So glad to have found Connect and Dementia Caregivers!

@bookjockey - You are most welcome to our Connect community. We are all patients helping other patients, and any help is welcome. You and your sister have your arms full. Make sure that you take care of yourselves too!

Merry

Thank you, Merry! We are fortunate that we are both on the same page with the caregiving aspect. Losing both to fast moving, wicked neurological diseases is not what we expected. It is not what we would have asked for, but it is what we were given. Mom’s foresight to get long-term care insurance has allowed my sister and me to get more in-home help which allows us more opportunity to be their daughters, and more time to care for ourselves.

Help is what is needed, more so than what people expect. I was my husband's only caretaker but I knew that I wouldn't last much longer doing it myself. This disease takes a huge chunk out of the family and major caretaker.

Being a caregiver is not a pleasant task for sure ! It does take a toll physically on the caregiver and emotionally on both parties . My wife has suffered from dementia about 3 years ( with uncontrollable bowels) for about 10 to 12 months now . She is 77 and I,( her husband) am 79 . We have been together for 60 years married and 2 years dating . GOD has blessed me with the physical and mental strength to do what needs to be done! My most important prayer ,is that I will outlive her so that I can be here for her . My everyday tasks are : nurse..maid .. cook.. bookkeeper.. secretary ( phone answerer ) in one way or another. It does get physically challenging at times as well as emotionally! I find myself getting impatient at times , when that happens i mentally boot myself in the butt and remind myself, that it is not her fault ! It does take an emotional toll on her as well . She sometimes cries because of what I have to do to help her and keep things going ! Remember caregivers , they are feeling the pain of all of this too ! From all that I have been able to research on the subject, it doesn’t seem as any med helps ! We have tried turmeric (did nothing) , lion’s mane mushroom supplements ( also nothing ) . This best advice seemed to be for us to eat certain seafood at least twice a week ( or more ) . Tuna , salmon ,haddock, and a few others are best , and try to get the .... Wild caught variety ! Keep a stiff upper lip LOL !

To Slysi
My wife had the same problem with her bowels, then she went to a Pelvic Floor physical therapist. If you can find one, it will make a world of difference for your wife (and you). My wife continues to do her pelvic floor exercises and it makes a world of difference 👍

Thanks 🙏 I will look into that! So is your wife having better control over when she moves her bowels? You won’t embarrass me ( or you ) lol , so can you give me more specifics?

the PT worked with her and what ever the exercises are that my wife learned, worked. No more soiled pants.

Thanks ! We are in the process of getting hooked up therapist now! We have to get referred and are working on that . I do appreciate your posting that info !

We got hooked up! She has an appointment in about 3 weeks ! Again, thanks for the info!

I am wondering if and what type medication any of you caregivers are giving for your loved one with Alzheimers that are in mid to late stage. We recently took mom of Donepezil as the doc said it was more for early onset and they had a different med for more mid stage and to see if it was the cause of some ongoing stomach issues - it was not. While she said neither was a cure but to slow down the progress, I figure why not. So can anyone share meds or anything they are giving their mid to their mid to late mid late stage Alzheimer sufferer.