Mild global volume loss, now it is mild intracranial atrophy

Just some random thoughts from an old R.N. and dementia care partner. Some loss of brain tissue and volume is normal as we age. That is why blows to the head are so dangerous for older people especially if they are on blood thinners. When the head receives a blow the brain "bounces" more inside the skull because there is now more room and blood vessels tear, bleed and that blood takes up space in a rigid skull putting pressure on the brain. My husband fell out of bed, hit his head, was knocked unconscious and spent four days in the Neuro Intensive Care with a brain bleed this last May. Falling is not uncommon at some point in dementia (brain failure) because the area of the brain that tells your body where you are in space deteriorates as well as your sight. He has also fallen and cracked a rib, and broken one of his vertebrae. I was surprised to learn from my dementia care partner courses that dementia patients eventually develop binocular vision i.e. they lose peripheral vision. That probably accounts for at least one of my husband's past car accidents. He no longer drives.
I heartily agree with what "memories to moments" says about finding out what your husband can still do and work with those skills and make the necessary adjustments for what he is no longer capable of doing/perceiving. This is one of the main recommendations of the Positive Approach to Caregiving curriculum. I think what is most helpful to both the person with dementia and his care partner is to learn as much as you can about dementia (all types). I highly recommend Teepa Snow's Positive Approach (Teepa Snow.com) Caregiving Champion Courses (4). I still get supportive emails with short video lessons to help. The last one was about our need to "correct" the dementia patient when something said is incorrect. Not useful to either of you.
It was so helpful to me to research what I am dealing with now ( knowledge is power) in his late mid stage dementia and what I would likely be dealing with going forward. The courses are available live online with the ability to ask questions of the instructors. There is a cost but to me it has been absolutely worth it for my sanity and taking care of myself. I like that it addresses our feelings such as fear of the unknown, loss of the life we thought we were going to have, anxiety, the ambiguous grieving of loss of the person we love-"he's there but he's not there"-that we care partners will experience, how to recognize them and tips for dealing with them. I hope you keep posting here. It is a safe place to share what you are dealing with and in my experience get some heartfelt support and advice that may work for you and your situation. May God give you the strength and courage to forge ahead. Hugs to you and your husband.

Thank you so much for sharing your story in such detail. Here at the beginning of the journey with my husband, I know that things are unpredictable, but I am interested in the usual timing of progression (if there IS any usual—really unpredictable) and how people handled the progression, and so I appreciated your story. There is a lot of fear here at the beginning as life plans get shaken up, so I particularly appreciated your comment about “adapting to a new life.” It sounds as if you have navigated your journey well. I am glad you are getting real rest and that your husband is safe and cared for.