Dealing with dementia - anyone else?

[daffsntulips]

I could do with somewhere to chit-chat with people going through similar; a kind of group blog.. .

My situation-

My MIL has some sort of unlabeled dementia and is not taking any medication. She lives alone in sheltered accomodation. She has carers twice a day and meals-on-wheels daily. She lives 2.5 hours away from us.

My mum has dementia but I don't know what type . She takes Aricept. She lives with my dad again 2.5 hours away from us but in the opposite direction to MIL.

What is your situation?

Ta

Thanks Daff, that really encouraging to read that. We are going tomorrow, so fingers crossed.

just getting on this thread as grandma has AD

Has anyone mentioned (apologies if they have ) Alzheimer's Talking Point. That forum is wonderful if you are struggling.

oh PA just read your post :( so sorry you arehaving all this stress

Thanks SHRIIIEEEK, I havent heard of that forum, I will go and have a peep.

So will I: thank you!

Hi. My dad has been diagnosed with Alzheimers and prescribed Aricept but now has cerebrovascular disease too. Anyone have any experience of this double diagnosis? I'm particularly concerned about the having-to-go-into-a-care-home and how-long-they-live aspects. Thanks in advance.

Hi OITAF, Not any experience here of that double diagnosis. Maybe one of the others on here will come along and have some answers.

My mother has a diagnosis of "mixed dementia" - Alzheimers and vascular dementia. It's all very distressing for my sister and me too. She's in a care home now and the last time I went she yelled at me to get out when I tried to explain why she can't go home.

This started seemingly very suddenly at the end of April but looking back I can trace things that were happening before. She has always been very active and independent but has a history of depression and MH problems so I thought it was that.

. marking my place to come back.

My MIL has Alzheimers and was finally prescribed Aricept a few months ago but refused to take it and we believe threw it away. She also has taken to drinking a bottle and a half of wine a day and FIL won't stop her. FIL coping with her (just) but refusing all help at nearly 80 years old. We live 250 miles away (4 hours travel on a good day) with BIL abroad in US.

We have been up and had meetings with Social Serivces but they say that until my Father accepts that he needs help they can't force it on him. He does not seem to understand that he is actually making the one thing he doesn't want for her - a care home - more likely sooner as he is getting exhausted.

Marking my place on the thread. My mum has alzheimers, was diagnosed in June, but it has been going on for years, she has moderate alzheimers, with a mms score of 17. (went down two points in three months, the average is to go down one point in one year, so we have a bit of a rough ride at the moment)

So, Quintessential, a score of 17 would indicate moderate Alzheimers? I'm not sure if it's the same test but my dad scored 2 points off the 'normal' score and that was 83 or something. So sorry for your mum. And you. How is she on a day-to-day basis?