Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Pennyfarthing]

PF just make the most of this time now and enjoy your mum's company while you both still can. You're doing a great job and will continue to do so - daughters just have an instinct for what's right for their mum.

My mum often surprises us because she still lights up when me and sis go in and she introduces us every single time to the carers! The bond is still very strong. She had forgotten my brother as he lives 200 miles away so only comes up every few months - but then again after a while of him sitting beside her she suddenly realised who he was - and even remembered who he's married to. She has both vascular dementia and Alzheimers so its pretty surprising I think.

The brain - an incredible, fascinating organ!

I have a lot of reading up to do on Alzheimer's Stellajane.  I've heard of vascular dementia but don't know much about it.  We are indeed doing what you suggest and just taking each day as it comes. My only regret is that my brothers don't get on with me and barely speak to each other actually so there's not going to be much family involvement. I will be getting a report from the doctor and will photocopy it and leave one for each of them in Mums kitchen .... I can't do more than that and I bet you neither of them will even contact me and ask how they can help or support Mum.

[CLKD]

One needs to remember that a diagnose of Alzheimers can only be made at post mortam.   There are various forms of dementia-type conditions which tend to be lumped together, which is why it might be worth while looking at all the support groups/web-sites? ?

[Pennyfarthing]

One needs to remember that a diagnose of Alzheimers can only be made at post mortam.   There are various forms of dementia-type conditions which tend to be lumped together, which is why it might be worth while looking at all the support groups/web-sites? ?

Mmmmmm  .  ... he was quite sure it was Alzheimer's and not vascular dementia or another form of dementia. 

[CLKD]

I wonder what he is basing that diagnosis on?  Have a look-see at the various web-sites and maybe ask the question? 

How do *you* feel about the situation  , given the lack of contact from your brothers?  Power of Attorney next?  We did for each other several years ago and Himself is PoA for my Mum.  It gives her time to make decisions, i.e. "I will have to ask my Son in Law first" 

[Pennyfarthing]

I wonder what he is basing that diagnosis on?  Have a look-see at the various web-sites and maybe ask the question? 

How do *you* feel about the situation  , given the lack of contact from your brothers?  Power of Attorney next?  We did for each other several years ago and Himself is PoA for my Mum.  It gives her time to make decisions, i.e. "I will have to ask my Son in Law first" 

The doctor was with mum for 1.5 hours and was very thorough with his questions, tests and also had all Mums GP notes with him and results of the head scan she had a few weeks ago.

[CLKD]

The body over-all fascinates me.  I wish that I were cleverer and could retain what I read so that I felt more 'learned'.  >sigh<.  Thank goodness we are a Mine of Info on here  .

I joined an e-mail research group regarding dementia care but can't remember where I read about it or ……….. they are supposed to send e-mail up-dates so will need to take more notes once the next one arrives.

[Taz2]

It affects different people in different ways I think. My mum lost her ability to speak and read but kept her healthy appetite. She had to have her food mashed up and liquidised as she eventually forgot how to chew but she still loved her food. She developed the condition as a complication of diabetes. I have a step brother (same mum) who is also now in a home with vascular dementia and he also developed diabetes in his fifties just like my mum

Taz x

[CLKD]

Is that why the various types of the condition are 'slapped' together under one umbrella?

[Pennyfarthing]

I think my mum was diagnosed with vascular dementia based on PET- MRI results. One of her most striking symptoms was the so called sundowning (or sundowners) syndrome, every single day at sunset she would become restless, angry, desperate and sad, all at the same time, very distressing and hearbreaking. 

That's interesting.  I always ring my mum every night at 8 unless I'm going out and I ring earlier. Tonight I rang at 7 as I wanted to watch Strictly.  She usually goes to bed about 8.30 or 9 but tonight she said she was already in bed at 7 as she was really tired. She sounded really fed up and didn't really want to talk. I asked her what she had for lunch and she said she'd had a sausage roll which is not like her at all. She ate everything we put in front of her Fri/sat when she was here.

[bramble]

One needs to remember that a diagnose of Alzheimers can only be made at post mortam.   

[/size][/color]

Not true. My friend has been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimers just recently and I have done a huge amount of reading up on it. I now feel like a walking encyclopedia. I know far more now than I ever wanted to know. Have spent a huge amount of time in the last month or so finding/sorting help for her. It is an insidious disease and I know things will only get worse. Next step now is setting up POAs.
There are only 4 types of common dementia - Alzheimers, vascular dementia, fronto-temporal dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies.

Bramble

[Pennyfarthing]

One needs to remember that a diagnose of Alzheimers can only be made at post mortam.   

[/size][/color]

Not true. My friend has been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimers just recently and I have done a huge amount of reading up on it. I now feel like a walking encyclopedia. I know far more now than I ever wanted to know. Have spent a huge amount of time in the last month or so finding/sorting help for her. It is an insidious disease and I know things will only get worse. Next step now is setting up POAs.
There are only 4 types of common dementia - Alzheimers, vascular dementia, fronto-temporal dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies.

Bramble

As I thought Bramble, which is why I queried CLKDs post.  I haven't started reading up on it yet but as I said in my earlier post the doctor who tested Mum said that's what it was and that was good enough for me having sat there for 1.5 hrs watching him test her etc. He has specialised in psycho geriatric work for years and came out to us froma large hospital.

[Taz2]

PF - I found the Alzhemiers Society were really helpful. It is unusual for a GP to give a firm diagnosis of Alzheimers without further testing but, as you say, he is experienced. There is info here about the current diagnosis procedure to help differentiate between Vascular and Alzheimers https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php'documentID=260

Funnily enough we have just lost a friend to alzheimers - misdiagnosed as vascular in the early stages. His proper diagnosis only happened once he had to be sectioned due to paranoia. It is a very complicated field of medicine.

Taz x

[Pennyfarthing]

PF - I found the Alzhemiers Society were really helpful. It is unusual for a GP to give a firm diagnosis of Alzheimers without further testing but, as you say, he is experienced. There is info here about the current diagnosis procedure to help differentiate between Vascular and Alzheimers https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php'documentID=260

Funnily enough we have just lost a friend to alzheimers - misdiagnosed as vascular in the early stages. His proper diagnosis only happened once he had to be sectioned due to paranoia. It is a very complicated field of medicine.

Taz x

Thanks.  It wasn't the GP who diagnosed her. Her GP examined her, talked to her and then referred her to hospital for a brain scan and after the results of that, for a psycho-geriatric assessment. 

[bramble]

The dementia journey can be long or short. It affects individuals differently. The CPN told my friend she wouldn't die from Alzheimers but from what I have read, I am not convinced of that. The one thing that is clear, is that the earlier it is diagnosed, the quicker that journey is.
Bramble

[Pennyfarthing]

Different woman tonight, my Mum!  Chirpy and chatty. She says she has told my brothers about her diagnosis. We discussed homecare and she has agreed for me to set it in motion. By coincidence when I dropped her off on Saturday some careworkers were just leaving the elderly man who lives opposite her. I recognised one of them and she gave me her managers number.

I also rang the elderly mans daughter (we grew up together) and she can't speak highly enough of them and they have been marvellous with her Dad who is now on end of life care and has been having them for months.  So I'm happy with that. Social services couldn't find anybody in mums area and we've waited a couple of months at least so we are doing it privately.