When someone w/dementia experiences a traumatic brain injury (TBI)

Posted by purple6942 @purple6942, Mar 9, 2020

I am wondering in a person in their 80s with progressive dementia/alzheimers can ever recover from a pretty significant brain injury. ??

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Caregivers: Dementia Support Group.

To be honest... I do not know.
What to you mean by recovery? Regaining all abilities?
We hear of unexpected healings.
Never give up hope.

Do the best you can. Expect failures. Expect successes.
Live every day. We have all heard of unexpected recoveries, improvements.

We also have heard .. and seen people, relatives who lived full lives, living with sorrows, handicaps , poor health....and yet they brought great joy to us.

The children I taught had specials needs and filled me with joy, pure love 💕. I learned so much from them. They had many “handicaps” but they exuded love and taught me so much. I have letters from these students and some parents. I treasure them.
Perhaps you would like to write your life story, tell it to someone who can make a booklet to pass on to your loved ones.

Be the best you, where you are now.
I have to remind myself of that often!:
How do you want to be remembered?

God bless you.

REPLY

Hello @purple6942 and welcome to Mayo Connect,

Are you inquiring about TBI with dementia for a family member? I'm just wondering if you could provide a bit more information so that Connect members can respond more appropriately. For example, when was the TBI? Was it before or after the dementia was diagnosed? Has there been any cognitive, physical or occupational therapy?

I look forward to hearing from you. Will you post again?

REPLY

Hi, @purple6942 - I wanted to add my welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I'm confident members here would love to offer any information they can from their own experiences with traumatic brain injury and dementia (or the case of a loved one), as well as support you in any way possible. Like @hopeful33250, it would be helpful to know a bit more about the background with the brain injury (what happened, when a TBI diagnosis was made) and whom it affects, if you are comfortable sharing?

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@lisalucier

Hi, @purple6942 - I wanted to add my welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I'm confident members here would love to offer any information they can from their own experiences with traumatic brain injury and dementia (or the case of a loved one), as well as support you in any way possible. Like @hopeful33250, it would be helpful to know a bit more about the background with the brain injury (what happened, when a TBI diagnosis was made) and whom it affects, if you are comfortable sharing?

Jump to this post

My dad was diagnosed with dementia 5 years ago and has progressively gotten worse. He does not recognize some of his own children. He fell back and hit his head this last Saturday. Some family members feel it is close to his time but I feel my mom is hopeful

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@helenfrances

To be honest... I do not know.
What to you mean by recovery? Regaining all abilities?
We hear of unexpected healings.
Never give up hope.

Do the best you can. Expect failures. Expect successes.
Live every day. We have all heard of unexpected recoveries, improvements.

We also have heard .. and seen people, relatives who lived full lives, living with sorrows, handicaps , poor health....and yet they brought great joy to us.

The children I taught had specials needs and filled me with joy, pure love 💕. I learned so much from them. They had many “handicaps” but they exuded love and taught me so much. I have letters from these students and some parents. I treasure them.
Perhaps you would like to write your life story, tell it to someone who can make a booklet to pass on to your loved ones.

Be the best you, where you are now.
I have to remind myself of that often!:
How do you want to be remembered?

God bless you.

Jump to this post

Thank you!❤
I want to believe in miracles, I've seen them with both my kids. It sucks cuz I am soo far away.

REPLY
@purple6942

My dad was diagnosed with dementia 5 years ago and has progressively gotten worse. He does not recognize some of his own children. He fell back and hit his head this last Saturday. Some family members feel it is close to his time but I feel my mom is hopeful

Jump to this post

Your concern for your mom and dad is understandable, @purple6942, especially since you do not live close by. I'm sorry to hear about your dad's fall. When elderly people begin to fall it can be difficult to regain strength.

Was your dad taken to see a doctor after this fall? Were any scans done to determine the possibility of a concussion or other brain damage?

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@hopeful33250

Your concern for your mom and dad is understandable, @purple6942, especially since you do not live close by. I'm sorry to hear about your dad's fall. When elderly people begin to fall it can be difficult to regain strength.

Was your dad taken to see a doctor after this fall? Were any scans done to determine the possibility of a concussion or other brain damage?

Jump to this post

Thank you, yes he was unconscious for about 5 minutes so he was taken by ambulance. I am unsure if it was a brain bleed or bleeding between the skull and brain. He is still in the hospital. He needs 2 people to help him walk and he speaks but it is noncomprehendable.
I have a call into the Dr, I hope he does call. ???

REPLY

@purple6942 I hope you are able to talk with his doctor so you can get a clearer picture of your dad's condition. Are there other family members available to assist your mom and dad?
I look forward to your posting again.

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@hopeful33250

@purple6942 I hope you are able to talk with his doctor so you can get a clearer picture of your dad's condition. Are there other family members available to assist your mom and dad?
I look forward to your posting again.

Jump to this post

The Dr did not call 😔
I have 3 sisters and 2 brothers that live closer! They have been rotating staying with mom.
Mom wants us to come home. Not sure how much longer he has.

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@purple6942

The Dr did not call 😔
I have 3 sisters and 2 brothers that live closer! They have been rotating staying with mom.
Mom wants us to come home. Not sure how much longer he has.

Jump to this post

You might try leaving another message for the doctor, @purple6942. In the meantime, have you been able to talk with a nurse on the floor where your dad is? Often nurses will gladly explain to family members test results even though they might not give a diagnosis. You might try that rather than staying in the dark about your dad's condition.

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