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To all the caregivers.......

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Alzheimer's Disease
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Red_34
Forum Moderator
Joined : Apr 2004
Posts : 23581
Posted 10/17/2010 6:52 AM (GMT -7)
I am just curious to see how we are all doing. How are your parents/grandparents/partners? Are you taking some time out for yourself?
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SnowyLynne
Veteran Member
Joined : Apr 2004
Posts : 1539
Posted 10/17/2010 6:46 PM (GMT -7)
Larry is still able to go off & do things with our Dr friend,& other people.I enjoy my "me" time,lol......
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Red_34
Forum Moderator
Joined : Apr 2004
Posts : 23581
Posted 10/18/2010 5:40 AM (GMT -7)
That's awesome Snowy! We all need our own "me" time including people that have mild dementia. I sure hope you pamper yourself when Larry goes off?
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SnowyLynne
Veteran Member
Joined : Apr 2004
Posts : 1539
Posted 10/18/2010 1:07 PM (GMT -7)
Ya know what jacks my jaws? Too many people say I don't have dementia because I can type on pc,still articulate.Yada,yada.Gimmie a break! I don't have AD as I was first dx with It's vascular Dementia......13 years now.........MY how time flies....
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Red_34
Forum Moderator
Joined : Apr 2004
Posts : 23581
Posted 10/18/2010 1:48 PM (GMT -7)
I couldn't agree more Snowy...just because you have dementia that it makes you unable to use a computer or something. I totally disagree! There might come a time in someones AD history that they won't be able to use the computer but with dementia, who knows how long you can continue doing the things that you enjoy, including computer time. Is that how you spend your "me" time? Or do you do something else such as take a nice hot soak in the tub? ;)
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SnowyLynne
Veteran Member
Joined : Apr 2004
Posts : 1539
Posted 10/18/2010 3:50 PM (GMT -7)
I'm on my pc many hours a day.Sometimes I get on my scooter put the dog on my lap & ride around the neighborhood.......Ilfe is for the living & I'm still living....I do have problems at times with memory,mostly short term.Long term still very good......When stressed I'm a dork,lol......
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Red_34
Forum Moderator
Joined : Apr 2004
Posts : 23581
Posted 10/18/2010 4:18 PM (GMT -7)
Good for you! You are truly an inspiration!
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SnowyLynne
Veteran Member
Joined : Apr 2004
Posts : 1539
Posted 10/20/2010 11:08 AM (GMT -7)
I know this was for caregivers but I was a paid caregiver for nearly 40 years......
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MT Lady
Veteran Member
Joined : Jul 2008
Posts : 969
Posted 10/21/2010 2:26 PM (GMT -7)

I cared for my mom, in my home, for a year. She was diagnosed with AD 7 years ago; she is now in assisted living and yet, after 7 years, she is still functioning well. Sure, there are many things she cannot do any longer, but so many things she still can do. She is 88 year old, bless her heart. She has her own room, knows when to go for her meals to the dining room, can use the phone (nunbers are on speed dial with our names on them), goes to some activities, and gets herself ready in the morning, with some assistance. She has been on Aricept and Namenda for 7 years and her doctor truly believes it is the medications that are keeping her "status quo"... I visit her 2 to 3 x a week, do her laundry and just spend time with her.

Miriam

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Red_34
Forum Moderator
Joined : Apr 2004
Posts : 23581
Posted 10/21/2010 2:39 PM (GMT -7)
Miriam, it's great that you are spending time with your mom. So many people just dump off their loved ones at a home and forget about them. That burns me up to no end! So I love hearing stories such as yours. I'm sure your mom appreciates you being there for her.
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SnowyLynne
Veteran Member
Joined : Apr 2004
Posts : 1539
Posted 10/21/2010 2:40 PM (GMT -7)
These medications are wonderful aren't they Miriam?Too bad they don't always work for everyone......
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MT Lady
Veteran Member
Joined : Jul 2008
Posts : 969
Posted 10/22/2010 8:48 PM (GMT -7)

The medications are really wonderful. We never expected them to do what they are doing. When mom first began taking them, her doctor told us they would help, for a while, and here we are, 7 years later. I don't think he really knew at the time how long they would help. Her doctor heads up a dept at a very large teaching hospital in Chicago for memory loss/Alzheimer's/dementia so he's very aware and on top of new drugs, etc. I take mom to see him twice a year and he is so pleased to see how well she is doing.

I have two sisters, so between the three of us, we do see that someone is visiting mom almost every day. One of my sisters is a nurse and works at the facility where mom is living now. She works 3 to 11p, so she is able to check in on mom, tuck her in, make sure to grab her clothes and put them in the laundry basket so she doesn't put them on again the next day...that kind of thing... I try to go in the late afternoon when mom gets bored and anxious and I bring one of my dogs, a Golden Retriever that the residents just love to pet and it gives them all something to chat about. I do work full time, so I try my best to get there to see mom, as I said at least twice a week and sometimes 3 times a week. She doesn't remember the visit, but I do.

be well

Miriam

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Lonie
Veteran Member
Joined : Feb 2005
Posts : 6448
Posted 11/2/2010 12:38 PM (GMT -7)
I was just thinking the other day what a wonderful summer it's been being able to spend most of my Friday's off with my parent's having lunch and taking my Mom to do errands. I know this may be the last summer that my Mom remembers doing these things -- and I enjoy our time as much as she does.
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Chicagorunner
New Member
Joined : Dec 2010
Posts : 17
Posted 12/10/2010 1:46 PM (GMT -7)
I've been looking around for a caregiver forum--not sure if this is very active--but I just saw a neat contest where caregivers can be recognized for all they do. My mom was a nurse and I can attest to how hard they work without enough recognition. All you have to do is write a little story about yourself and you could win a spa day or other prizes.

http://www.eldercarelink.com/Go/contest/main/1

 

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Red_34
Forum Moderator
Joined : Apr 2004
Posts : 23581
Posted 12/11/2010 6:12 AM (GMT -7)
Chicagorunner, welcome to Healingwell :) We are active here but we are a small and humble forum with only a few actual participating members. But thank you for the link. Caregivers sometimes just do not receive the recognition they deserve.
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Chicagorunner
New Member
Joined : Dec 2010
Posts : 17
Posted 12/15/2010 7:30 PM (GMT -7)
Thanks for the reply. Looking forwarding to stopping in now and then!
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