Thread: Alzheimer's lest we forget

^ it is my sincere hope that no one in our increasingly aged TD membership takes it upon themselves to start a "let's check each others feet" thread.

Originally Posted by malmomike77

"let's check each others feet" thread.

In higher financy we call it the FOOTSY 100

Originally Posted by misskit

Seems to be common in people with dementia to stop bathing and looking after themselves.

It is a hallmark sign, along with not brushing their teeth.

Originally Posted by nidhogg

It is a hallmark sign, along with not brushing their teeth.

Right. If I stop all this do you think work will give me medical retirement.

Originally Posted by malmomike77

Right. If I stop all this do you think work will give me medical retirement.

Hard to be sure but you may have to move from TINDR to GRINDR or SLOBBR

Originally Posted by katie23

@david44 - a few Iweeks ago, I spoke with a former neighbor who's now a caregiver to a lady who was my high school principal. The former principal is now 94 or 95. Accdg to her caregiver, she was brought to a neurologist because she showed memory issues. She had a CT scan. Accdg to the neurologist, there are meds which can slow down the progression of Alzheimers and it's better to detect earlier/ have the meds & treatment earlier. The principal has monthly checkups & daily meds. The caregiver said she has good & bad days. She can walk around the house using a walker. Her caregiver takes her outside on a wheelchair to see neighbours, fresh air, etc.

This is secondary info, since I spoke with the caregiver, not the patient (the former principal). This caregiver is a former neighbor. She was caregiver to an elderly man living in an apartment building near my parents' house. The old man has died and she was able to find new employment, this time as a caregiver to my former principal. I'm glad for her since her wage is higher and the new employer's family treats her better than her former employer.

Anyway, TLDR: if you or your wife shows signs of memory issues, go to the doctor (neurologist) & have a checkup. Maybe there are treatments/ meds to delay the progression.

Maybe @bsnub can chime in since his mom has Alzheimers, AFAIK.

@shyguava - you're doing a very noble deed for your bro. It's a tough situation & I wish all the best to you & your family.

That's a very thoughtful and informative post Katie. It's certainly a sad thing when it strikes. Maybe one day there will be a pill or vac to take? Shy guava is doing a great job but must be heartbreaking for him.

^thanks, BLD. Two of my aunts (mom's side) have/ had dementia. One of them has passed, the other is probably 90+ and has good days (when she's lucid) and bad days. As AD progresses, the number of bad days increase. My mom (and us, her daughters) are worried that she'll have it too, since both her elder sisters had it.

Accdg to these sources, AD progression can be slowed down by medication.

Medications & Dementia | Memory and Aging Center.

Alzheimer's: Medicines help manage symptoms and slow decline - Mayo Clinic

+++++

One of the downsides of living a long life is that many of your friends & loved ones die before you. It has happened to my mom - many of her friends (some younger by ~10 yrs) have passed. Her husband (my dad) died 10 yrs ago.

Vis-à-vis the feet issue one cannot dismiss the possibility of myopia coupled with an inability to stretch or accommodate a posture necessary to complete the task.

^Sorry to hear that, Takeovers. Makes total sense for them to want to hide it.

It was so sad to see my aunt decline, she actually acted like a child again and was asking for her mother. She wanted to play with her doll as well. Eventually my uncle couldn't take care of her. She had someone come in to bath her, but she didn't want to take a bath (even a sponge bath). He had to place her as he was no spring chicken either. So sad to see as well, when she stopped recognizing family.

Anyway, it is a horrible disease. It is bad when some patients turn aggressive, and I've seen some patients locked into a wheelchair all day because they were so violent. As I said, I don't wish AD on anyone.

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

Vis-à-vis the feet issue one cannot dismiss the possibility of myopia coupled with an inability to stretch or accommodate a posture necessary to complete the task.

Even if one is myopic and inflexible they should still have the wits to arrange for personal care. If not, living alone is not a great idea.

Originally Posted by Takeovers

I am a bit worried about Alzheimer setting in. My grandfather had it, my father had it. We took my father in for his last years. Fortunately he was very easy to deal with. They were both in their eighties so I still have some time to go. Stunning was the ups and downs. One time he walked into the room of my daughter and asked her who are you and what are you doing here? She was really shocked. At other times, with the caregiver who came in daily he made stunningly brilliant quips.

From what I heard it is extremely genetic. My aunt who had it, her sisters and mother had it as well.
I agree, about the ups and downs. It seems to get worse over time as it advances.

Originally Posted by bsnub

They are greatly helpful in stimulating the brain. This article is a great read, on how they help;

That is interesting for sure.... cheers!

Originally Posted by misskit

Seems to be common in people with dementia to stop bathing and looking after themselves.

Indeed! Glad your feet are still looked after. My grandmother had diabetes and her feet were terrible, mostly because she couldn't cut her own toenails in fear of cutting herself and it not healing.

Originally Posted by MarilynMonroe

It is bad when some patients turn aggressive, and I've seen some patients locked into a wheelchair all day because they were so violent. As I said, I don't wish AD on anyone.

It is not just aggression that can have people with dementia locked in their chair or bed. Sometimes it is to keep a person from hurting themself.

My mom had very bad balance and wasn’t aware of it. At first extra rails were put up on her bed but she did the Houdini every few days and I would find her on the floor in the morning. Ended up just putting fall mats around the bed and left her to it. Couldn’t bear the thought of her being tied to the bed at night.

Originally Posted by misskit

People can slip under the dementia radar very easily. My mother hid her dementia from her GP for years. Mom never let my father go into her doctors appointments with her, but when I came along to help out, I sat in on her appointments. It was surprising how well my mother could hold herself together in front of the doctor. She was telling the doctor that she drove herself to her appointment and was stopping by the grocery on the way home as she was cooking dinner. Truth was my mother hadn’t driven for YEARS. She had stopped cooking a while back. It really upset the GP, who had known Mom for years, that she didn’t catch it.

That's crazy eh. I fear my mom has dementia, but the early stages as she forgets things I told her like 30 mins ago. She wouldn't let on that she has trouble remembering though, but I can see it.

Originally Posted by misskit

It is not just aggression that can have people with dementia locked in their chair or bed. Sometimes it is to keep a person from hurting themself.

My mom had very bad balance and wasn’t aware of it. At first extra rails were put up on her bed but she did the Houdini every few days and I would find her on the floor in the morning. Ended up just putting fall mats around the bed and left her to it. Couldn’t bear the thought of her being tied to the bed at night.

Ya for sure. Sorry about your mom.

When I worked in the long term care home they would have some patients with AD in a chair with their eating tray pushed in so they couldn't get out to hurt anyone or hurt themselves I guess. The room was totally empty. Even food was being thrown around at times even at me at times. Not all AD patients exhibit aggression, thank god.

Couldn’t bear the thought of her being tied to the bed at night.

When I lived in Burma (a few years ago), I used to visit orphanages and care homes in Shan State with books for the kids and exercise equipment for the kids with polio etc. One care home that was run by Burmese nuns also looked after a number of elderly people with dementia. The nuns were very caring but being also very short-staffed, they had to tie these people by rope 'leashes' to poles so that they couldn't wander off or hurt themselves. Very sad to see.