Seroquel or Risperdal will lower/stop restlessness and hallucinations...maybe ask your pharmacist about these meds if it worries you...lots of folks here may post re success with those meds

Linda, point well taken. I agree that we are very lucky to have the University. My reason for posting so much detail is to show that even with so many specialties involved, with Alzheimer’s and various kinds of dementia, a clearcut diagnosis and definite treatment plan is like a moving target. Each case is different and often ever changing. There are no absolutes.

Our neurologist takes the lead in my husband’s care and calls in other specialists as well. We had a multidisciplinary appointment at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and saw OT, PT, Pharmacy, Geriatric Psychiatry, and Neurology. We accomplished so much in a 4 hour appointment. Each specialist met with us individually, conferred with each other, and then the neurologist met with us and gave us their collective findings and recommendations. We have also met with a neuropsychologist and will continue to meet with him for cognitive rehab. I have not had the support of my stepdaughters regarding their father’s care, and the neuropsychologist wants us all on the same page. Good luck with that one!

The word rehab for Alzhiemer's bothers me some what. There is no cure. Our family has chosen to spend our time and energy on good care at home. What I have read, the only proven help for better brain function in Alzhiemer's is exercise especially cardiovascular which is what we as care givers should be doing, too. My husband used our elliptical faithfully for at least 3 years early on and I could tell the difference in him on days he did it and those he did not. When he got tired of that, we got him going on ping pong which was an old college skill to keep him active and walks out side in the warm seasons. It is getting harder and harder to keep him active. If you have the funds to afford a lot of visits to doctors and rehab services, fine and dandy. If you have limited funds or, as for us, limited medical specialist in the area, maybe take that co-pay amount and spend it on an hour or two of respite for yourself. Guaranteed to make both your lives better.

Excellent advice. The cognitive rehab, according to the neuropsychologist was to help improve our communication with each other and strengthen our marriage through my husband’s decline. His immediate goal was to help our family dynamic with my stepdaughters and get us on the same page. The doctor visits to the University were an attempt to pinpoint a diagnosis and help us to plan for our future. Now we are attempting to manage symptoms and not so intent on diagnosis. The prognosis is uncertain except that there is no cure and progression rate is unknown. JannMarie, thank you for your response. Your points are spot on. I don’t want to give the impression that we have unlimited funds. We definitely do not. At this point in our journey, as I said above, diagnosis is not so important to me. We just hope to manage my husband’s symptoms the best we can. Big hug to you for sharing your thoughts, which in turn allowed me to clarify mine. May I add you to my team?