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My FIL recently got diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
He's taking medication for it so he has his good and bad days.
Anyone here dealing or dealt with this before with before?
Right now he'll have days where he's upset because we don't return calls he never made to us.
We've gone out to eat and the next day he won't remember.
We're trying to be understanding on all this knowing it is not his fault but that can only go for so long.
We're trying to be understanding on all this knowing it is not his fault but that can only go for so long.
Suggestions?
I am so sorry your FIL has this condition. I'm concerned though that you say your family's understanding "can only go on for so long."
My understanding of this disease is that it always progresses in a bad direction. Medication may help manage it, but I hope your family can learn more about what to expect long term from solid resources such as a family doctor or other professionals that are involved in his care.
I too am so sorry you're going through this. I've been down this road, and it's not a good one. My mom started out w/ dimentia and progressed to alzheimers. Before getting the proper meds, she got downright nasty. My poor dad got accused of so much. When I'd visit, she think I was taking sides w/ dad and start yelling and start saying we were talking about her behind her back. She became more and more angry and delusional. The doctor finally put her on Ristedal. It's an anti-psycotic med. and does have many side effects. She actually stole the car keys and took off in a rage. The police found her driving the opposite direction down a main road. She's now stable on the Ristedal, but unfortunately she got to the point where dad couldn't take care of her daily hygiene and she's in a nursing home. Although she's now as sweet as can be, she is confined to a wheel chair. She doesn't even know me now and that hurts. I feel like I've already lost my mom to this dreadful disease and I'll lose her again when she passes away.
Sorry for this post, but these are the facts to what you may be facing. Now is the time to pull your family together. My brother pulled away from it all and that makes it even harder on my dad. You family is going to need eachother to get through this.
Although she's now as sweet as can be, she is confined to a wheel chair. She doesn't even know me now and that hurts. I feel like I've already lost my mom to this dreadful disease and I'll lose her again when she passes away.
Sorry for this post, but these are the facts to what you may be facing. Now is the time to pull your family together. My brother pulled away from it all and that makes it even harder on my dad. You family is going to need eachother to get through this.
I am so sorry for your family. How difficult it is when a loved one get this horrible disease. Hugggggs to both the OP and you, Kahskye.
I am so sorry for your family. How difficult it is when a loved one get this horrible disease. Hugggggs to both the OP and you, Kahskye.
Thanks cgmom, I wouldn't wish it on anyone. At least mom still knows my dad. What's even sadder is so many elderly left in the home w/ no one visiting. It kills me that I don't live close to mom. I'd be going everyday if I could.
I'm so sorry to hear everyone's struggles. I fear I might be heading towards having Alzheimer's when I'm older. I already have memory loss in my mid-40s. It's a frightening thought.
My sister went through this with her FIL. Out of everyone in the family, she handled his condition the best, probably because she was an inlaw, not a blood relative with lifelong attachments.
Whenever he thought she was someone else, she would pretend she was the person he thought she was.
She said it was very touching to hear how much he loved the person he thought she was.
There was also interesting insight into his life in the past---because he was literally in the past.
He'd think she was someone who had passed away years ago, talking about going for a walk in a park like he lived in another city, saying it was beautiful sunny day when it was raining.
She didn't want to take that away from him so she would always go along with whatever he said and played the part. He often thought she was different people.
Other family members would try to correct him when he thought they were different people and that would just get him frustrated and angry.
Thanks cgmom, I wouldn't wish it on anyone. At least mom still knows my dad. What's even sadder is so many elderly left in the home w/ no one visiting. It kills me that I don't live close to mom. I'd be going everyday if I could.
(((((kahskye))))) I'm sorry you're going through this. I wish I could help. You're in my thoughts.
I would recommend you contact your local Alzheimer's Association chapter. Go to alz.org to find it if it is not in your phone book or contact your local Area Agency on Aging for it and other resources in your area. They can give you a lot of useful info and have support groups you may find helpful. I'm so sorry you are having to deal with this.
(((((kahskye))))) I'm sorry you're going through this. I wish I could help. You're in my thoughts.
You're so sweet. Unfortunately, no one can help. I feel the most for my dad. She was his life.
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