General Chat

Anyone hav any questions, queries or just need support to do with dementia/Alzheimers

Am I right in saying that Alzheimers is named after a doctor of that name who specialised in the illness that now bears his name ?

Yes Alois Alzheimer

In the year 2001 a friend of mine, an elderly gentleman who was a tailor and ran his own business, died after 3 years in a nursing home.

i presume he had dementia/alzheimers then

my dad was diagnosed with vascular dementia back in march. He has good days and bad days, he crys a lot and has days when he is back in the past. Its a cruel disease, but he still has a good sence of humour.

Yes,

He made suits and up to a very senior age he could hand make them on his premesis.

I made his aquaintance through using his tailoring skills for repairs and alterations over a number of years.

He gradually became ill and over the months it worsened, until his family sold the business.

Eventually he had to be assessed in a hospital and eventually he was put in a nursing home.

Hi Sue...We have quite a few people who live where I work that have vascular dementia! With the majority of these people their dementia was brought on by having had a stroke! is that the case with your dad? You are right.........it is a cruel disease

Bev x

Hi Bev, luckily, my dad has not had a stroke. Its just the pipes in his head that are furred up, no medication available except blood pressure pills which keep the blood flowing. He was so active when we were kids and now he just sits in his chair all day. He will be 80 next year and he likes to remind us of that, bless him!

i didn't know whether this site would be a good idea but i think it might be a good support site hope everyone feels the same, i've been down tonight and feel better that i have hopefully have done something where people can support each other

Bambino x

Bambino
I definately think its a good idea, its good to know that other people are out there maybe going through similar circumstances and we can support eachother in times of need..big (((hugs))) to all that need one!
sue x

Yes i agree it is nice to know theres others out there who have either personal or professional involvement working with individuals with dementia

Hiya Bambino and sueby doo.
I am glad to see this, my Mum recently diagnosed too and I am finding it hard to watch.tearing me apart. We don't know what is true or made up with her any more.She comes out with some cracking stories.
And she thinks she's taken her tablets, yet for the third week she hasn't. I ring her everyday and the warden calls in but she tells us she has taken them.
Any advice on how to handle that.
Tricia

Hi Tricia
We didnt realise that my dad had not been taking his blood pressure tablets for 6 months, he had been hiding them, we contacted social services via the doctor and they have been great. we have carers coming in every day who give out the medication and we also keep it in a locked box so only they have access to it.Dont try to deal with it on your own because it makes you feel that you are telling them off all the time. Thats what the sevices are there for.
Sue x

There are some good assistive technolgy aids available now look on the internet - i think there is one that you put medication in i'll find out the website and let you now. Even though you don't know whether mum is telling you the truth it is her reality and you have to learn to see things from a dementia persons point of view. She is still your mum she just see things differently to the rest of us.

bambino X

Hi sueby,
Yes I got her to specialist in March then again August now she sees him Dec 17th.He is thinking of giving her some sort of tablets then.
Social services woman came when she was having a good day and has closed the case! She needs to visit more and catch her on a bad day.She wanted to turn the electric cooker off so Mum could only use the microwave.
I only found out she had closed the case when I rang the other day to see what was happening.

Tom Kitwood has produced some good books that may help you understand more, amazon is a good place to get these.

LWD

you will find that happens quite a lot but keep perservering with everyone and remember we're all here to support you

Hi Bambino, yes I've been given one by him Dementia Reconsidered the person comes first.Looks like a long hard read ahead of me.

Tricia
If it is worrying you, then i would persist, it obviously is not working if you have to keep reminding your mum to take the tablets. We had to push it a few times...eventually we got my dad a head scan which showed up the vascular dementia..my dad was very good in blagging his way through an interview but if you are still worried, keep pushing, it lifts the pressure a little and also my dad looks forward to seeing the carers each day, he likes a chat!!