Psychologists

Can talk therapy with a psychologist penetrate dementia? Has anyone used a psychologist or psychiatrist to help the dementia patient with anxiety, thought delusions and the other dementia bag-of-tricks?

Has Anyone Experienced Vivid, Scary Dreams While Using Seraquel?

Seroquel For Dementia

Hi everyone:

My mother (89, with moderate dementia) was not doing well on Xanax for sundowning and related anxiety, The doctor thought it might be contributing to some of her symptoms. He prescribed 12.5 mg of Seroquel (Quetiapine Fumarate) to be taken once in the evening and stopping the Xanax. Looking at the Medication Insert, I see that a serious side effect is "the risk of death in the elderly with dementia" and "risk of suicidal thoughts," and "not indicated for elderly patients with… read more

Good Morning To All The Loving Caregivers! Has Anyone Had Medical Marijuana Prescribed To Their Loved One Who Is Battling This Disease?

I am asking this question because my mom has very extreme anxiety, depression, and paronia. She has been on Airicept, Namenda, different antidepressants, Seroquel. Nothing is working to help ease any of these horrific symptoms. She is in a nursing home. She has been for the last 5 months. Mom can not live alone and she tried living with one of my sisters. Mom's extreme paronia, mixed with delusions, and her not feeling safe. Absolutely THE hardest decision my family had to make. Any suggestions… read more

Hints To Handle Sundowning?

Last night, for the first time my husband was sundowning and it was alarming! Need help in calming him down or something to distract him. He tells everyone he is not interested in anything! Period!

Late Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Moderate Stages With Behavioral Disturbance And A Frontotemporal Component

— he is on aricept and Lexapro and alprazolam PRN and now they are prescribing him depakote 250mg 1x daily extended release —- he is in a memory care respite stay right now and he’s been deemed incompetent — is there another medication that may better help him calm his mind down consistently — not just “mood stabilizers”? Or has this medication worked for your loved ones?

My Dad Is Sundowning During The Day. He Believes That His Wife Is The One Doing This To Him. A "voodoo Spell ".

She basically just leaves him be because he becomes agitated and angry. He's not violent YET. He's very stubborn. Has refused medication, doctors visits. (They just want to take his money ). I'm looking for those of you that have this problem and any ideas on how to handle it.

Is Her Constant Sleeping A Blessing Or A Curse? 😞Should I Just Let Her Sleep?

I don't even want to wake her to eat. Earlier, she wouldn't respond to me. I checked her blood pressure, it was good. I checked her sugar and it was high. Her phone rang and I looked to see that it was a telemarketer and put it down. She asked me who it was and told me to leave her alone. I gave her her diabetic med and she took it. She sleeps all day and most of the night.

Are There Any Medications That Will Help My 87 Year Old Father With Dementia Keep Calm And Sleep At Night? He Has "sundowners" Badly.

Mom Is Increasingly Agitated. Lashing Out At Caregivers. What To Do?

My 74 y.o. mom has been in a small board & care facility since February. It was a rough start with her wandering around the house at night, going into other residents' rooms, even going upstairs to staff quarters (she likely did this as her room at home was upstairs).

She eventually settled down but now 6 mos. later she has resumed those activities and has become incredibly hostile towards her primary caregiver. Throwing water at her, kicking, etc. She also tells the other residents that they… read more