Caring For Aging Parents Support Group
Caring for aging parents can be a difficul time as we become the caretakers for our parents. This broad responsibility can encompass such services as assisted living, adult day care, long term care, nursing homes, hospice care, and in-home care. Whether you have just started caring for your parents or just need a place to talk, we're here.
Soon dad is going to be taking my mom for an appointment about constant forgetting and alzheimers. He seems to have his hopes up that it won't be alzheimers, since he keeps saying that alzheimers is the "bad one".
Considering that mom forgets things you tell her every five minutes sometimes, or mentions the same thing in the same conversation, I'm almost 100% sure he's going to say it's alzheimers.
How do you think I could try to make this go better on them both? What sort of things could I say?
Considering that mom forgets things you tell her every five minutes sometimes, or mentions the same thing in the same conversation, I'm almost 100% sure he's going to say it's alzheimers.
How do you think I could try to make this go better on them both? What sort of things could I say?
Dad isn't a doc.........so he needs to see what doc says and take the advice of the doc. (assuming that doc knows Mom well)
I am 60 y/o and often forget things people tell me.........sometimes I am just not paying attention to what they say for whatever reason.............
How is Dads memory? Will he be ok with caring for her or if she needs a facility at some point are there plans to care for him some how?
If he is like my Dad then he is independent and capable. However, once
Mom is not around will be ok.
My Mom could have been for a few months but it would have been a strain. She is afraid of the dark. Lives in a bi level home so noises on lower level always alert her. I could not allow her to live this way and moved in. I planned it with Dad years ago anyway, So new what to do and was as ok can as possible.
I hope things turn out well for your Mom. There are a lot of reasons for her troubles, And a lot of help for people these days.
Let us know how things are going.
P
About 73. She had an operation for a brain tumour years ago and tablets for that are all she was taking for a long time.
"In the area where your folks live will be some reference to an ALZ clinic or a unit with it. A larger city near may help you with the conversation you may be thinking about now. Should this be the call from the testing."
I'm sure it's not going to be nice.
" In the area where your folks live will be some reference to an ALZ clinic or a unit with it. A larger city near may help you with the conversation you may be thinking about now. Should this be the call from the testing.
How is Dads memory? Will he be ok with caring for her or if she needs a facility at some point are there plans to care for him some how?
If he is like my Dad then he is independent and capable. However, once
Mom is not around will be ok."
Dad's memory is okay. He forgets names sometimes but he says that he's just getting old.
Unfortunately he can't keep going forever. That's a horrible thing about it: no matter how good the outlook, in the end the outcome is the same. My dad was always really sociable and would talk to anyone... however most of the people he knew are dead now or nearly dead.
Perhaps you can learn about dementia and have some knowledge that will ease fears.
Other than that, try to wait and see what is going on before hitting the panic button. A friend's wife was appearing to go downhill. Turned out she had a urinary tract infection that went undectected for months which caused her mental issues.
Be sure she gets a total physical.
The first thing the doc will most likely do is called the mini mental exam. It's 30 questions and take about a half hour. It gives a general assessment of the persons state. Depending on the outcome of that and based on moms history I would think an MRI is called for to make sure there are no new tumors. Also some general blood work to rule out infections or other possible causes.
If it is a dementia there are medications they might want to try. Before starting anything they need to research them. Many can be more of a problem than a help.
I think what peaceful is trying to bring up is have your parents talked about their wishes for the future as they age? Have they done the legal work? And what financial resources do they have and what will this mean?
Take this one step at a time. Often our worst fears never come true. Would it be possible to go with your parents? Often it helps to have someone else to listen and ask questions.