What to Expect: The Stages of Alzheimer's Disease
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- ierne
- bpsibley
- biogardener
- IMADAG2
- biogardener
- IMADAG2
- IMADAG2
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» ierne - Thank you Brenda!
As I was reading the articles submitted to the Spring Into Health event, I felt I needed to read the rest as well...I really enjoyed this article, despite the tears it brought to my eyes.My gran was in stage 5 or 6 before the rest of the family would even speak about getting her to a geriatric specialist. The family doctor had diagnosed Alzheimer's, but everyone refused to believe it, except my mother who is the closest to her.
It broke her heart, as it did mine, to watch the little woman we all loved so much fall further and further behind. And watch everyone else fade away and ignore the problem. It's ok for her to walk around in sub-zero weather with slippers and a nightgown, and five or six layers of clothes in the most humid and hot weather we've had. Locking the doors would keep her inside (huh? Wiggling those door handles unlocked them..).
I was always amazed out how she would outwit the family's ideas. She couldn't remember to turn the stove off, but she could remember to go and turn on the breakers when we'd shut them off so she couldn't use the stove at all.
She's in a home now, and generally doesn't realize she's so far from home. Most often, she only recognizes my grandfather, but occasionally she knows my daughters and I. She's currently obsessing on how tall they are getting *grin*, almost as tall as she is..
Thanks again Brenda!
-- posted by ierne
» bpsibley - Re: Thank you Brenda!
In response to message posted by ierne:You're welcome. I'm so sorry about your gran. Yes, they do know a lot of tricks to outwit the family in the earlier stages. It's good she still knows you all. That helps, though I know it's not easy watching her disease progress.
Thanks for the Spring into Health event! I've enjoyed it!
-- posted by bpsibley
» biogardener - Upcomong broadcast
I just noticed on the Focus on the Family calendar that on July 14 and 15, a panel is going to discuss the stages of Alzheimer's. I don't usually get around to catching the broadcast on the radio, but I listen to it afterwards on the computer at my convenience.Just thought I would let you know.
-- posted by biogardener
» IMADAG2 - my uncle
I'm unsure what stage of Alzheimer's my uncle is in but as I prepared to accompany my deaf, frail 76 year old uncle to visit him in the country, my concerns were real. He is 86 and lives alone on an isolated property out of a small town. I'd been told stories of him found hanging over a fence for any number of days, wandering the streets..being sometimes taken to hospital or home, being unwashed etc for weeks, unshaved beyond Santa Claus etc.To my surprise he was in the better shape of his younger brothers (72, 76). Clean shaven, appropriate dress, courteous to his unexpected visitors..alert on all topics raised. He said he slept well and was never bored, always something to do on his 30 acre bush property.."I'm a bushman". The thought of lying in a bed facing the ceiling in a nursing home appalled him. He gets home care and meals-on-wheels and said he should have been doing that for years.
He reminded me of his name a few times and seemed to forget the teapot was empty a few times although that seemed to be him teasing us a bit coz ordinarily, there would have been 3 extra cup capacity but for his guests. He made himself lunch..clearly able to cut unsliced bread evenly. There's a wood fire to cook by..had a pile of wood on the lounge room floor..the frozen dinner left by the stove for him to cook up later.
He was diagnosed with Alzheimers a few years back but his independence and alertness seemed out of sync with the previous horror stories. Was he able to be cunning for us or can he be expected to be OK for days??
Jeff
-- posted by IMADAG2
» biogardener - They sure can fool you
People who suffer from Alzheimer's can sure fool you. Only someone who lives with them knows for sure. My mother was able to fool everyone, including her own brother and her other children for 25 years, because she could carry on intelligent conversations with the greatest of ease. She was not able to fool the gereatric medical specialist to diagnosed her, though, because he knew what to look for. He also would look at me every time she answered him to verify if her answer was correct or not.To find out if your uncle was misdiagnosed or not, you really need to stay with him for a longer period of time.
-- posted by biogardener
» IMADAG2 - Re: They sure can fool you
In response to message posted by biogardener:Hi Traute. I don't doubt all the horror stories relayed back to me about him. It's that I understood from other situations, there is a steady degenerative change where it becomes increasingly difficult for him to "fudge" and we might just have caught him on a good day. And all dementia doesn't have to be Alzheimer's I guess. The exact diagnosis is less important to me than being assured he is OK. He has 2 brothers with an enduring power of attorney who live nearby and now gets daily home care so he's eating more etc. I left more assured.
Jeff
-- posted by IMADAG2
» IMADAG2 - Re: Re: They sure can fool you
Well..something unravelled! My uncle was recently placed in an aged care hostel, not clearly on his wishes. I was asked not to visit for 3 months until he "settled in". It can't be easy and when lucid, he asks about his home..wanting to leave the 'hospital'. I can imagine he would be pretty "annoyed" but can't see what waiting 3 months will do. Has anyone dealt with this transitional stage and can offer advice, please.Jeff
-- posted by IMADAG2
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