Can't reliably remember what happened yesterday

Donepezil is a Placebo! It does nothing at all. The drug's name should be pronounced "DoesNothingatall". I take 10 mg per day - no effect noted.

This site is very helpful. The way I view my journey is a year ago my husband was officially diagnosed with Alzheimer's. His mother was diagnosed in the early 1980's at about the same age, so i figure it's heriditary. What I'm grateful for is all the information available today. Everyday brings the questions and an opportunity for me to practice patience and try my best to answer them pleasantly. Some days are more trying than others, so I take it one day at a time. Coping with the forgetting recent memories has snuck up on me again. The sharing I read helps me "remember" to try an eliminate "don't you remember" from my vocabulary, it's very challenging, but it is nice to know that if I try to share my own fond memories of the activities we did, he can feel apart of it without having to be responsible for remembering. Thank You.

Great advice. We are going to celebrate my parents' 68th wedding anniversary at the end of January, even though my dad will not remember it the next day. And Mom and Dad continue to go out to dinner with friends and attend small events at the Retirement community.

Yes,because after telling your spouse for the 10th time to-day is Friday or what ever or where he is going. (he has been going the same place same time same day for two years) He still asks where is this place and where is it. I try really, but some days I loose it.

I try not to get upset at the repeated same questions time after time. I just answer in a calm voice the same answers he requires.

I haven't thought about making it a good day for them (both parents) when I visit. I think of things that they need and cleanliness and their care. Thanks for the reminder.

thank you for your tips im sure they will help .

Hello sislovesdadd­y, Thank you very much for your question. If you'd like, you can post your question in our Ask & Answer section, here: ( http://www.caring.com/ask ). Take care -- Emily | Community Manager

For a person with dementia care for eating is to be taken by caretaker as patient forgets if he has taken food or not.

can someone with dementia forget to eat?

this info sounds so much like my daddy and all the information was so helpful. thank-you

My Alz dad can't seem to remember things happen an hour ago. Sometimes he does. Most of the time agitated.

Finding out that asking about what we did previously is not the thing to do. I notice that it makes him very uncomfortable, and yet it is what everyone asks when they talk to him on the phone.

Made the mistake of cncelling a special 11 day trip to Boston/New England & 4th of July Boston Pops Fireworks, thought she would be too weak & lack the energy to participate. When we watched it on TV last night, she said "wish we were there". Any future plans we will carry out. Her doctor only assessed her with possible Alzhimers just 3 weeks ago and I am clueless as to how I should handle her. I have no close relatives and am reluctant to discuss it with friends. Your suggestions have already helped. I look forward to your support and information. Wayne

Picture, yes! Great idea! I have a Facebook account to check on my grandchildren and children's doings who live 10,000 miles away from us. When new pictures come up, we sat together and view all the pictures, and then talk about them. It is always a memorable event! A happy event for him especially and for me too! I created his own FB, but now, he does not even open it or touch the computer. When he was my mentor when I started with computer work. But, we take what's there and hope for the best! Thank you all for sharing. ~deel

says she showered when she didnt, and doesnt want me to help her or even take a shower

I'm learning more and more every day of this disease, its so sad, and real. Thank you for this site.

Hi deel, Thank you very much for sharing with the community. I'm sorry to hear about your situation with your lovedone. If you'd like to post your question about travel and confusion, you can do so in our Ask & Answer section, here: ( http://www.caring.com/ask ). I hope that helps, take care -- Emily | Community Manager

My LH with EOAD was both on Namenda and Aricept for three months. since his last visit to his neurologist, we were advised to finish Namenda and just continue on with Aricept. He seems to be getting more forgetful and could not really take instructions sometimes, like where to find the flashlight or something. I wonder if I should ask his doctor for Namenda again or try Exelon patch this time? We have been traveling, despite the difficulty (on my part, I am 71, he's 67) re logistics, etcs, and I noticed he gets more confused after we get home from travels. is this normal? I am feeling so bad about this whole business...I love him and I'll keep trying...Pls wish/pray for me to be strong and healthy...

all the three dots are right. No matter how little or the nothing at all my mother remembers, I like telling her what she did or we did together the day before or on Xmas/Easter day. She listens and seems to enjoy it. It's like telling tales to kids, who love listening to the same story over and over again. :-)

Reinforcement regarding continuing to try and create special "moments" even though they may not be remembered. We still go to plays, operas, the symphony , etc. I know Dan enjoys them even though he may not remember the performance.

My husband's brother died last December at age 57 of Early-onset Alzheimer's. My husband Steve, 55, is in moderate stage. Their father died at age 69 of Alzheimer's in 1986. Pray for our adult children and nephews and niece--I know they are worried about this inherited disease, and I praise God that they all have a relationship with Christ and can take their worries to Him, and are living fruitful, joyful lives. They have spouses and a fiancee who are fully aware that they may be taking care of an Alzheimer's victim one day--we are so blessed! But each one of them must be wondering "Will I be the one?" I write a blog of encouragement called "Today's Project," www.krucke4jc.blogspot.com, where I frequently discuss our Alzheimer's journey. Apr. 10, 15, and 19 were posts on this subject.

Realizing that I am on the right track in creating good occasions, like the Disneyland passes, gardening, my retiring to be with him, and RV travel we did in the last two years!

This is a great article. Easy to read. I prefer to read things brief and to the point when on the internet. Also helpful. The best: "the quality of the event...has little relationship to whether it's remembered."

Hi Anonymous, thanks for your question, if you'd like, you can ask your question in our Ask & Answer section here: http://www.caring.com/ask -- Emily

my husband has alzheimer's for 7 years now. he started dropping glasses, cups, plates, etc. last week. how can this be stopped. ?

My husband has been on Namenda and Exelon for over 7 years, and I truly believe it slowed the progress of Alz until the last year or so. Now his memory is very impaired...but has only been combative a couple times. He is very suspicious and seems to see people in the house besides us. Does not recognize family...nor myself on certain days....and will want to go "home"..even though we have been here in our home for over 30 years. I hate this disease...but love him very much and will do whatever I can for him.

The suggestions on How to help. And the reasons for just simply talking about special outings.

PatF commented about late stage. We stopped taking Dad out of the facility when his immobility made it a chore for us and uncomfortable for him. For about six months, we wheeled him to the "family room" for a meal. Then he showed irritation at having to be wheeled out one door, through another. The last two months, we just sat with him in his room. One afternoon we thought he was napping in his chair looking out into the hallway. He had died.

The reminder to continue to do activities even though she won't remember it later. It IS worth my time and effort. Sometimes I get frustrated and think "what's the point?!?"

not to quiz and say do you remember , but talk about the event as if he does remember or recall the details for him and enjoy the moment with him talking about the event.

My Dad was probably the most brillant man I ever met. He always read. when he got this terrible disease and could no longer pick up a book it was heart breaking. He showed signs in his early 60's and passed @68. He was upbeat but confused daily. He could remember all the names of his WW2 buddies but all his grandchildren became one name. Everytime I loose my keys or forget a name I go into shock. Daddy was lucky and never left his home, but died from a heary attack. The doctor said the brain and the heart wer enot insync.

Hi thanks for the information. I am very upset about this and dont know who to talk to!

The biggest help is to not focus on Mom's memory loss of the event, but rather just talk about it instead. I was getting frustrated and in my frustration I was making Mom more upset.

Dive into talking about the event. Patti often says "I remember" but I don't think she does. An hour or two later, she brings it up with a smile and giggle.

It was helpful to learn that taking Bernice on outings is so vital to her happiness. Today we had such an outing and she was so grateful. I felt we really connected.

My uncle has lung and stomach cancer. It has kind of been a blessing for him to have the dementia, he does not he is sick. I try to take him to the doctor and he questions me. I recently tried to move him in with my husband & myself, that did not work. He still comes & goes with his memory, and he is ademant that he wants to remain home, it is just so concerning. It helped me to understand the different stages. I could probably handle the situation better, but there is the cancer to deal with, and with the dementia, it is almost impossible. I was actually, correcting alot, I see not that it may not be the correct thing to do. I will be checking your website for any up-dates & really appreciate all of the information in this article. My daughter knows how much I am suffering with this situation, and e-mailed this to me. Thank you again. I have alot more kowledge of what to do now.

Events of patients utmost importance are remembered.

Why would you take someone with final stage or late stage ALZ out to have a special moment? #1 Cannot get him out of bed without help. He cannot walk, He cannot talk, He cannot get into a vehicle, He cannot eat, has to be fed, dressed, moved, changed, placed in a wheel chair with a lift, and yes Loved dearly. No outings anymore, Without my trusty body lift, I cannot even move my husband in his bed to turn him or change him, and your directions are telling me to take him out to meals and favorite places. I am only one person, I feel very fortunate to be able to take care of his daily needs, I am so tired and worn out, that I do not have the energy to take him out in public. Last trip to Walmart, he was screaming Help, Help Help, someone call the police. Security helped me shop and get out of the store asap.

Trying not to quiz statement about yesterday.

I am the sole caregiver to my mother whom I did not meet until I was 39. We have had a very pleasant relationship up until I started being her caregiver for alz. I have a 1/2 brother & sister. 1/2 brother lives with my mother but does nothing when I'm here. 1/2 sister refuses to do anything for her as far as any caregiving services are concerned. I live 250 miles away from my mother. I am home with my husband only 1 week out of a month ( if that.) I'm having trouble because I do not know a lot of things she is talking about because I wasn't around when she was younger & married to her now deceased husband. This article was helpful to me because I was starting to think that her verbal and sometimes physical attacks were against me personally.

My mother has starting forgetting things , like what she did the morning of the same day , what she had to eat an what time of the day it is , with that being said is that a form of dementia.

Pictures, pictures, pictures! With our digital camera, we would take pictures of Grandpa at the theme park, Grandpa with the animals, and many other occasions. We would run the pictures on a digital frame so he could stand by it and ask questions about the event, and he never had frustration with forgetting the event itself.