My dad has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer. I know there is a plethera of information out there, but I'm looking for some good websites/books that I can reference instead of having to sort through them all. Can anyone recommend any that they found particularly useful/insightful? Also - any advice on things that helped with their parent/relative? Thanks so much!
My mom passed away do to Alzheimer's last year . The book I found very helpful was called the 36 hour day. The firstbpart talks about the medical testing . The rest is dealing with emotions that the person is going thur.
How fortunate that you got an early diagnosis. We we not so fortunate with my mothers, she is now between the 6 & 7th stages. So, now is the time to sit down with your father and plan for the inevitable. I know that it is not what anyone wants to think about when it comes to loved ones. Here is a few of the things that need to be addressed. Power of Attorney, a living will, a regular will. The power of attorney is needed for you to be able to sign documents on your fathers behalf, as well as make decisions regarding his financial and physical needs. If your father has substantial monetary holdings, the easiest thing to do would be to move them into one of his childrens names. At some point when he requires in home assistance or nursing home, his medicare will only cover some of the things if he cannot afford to do so. They will drain through his assets first then start kicking in. They will go back 5 years to check records regarding his holdings, so the sooner the better. As far as the disease goes, things don't usually get bad until the six stage and as you know it gets progressively worse. My mother lost the sense of needing to bathe herself almost two years ago. Now she doesn't know anyone, nor where she is at. I have both of my parents living with me. The average life expectancy from the time they are diagnosed is 10 years, depending on other health issues they may have. It has been a learning experience. When he gets to the angry/violent stage....... make sure he is safe where he is at, then leave the room for just a couple of minutes. In that short time he will have forgotten what he was mad about, and you can start over. It will be rough no doubt. But every now and then even at the late stage that my mother is in, something connects in her brain and she is back with us mentally. It is heartbreaking and sweet all at the same time. I recently had a 20 minute conversation with her during which she wanted to know what was wrong with her head. I explained it as simply and quickly as possible. She asked to have it fixed, we both cried when I told her they don't know how to fix it. Then she reached across the table and said "Oh honey you are doing too much". No mom, I'm just doing what any child should do, and I will continue to do it until GOD calls you home. She smiled then Poof her mind closed. Like I said it doesn't happen often nor does it last that long, but oh how sweet it is when it does. Good luck to you and blessings. If you need to talk or have any questions please feel free to contact me.
April