Support Group for Those of Us Living With Mild Dementia

Your artwork is wonderful. Especially like the "animals". Am 83 and helping my MCI dh and special needs dtr. In many ways, they are alike.

I just saw a new free offering from McMaster Optimal Aging Portal that I thought might be helpful for some here.
Micro-learning email series on dementia risk reduction, anxiety disorders, and depression. Learn something new in just a few minutes each week with our free email-based micro-learning series.
- https://www.mcmasteroptimalaging.org/e-learning/micro-learning

@bigphyl absolutely!
I’m in a quandary right now. I’m not really wanting to do anything but I have a family gathering planned next month and I am anxious for the house to look nice.
However, I’m stuck mentally and physically too.
This is causing me a lot of stress!

Hi, I'll be 82 in a few weeks. My problem is ongoing cognitive difficulties associated with long Covid, for 9 months now. At its worst, I mix up dates and times for appointments, mis-read instructions, make the same purchases 2 and 3 times, or run out of pantry items because I've looked at, say, tuna and it registered as salmon. I've forgotten food in the oven and clothes in the washer for days. I'm not safe to drive a car. In my bad spells, it happens up to 20 times a day; on good days, its only 4-5 a day. It's worse when I'm fatigued and better when I take hourly "brain breaks". While I this isn't dementia, and I seem to be improving very slowly in general, it's going to go on for a long time and there's no guarantee it will ever be gone completely. I would greatly benefit from learning coping skills from others.

I’m afraid that I am having some dementia issues and I’m a nervous wreck about it. My daughter (who I live with) doesn’t think I have dementia but I feel like I have signs of it. I’m off and on forgetful regarding names of people I used to remember easily and I also forget occasionally to get my laundry out of the dryer. These issues are periodic but scare me to bits. I’m not even sure what brand of doctor to see about this problem.

I also am starting to forget words at 72. If my husband says the word I am thinking of, I recognize it as the word i was trying to remember. My Dad died from dementia at 87. My Mom did not have this problem. I am very frightened. I pass the Medicare test every year (clock, 3 words) but still have to say the words over & over in my head. I just feel "spacey" and like I am floating in a cloud. Menopause or Alzheimer's?

Two years ago I told my doctor that I just didn’t feel like myself mentally. He told me to go to my neurologist.
I had MRI, EEG, and a 4 hour neuropsychologist administered test.
I was diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Over the last two years I’ve noticed other things happening. I’m in the middle of testing again.
They said my brain has shrunk more, and now I have Ataxia.

If I were you, I would get tested so you can get treatment ASAP.

@johnnoregon
I am the original poster here. My request for a separate Group has not yet been answered by
Mayo Connection.
So all we have now is my suggestion and responses from others.

I have recently been diagnosed in the early stage of progressive Alzheimer's. Forgetting names and words that I should know - sometimes they come to me later. I find myself doing routine things out of my usual order. Sometimes just feeling a bit "off." It's scary to think about how this will progress. I am doing everything I can to stay active physically and mentally. My biggest concern is how this will affect my family. The last thing I want to do is be a burden to them. My faith in God is what keeps me from being completely overwhelmed. I know God will be with me and He will watch over my family, too. God bless all of you who are dealing with this. Miss Patty

Thank you for your words of support, Scott. My children are older, 2 live out of state, but the other 3 do take the time to see their dad, have breakfast with him, conversations and he is even visiting one of the children for 6 days out of state, so I'm certain that she will get an eye-full. I didn't mean to make it sound like they don't bother, it's just that they don't live with us and they have their own jobs, children to raise. In fact they are all great kids.

My feeling alone is because I am home all day alone with him so I'm dealing with the day-to-day activities and MCI behaviors, and it's exhausting and sad at the same time. We have been married for 27 years and have had a very good marriage. It's worrisome to me as to what is going to happen to him and myself. He is a young 71 year old man. Very bright, well-read, fit and we eat healthy.

Do you know of a support group in Rockland/Westchester/NJ counties that helps support spouses with MCI and in similar situations? I feel I need to do this. I've been dealing with his MCI for 3 or 4 years and it's progressing. He does have a good friend that he sees for lunch and has no problem driving or getting lost on the roads. . But he does lose his phone, glasses, wallet, keys, sunglasses, hat, on and off and we have to search to find them (sometimes for hours). Sometimes we don't. I gave him a neck purse to wear, which he did for a while. Thank you.