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Alzheimer's Support: Featured Caregiver Conversations
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Living Arrangements: What's the Next Step for Mom's Care?
Hi everyone - I'm not sure what I need, I guess just to know that this is "normal" ?? I don't post here much, so please catch-up on my caregiving situation in my user profile.
My mom has had a sudden decline. She had a mild stroke in early March and was doing so well in skilled nursing with her physical therapy. Sure, she asked to go home a lot for the first few weeks, but that subsided.
She was discharged from skilled nursing and came home but fell while at home and sprained her ankle. Therefore, we had to send her back to skilled nursing (the same exact room/bed!) to recover.
Now, they want to discharge her again by early next week but she is SO MUCH worse than when she was discharged the first time. She now has trouble feeding herself (will lift food to her mouth, but not make the connection to open her mouth in order to eat), sleeps very very much and gets exhausted often, and is very immobile. She's had mobility issues before, but now she is completely dependent on a wheelchair. This is stroke related, but she was doing great in PT before, so I'm not sure why all of a sudden now she doesn't have the strength and coordination to stand up and walk, even with a walker.
I'm 28 and my sister is 26. They (skilled nursing) want us to place my mom in a permanent facility because they feel with her new sudden decline, her prognosis is poor. I don't know what to do and can't believe this is happening. I don't know why no one has any answers for a reason for the sudden decline. I just feel so lost. I just lost my dad a year ago in August and don't want to be an orphan before turning 30.
Caregiving Tips: How To Help Mom With Her Delusions?
Hi Carol, Thanks for posting this question, and thanks to all who shared suggestions and support!
Here are some informational resources on Caring.com that you may likewise find helpful...
Alzheimer's Hallucinations -- how to respond: https://www.caring.com/alzheimers-hallucinations
How Furry Toys, Animals, and Dolls Help People With Dementia: https://www.caring.com/blogs/caring-currents/toys-for-dementia
Ask & Answer: Alzheimer's & Dementia Questions - https://www.caring.com/ask/alzheimers-and-other-dementias-questions
Caregiver Wellness: I'm Stressed on a Daily Basis
My mom who is 96 has had dementia for about 4 yrs. She shows signs of different stages. Her health is fine, never has taken any medication and walks around just fine. How ever....she takes many naps during the day ( understandable ) off and on till around mid-night. She does a lot of rummaging thru her drawers and carries her wallet all the time, even when we don't go anywhere. She wraps it in a napkin and keeps it on her lap. She also hides food in her room and when given 2 boxes of chocolates ( Mom's day ) she ate it all in about a day and a half. There's more...but I would like to say thank you for all the tips and suggestions you give. I will say...I'm very sad as she is not the same anymore. I am very stressed, usually on a daily basis, but trying to cope the best I can' Thank you :)
Family Relationships: What and How Much Should We Tell Our Siblings?
Caring for a Parent: Today, Mom Didn't Know Who I Was
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