For Caregivers

Posted on: Wed, Feb 27 2008 2:54 PM

Posted by: BrokenDoNotUse Posts: 325

I am a Disaboom member with an SCI. My husband and I live with and take care of his 92 year old Mother, who has Alzheimer's disease. She's in the middle stages at this time.

Are there other Disaboom members who also care for someone - possibly a loved one - with AD?

Posted on: Wed, Feb 27 2008 4:08 PM

Posted by: pegster08 Posts: 6

I have Lupus, Fibromyalgia and have had lower back surgery (2002). My husband is a truck driver and is gone for several days at a time. My Mom has Alzheimer's (She's 76) and is in the middle stages at this time. My Dad (80) has heart disease, prostate cancer, and is showing definite signs of dimentia. They still live in their own house just down the lane from mine, but I don't know if that's easier on me or harder. Anyway I'm just trying to do the best I can.

Posted on: Wed, Feb 27 2008 4:09 PM

Posted by: BethT Posts: 37

My grandmother had Alzhiemer's/ Dementia before she died.  I'm a Graduate student in Speech Theray so I also have clents who are at various stages of Alzhemer's and other degenerative cognative diseases.

BethT

Posted on: Wed, Feb 27 2008 6:04 PM

Posted by: Lieslmcq Posts: 2,303

I think my mom is in the beginning stages of AD. It's hard to tell, of course.

Posted on: Wed, Feb 27 2008 6:30 PM

Posted by: pegster08 Posts: 6

If you think your Mom has Alzheimer's the sooner you get her on Aricept, or some other meds, the slower the disease will progress.

Posted on: Wed, Feb 27 2008 9:22 PM

Posted by: Lieslmcq Posts: 2,303

I have tried, and tried to get her to get help. Unfortunately, her doctor dismissed everything I had to say and told her she was fine. Fine? Someone who turns on the water in the kitchen and leaves it to get ho then forgets about it to the point where she runs out of hot water? Someone who has lost her car keys twice in one month? The person who shows up in two different shoes? Yeah, fine. I don't know what else to do. Any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated!

Posted on: Thu, Feb 28 2008 8:30 AM

Posted by: pegster08 Posts: 6

My Mom was diagnosed by a Psychologist who specialized in alzheimers disease. The oposite was true of my Mom and me. She kept telling me that she thought she had AD, and I kept telling her I thought it was only "senior moments". I made the appt with the Psychologist specialist just to show her she didn't have AD. After he gave her a battery of test he sat me and her down and told us that she had AD. I was the one who was SHOCKED! He took a long time to explain exactly how AD affects the mind and what we could expect. He also showed how the meds worked to slow down the process. That was about 5 yrs ago. I kept thinking maybe this "hot shot" doctor was wrong, but as time went on there was no doubt that she had AD. I'm thankful my Mom kept bugging me about it. If you can, get your Mom to another dr.

Pegster

Posted on: Thu, Feb 28 2008 9:59 AM

Posted by: Lieslmcq Posts: 2,303

I think I will call the AD association and see if they can recommend someone. She goes to a psychiatrist, but I suspect he has no idea about any of this.