Signs of dementia and Alzhemers

Hi Tina,

It definitely sounds like there is some reason for concern.  Is your dad willing to see a doctor?

Hi, sounds like something is needing attention.

 My M-I-L is 94 and in the middle stages of Dementia. She exhibits the non-bathing, eating and sleeping habits, and moods, including the talking to herself like that, etc.  Her neurologist set her up with an appointment to diagnose her at 90.  Also, when we first saw signs, we made sure to get a POA in order for later. Boy are we glad we did! 

It got to the point that we had to make sure that her important documents were in a safe place. She started getting overwrought about wanting money on her and since we were worried about what could happen to it, we substituted kids play money printed on both sides.  This also worked with her husband when he had Dementia in the Nursing home.  She is a happy camper now .  She gives us (money) for helping her,  And when she steers that electric wheel chair up to the register to pay for her items, I am in line ahead of her telling the puzzled cashier to go ahead and take it, because I will be the one to pay for.  It seems like a dignity thing.  Two minutes after she pays the cashier, she's ready to pay her again...so I tried to move her along asap. 

Ya gotta love em, help em and laugh once in a while, to keep from crying or getting upset. They are no longer the person they once were, confusingly, even when they sound normal from time to time.

Changes in behavior and taking care of himself seem to be a sign that something is wrong beyond the drinking. He might become stubborn about seeing a doctor, but it's the right thiing to do. He might not even realize that something is wrong. Some of the things you mentioned sound familiar. You are a good daughter for looking for answers.

My post name is hopeful always, I have damenta and believe it is more than just that because when I went to a doctor here in the Tri-Cities, Wa, I got to try aracept. I am frustrated a lot of the times due to forgetting to spell words that were not hard for me to spell before. I forget to turn off the stove or oven and have burned two different stove covers and a pot holder. I thought maybe I did that because I may thought I was to turn off the oven and instead turning off the stove. I do get confused or reread something because I am not understanding it the first or even the second time. I even mix up my daughters name for my sister's name who died in a vehicle crash. I also have gotten mixed up on dates and still do and it has hurt me in court too. I also am reminded or told that I am saying something back wards or wrong word. I get moody a lot and sleep is not much sleep. I find myself writing down reminders now when I think of it.. to turn off the stove or oven or cooking my dogs food so she can chew it.. it gets forgotten in the micro wave and the next day I will see it when I go to feed her again. I do have to remind myself when I drive, where I am going and what route I drive and have panic because I forget where I am going. I often ask my husband to help direct me when I drive. There are a lot of symptoms of Alhimers. Repeating what I say is a drag. I get moody if I see frustration in my husband because he has to retell me something, to repeat what he says and then I get mad and raise my voice and say what are you going to do when I get real bad and when I get older he will probably put me in a rest home or should when older because he probably won't be able to handle it emotionally or because he can't take care of me due to his physical disability. I get sad when I think of what I feel and that's rough when I want and said I need to stay healthy because I will be the one to take care of him. It is nice to hear of others who feel the same or have loved ones with this problem. I don't know what catagory I fit in as far a dementa. I would like a response. Just be able to relate and also be apart of a group who cares.

I have this disease we have to take care of ourselves first. I'm doing it alone. it's tough. I have to take care of myself.

I CARE HOW YOU FEEL!

I am replying to your post, "taking care of myself" I can't imagine what's it's like for you to have to take care of yourself and being alone. It's hard to take in and see on a doctor's report his diagnoses of my brain, I would have to dig it out where ever I put it but wasn't happy when I read it because it made me feel like I was some retarded person with brain damage and I'm not. I use to work with people three years ago. Fist for three years I worked with people who are developely disabled adults who have gotten into trouble so they have to be in a 24 seven setting with staff to help them take care of themselves with our help and to learn to be responsible in public, basically protecting them and also the public. I first noticed signs of how my forgetting things was getting bad when I took two of the girls that I took care of on a trip to see family in Wennachee and got lost on the way back home. I felt bad and also got into trouble because not only did I do that but I forgot their medication at the office when I got the gas card to gas up the company van.. oops.. I got suspended without pay. It really does effect you life and others too. I sometimes wished I would feel like a burden to my husband but sometimes I do when I know I am have to be retold something and it irritates him or I mess up on something and it effects us both financially. One of my worst fears is later on will I get bad enough that I will forget who family is. To me, family is everything. I don't want to lose my family. I also had worked with Alzhimers for almost a year and I loved working with them but at the same time sad because it's like living in the twilight world.. I would just dive into their world and have fun working with them and treat them as family and try and put myself into their world. Watching how it is when it gets bad is very sad and I would put myself and imagine how it would feel to be like that. I really learned a lot from them and now I wonder if I will be like that someday myself. I am a 43 year old and it scares me sometimes. I am close to God and I know He is with us always. We are hear for a reason and may not know why things like this happen to us but being close to God and trusting in Him is what is important. I know thing happen for a reason and it may be because we can help others in their time of need. I will pray for you and hope you have close friends or family who do care about you and hope there is something you can do to help yourself or may be of support to others too. It helps to keep busy and to try and keep your brain stay busy. I read a lot and do stuff to work my brain, arts and craft. I am going to be reading to those in Hos pis. When my grandma was in Hos pis I would read the Bible to her and it made her happy and helped give comfort to her. I hope this helps and hope maybe I can learn what you do also to help ourselves. Thank you for replying. Hopeful Always

omg - play money - wat an absolutely fantastic idea... my step dad always wants a TON of money from the bank, i do as you do - i tell the Teller (who knows us by now) that watever he requests, to reduce it, put most of it back in his checking and pay the visa bill!

i love the play money idea - cant wait to try with my stepdad -

WOW! I am the caregiver of my 93 year old mom with dementia. I cannot imagine what it would be like if it was MY memory that was failing. It seems very scary and frustrating. It sounds like both of you have a level of acceptance and I like the idea of sticky notepad reminders. Years ago, my mother turned on the gas stove to cook and forgot about it. The pot boiled over, extinguising the flame. My sister arrived home to the smell of gas and my mother was asleep on the couch..something unheard of. My sister wisely realized that was the result of the gas-filled house and snatched her up, running out of the house with her, where she immediately started throwing up. Close call and yet another subtle sign of dementia. Keep doing all possible with the reminders, etc. to avoid such dangers. My mother has reached the point where her reasoning and logic are pretty much history. She can't put together an outfit to wear or run a tub of water. I wash her hair, bathe and dress her.
Because, as this website states, it is human nature to be busy and productive, I will go into her 'quarters' to find she has moved, dismantled, rearranged, undone, redone, etc. She will then tell me someone did it and she didn't know who or why. No arguments or explanations from me. I just agree with her and silently thank God that I can make sure she is safe, clean, healthy and much loved.
You just never realize where this journey we call life will take you.

your not alone just pray and beleave in god