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@brightwings

@secretwhitepop,
My mom developed alzeimers disease not long after we got off the cruise. I admit, I missed a few signs while on the ship but I was there as a daughter, not a nurse...I thought it was forgetfulness.
Now what I am going to say is absolute truth for most folks with Alzheimer's. They do not seem to realize what they have lost. I have seen this over and over again.
This disease is harder on family than the person with the disease.
Wishing to share comfort with you, Bright Wings.

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Replies to "@secretwhitepop, My mom developed alzeimers disease not long after we got off the cruise. I admit,..."

Thank you, that helps. One of the places we visited yesterday had a staff with very very little turn over. And the lady who was basically “everything” there but her official title was head of housekeeping, she gave me and my brother the greatest hug! She says she hugs everyone every morning. The place was not the prettiest, but the staff was amazing. Really cares about the folks and my brother and I. Knowing my mom is ever suffering for one minute is awful! And yes, before my daughter was baptized in 2012, mom “forgot” she was going to babysit while my husband and I went to a class. Didn’t even think it could be the “beginning” but mom never “blitzed” like that. And there are many more examples.

Thank you for your post!

@brightwings- You must be devastated about your mom's diagnosis. Please don't blame yourself for missing some early signs. This is very normal because as we get older somethings just slips by us. The loss is definitely more devastating for people who do remember.
This group might be of interest to you about your mom, and what you are going through. My mom had Parkinson Disease and she lost her short term memory and then most of her past.
I think that you might be able to get a lot out of this group : https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/eoalzheimers/?orderby=DESC#chv4-comment-stream-header
How are your withdrawal symptoms now that you are home and dealing with your mom?

Yes, there are some folks who are aware of what they have lost and those cases are heartbreaking. Also, the folks who experience extreme agitation are heartbreaking.....remember, I have not worked as a nurse since 1992....So my experience working with folks ended there.
I am good with my mom's diagnosis. She passed in 2010. Writing here and on the MS thread is about all I can handle right now and I am wise enough to know this.....Bright Wings