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which MD speciality would be best for a dementia patient?
Caregivers: Dementia | Last Active: Aug 29 6:04pm | Replies (21)Comment receiving replies
We live in Toronto Canada. My husband just turned 93 and is suffering from Alzheimer’s. I’m over 80, a cancer survivor with cardiac and other issues. I am also a retired trauma psychologist and the sole caregiver for my husband Long story short, I got a neurologist who specializes in dementia to take my husband on as a patient and initially she was seeing him every six months. We are now being transitioned over to once a year. He also saw two different geriantricians. They both said he could be followed by the neurologist or them, but not both. We stayed with the neurologist. His decline is slow and and he is still in the moderate range. Major issue is loss of memory both immediate and recent. Remote memory is starting to be lost as well. And he has difficulty with verbal comprehension. Finally, he feels safe and functions reasonably well at home. But is not comfortable outside our condo. My life is now confined to our condo, which is fine but after fours years has left me isolated. So sorry for the long introduction. Didn’t expect that. Just want to end with the blessing my LO and I have is that there is still love, support and laughter in our home, and here he will stay for as long as possible. Nice to meet everyone. Stay safe and well.
Replies to "We live in Toronto Canada. My husband just turned 93 and is suffering from Alzheimer’s. I’m..."
Bella, thank you for sharing. your current situation is what scares me because I know it's our future.
Dan
Similar situation here. I will be 80 in January, husband turns 93 in a couple of weeks. His short term memory is almost non-existent, but he is cheerful, loving, not abusive and has a great appetite! We have a neurologist whom we see every 6 months (or his Physical Assistant) and a geriatrician (or her Advanced Practice Nurse) whom we see on the other 6 month schedule, which means we are seeing someone every three months for a condition that can only be monitored, not cured. I prefer the geriatrician (and she spends 45 minutes with us) because I feel she is more holistic. Additionally, the practice has a social worker on staff whom you can call with questions and for support.
My husband developed hospital worthy UTIs twice in the past three months, one of which went to sepsis. I am inclined to transition to annually with the neurologist because I am realizing that he will not likely die from Alzheimer's, but rather, conditions that affect the very elderly.
The loss of memory as you say is the saddest, but he still remembers me and our sons. Our 5 grandchildren he mostly can bring up, but as the afternoon wears on, sundowning clouds his cognition and he can become more confused. I will keep him at home no matter what. He's still witty and happy to be alive. No country for old men, to be sure, but he's not ready to quit, so neither am I. Nor, it sounds, are you. Carry on bellabella1!
Thank you for sharing. We learn from each other. ❤️
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@bellabella1 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I’m glad that you felt comfortable enough to tell us your story.