Support Group for Those of Us Living With Mild Dementia

I think this is an excellent idea. You can see it coming at you like a train down the tracks...if you are aware and have dealt with it before. I am. I cared for my mom who died at 72 after 10 years of early onset Alzheimer's, and for my younger brother who had AIDS-related dementia before his death. Also looked after my father who died at 88 and stepmom who passed at 86 and both had age-related issues. So, now I'm 77 and seeing some of the early signs.

Would be nice to have someone to talk to.

Hi @SusanEllen66, thank you for starting this discussion group in the Aging Well group. This is the perfect start. I'd like to invite fellow members @larryh123 @pnutcline @mountainsueh @amesmassage @psvantx @cathy514 @carolee888 @Freckled1 @heidiruth to join you here.

Susan, I can imagine that it's frightening to think about the future as you notice changes. What changes have you been noticing?

Hi @jackchap, welcome. What early signs are you noticing and how do you manage them?

From Heidiruth…I would like to follow the Well Support GroupHow do I join?

I’m back with you if only briefly. I fell in June and spent weeks in Madison’s rehabiliton Hospital. As of August Issa gimpy, stiff,sore and had a great deal of pain—back,right hip, right leg. cannot walk w/o rolater, can’t reach floor or do housework.AS OFAug 28, needed to move to assisted living facility. Let me join group?

Welcome, @heidiruth. Just by posting here, you've joined the group along with @jackchap and @SusanEllen66 so far.

I'm sorry to hear about your fall and ongoing stiffness and pain. Are you still doing physiotherapy to help?

Thanks for the reply.I’m kind of in limbo here. The rehab hospital was wonderfully helpful,:and they scheduled pt and ot visits at my apartment for 2 or 3 weeks but I’m getting more stiff and sore anddiscouraged..I will meet my new parttnership team tomorrow to learn howto get all new doctors now that I moved out of Dane County. That includes a primary physician and two necessary specialties: cornea and asthma, and now a good rehab doc and facility near zHudson WI where I just moved for assisted living help. I went to Madison’s Aging & Disability Resource Center who set up the Partnership program, an excellent resource for people like me on Medicaid.

@colleenyoung
Thank you Colleen, About 2 years ago I was diagnosed with MCI via the 4 hour memory test, and an MRI.

Over the past few months I’ve been having trouble with my usual organizational skills. I used to do my housecleaning, and laundry on schedules. I found it helpful and did it that way for many years.
Now, I have no idea what day I did what the week before. The crazy thing is that I don’t care. That is not at all like me!
My house was always company ready. Always. Now, not so much and my attitude towards it has changed.

The Brain MRI was done 2 years ago. I didn’t look at the results until last week. I have moderate atrophy, and generalized micro vascular ischemic disease.
The fluid filled areas are getting larger.

I have been under a lot of stress lately because I was just diagnosed with severe polyneuropathy. I have an appointment with my neurologist in a few weeks and I will bring this issue up with him.

I hit 79 last June and am slightly forgetting names of commonalities like our LOCAL SUPERMARKET. Will hit the internet to see if there is anything that can be done to slow this process down...and get back to you and the group that you are forming. GOOD FOR YOU and GOD BLESS...MargaretOB

REVIEW SCOUT on the computer has a guy who spent his life finding ootropics to help with the forgetfulness problems. He found the fakes and the best and listed them. ANOTHER SITE said that taking a probiotic daily will help as the stomach is somehow connected. to the nerves in the BRAIN. READING opens up the memory bank for more excercise and memory. One site says that repeating the forgotten item ten times will help. WILL TRY IT ALL...MargaretOB

Early signs:

--Big time frustration with tech...new computer printer and either the instructions are designed for a prescient alien or I'm just not following...in four languages, and a You Tube video. Other stuff like that as well;

--Forgetting fun facts to know and tell...like my ladyfriend's address;

--Over reliance on the GPS to go places I've been a dozen times before;

--Names;

--And, spelling...although I never was a good speller. Nice trait for a guy who made his living writing.