I have recently made the decision to start the process as I know its time...mostly for me as I am becoming sick....but also for D's safety. He really diesnt know his own house of 55 years and I don't think he recognizes me only as a caregiver...we have a wonderful regular caregiver but only for 12xhr a week.
Hi Betty, just noticing this letter now. D did not get accepted fir the Bungalows. I was so disappointed....but I have checked the next option and I have finally accepted that its going to be ok… read more
My dad is in a smaller pocket of early-onset Alzheimer’s males with aggression and is combative, (now late stage, 10 years since Dx) AND is allergic/has the paradoxical reactions to almost all meds used to target mood/behavior in Alz folks.
He’s still verbal, mobile, no where near frai. It’s been a 2.5 year struggle trying everything, doing this alone, no other family will help me, except my spouse, we upped and moved our whole lives here to care for him when my mom suddenly passed. I tried 5… read more
Oh I’m so sorry - I know this doesn’t help you but there must be some organisation out there fgs!! It’s awful, for you both. I hope you’re getting some help & support in all this too?? I’m in the UK… read more
I’ve tried every single trick in the book. Ive given it days. I’ve re-tried ALL the tricks. I’ve washed all the sheets. He won’t wear “briefs.” I’ve tried all the tricks for those too. He knows they’re not his underwear, so he refuses and wears nothing under his shorts.
My Dad is a big guy and I can’t force him to change his clothes, his underwear, shower or use body wipes. I’m telling you, I’ve tried everything. So when you’ve tried everything and even the caregivers can’t get your LO to… read more
As for the weaning him into disposable underwear we let my husband wear both his own underwear and disposable at the same time. My husband was picky about the color and type, trial and error. Can't… read more
Many of us have already learned the hard way that incontinence is an inevitable part of the dementia landscape. I frequently use the shower to get my wife clean again but I’ve been wondering about bidet attachments for the toilet. Does anyone have any experience with them? Are they practical to use for the dementia patient? Expensive to purchase and install? Thanks
There’s a really affordable one called the Tushy that’s not complex and easy to install. Just not sure if it’s something that can be learned now. But best wishes and great thinking on this one. Maybe… read more
My life - and the life of our 16 year old daughter - is continually bouncing from one disaster after another as a result of my husband’s mid-stage Alzheimer’s. He cannot realize that his capabilities are not those of who he used to be or even those of a normal person. So he has extremely poor judgement which leads to bad things happening. In November, he was the cause of an incident that led to thousands of dollars in damage to our home (still in the process of being fixed). Last Thursday, he… read more
Ha!! It does all change when the fluids start ! My husband had more events than I care to remember. I was working full time, thankful I was able to find a person to come in the house for 6 hours… read more
Depends on the severity of the mental deficiency and the individual since no two patients are alike. I have found in many cases the brain is not functioning in that capacity to even contemplate… read more
Its obvious my mother has alzheimers and is getting worse. My step dad and I looking for solutions to get her diagnosed. Deep down she knows she has it. When she forgets things she really gets upset. If you even mention anything regarding it, suggestions or mention anything to do with memory she makes the roof come off. I just moved back this week to be closer. This is heartbreaking and sad.i hate watching my mom fall apart and I feel so helpless. My stepfather spends every waking hour on the… read more
That's very good advice, Shelieys. Getting durable power of attorney is very important. As soon as I was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, I made sure that my paperwork was complete. My husband has been… read more
A couple of days ago, I was given a 45 day eviction notice for my husband from the director of his memory care residence. She told me he should be in a skilled nursing facility, where they can keep him sedated. She told me that, even if another memory care decides to accept him, I’ll likely end up getting an eviction notice for him from them, too. But the nursing homes, I’ve contacted, seem to respond as if I’ve got my head up my butt. And they tell me they’re not equipped to handle dementia.
… read moreCatmama, I am so very sorry to hear about your situation, and I hope the social worker can help you find a good solution for your loved one. I do know that memory care facilities sometimes send a… read more
What are some of your favorite songs that keep you going? All songs welcomed-religious or not!! I want a playlist to listen to for the hard days and to share with other caregivers.
My husband loves Amazing Grace we sing it when he is having trouble focusing.
Folks with Alzheimer's. Folks confused about relationships they used to know well.
melatonin really helps my wife. she does 8-10 hrs and it's wonderful