warning system for dementia?
I am worried about my grandmother and grandfather developing dementia. Although they don't have any clear symptoms yet, they often forget small things, which concerns me. My great grandmother passed away due to dementia, so I am even more worried. The dementia screening tests seem too simple and unreliable, and it feels…
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My great grandmother passed away
My great grandmother passed away due to dementia. Since she was very old, we didn't take her symptoms seriously, which I believe prevented us from detecting dementia early. Looking back, early diagnosis of dementia seems to be the most important thing. She had symptoms of delirium, but we didn't think much of it. It wasn't…
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How can I care for my mother on my own without losing myself?
My mother is 61 and has been diagnosed with dementia. I'm young - 33 and dating. I have a life to live but I am also the only person who can care for her. My father died 10 years ago and my living brother refuses to support her care as he "has done enough in this life" after my grandfather had dementia and father died of…
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LO just diagnosed with VD
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Music gives us our best moments lately
Every morning we listen to music, usually the Beatles or Elton John stations on Amazon Music. We sing along and sometimes "kitchen dance." Today, while singing along to Bohemian Rhapsody he came up with "gee algebra has a devil set aside for me." I'm so glad we can find ways to still giggle.