Can anyone advise me on caring for a parent with dementia?

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I am trying to care for my mother. She is in early stages of dementia, and becoming fairly difficult. The doctor, the counselor, and all my family members want me to put her in the nursing home. It tears my heart out to do this. I want to keep her home, but my family think I am crazy. Any input would be appreciated.
Can I tell you the honest truth?? I took care of my grandmother for almost a year. I was with her from the day she got diagnosed to the day we had to take her to the nursing home. She was MISERABLE at home! She had to be controlled and she was startin to lose her undestanding of things but was still sane enough to know she was being controlled and she was also aware that she was losing grip with reality. This really bothered her. It got to a point where we had to watch hr 24 hrs a day. I would go in the morning my sister in the after noon my dad for 1/2 the night and my mom the other half. You cannot let this control YOUR life! My grandmother is happier than ever now that she is in a nursing home (make sure they have an alzheimers unit) she has her room and can walk around and watch tv and do activities! I visit her every weekend and now she no longer recognizes me. BUT I STILL RECOGNIZE HER!
Please I know this is hard for you!! But it is the best for you and your mother that she be in good care before this consumes your life like it did my family's life!
God Bless you and all of luck!  (+ info)

Are they using the terms dementia and Alzheimers interchangeably these days?

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When I studied 20 years ago, Alzheimers was a brain disease which was one cause of dementia and could have an early onset. Now the terms seem to be synonyms. Please answer only if you are a professional and work in health care.
Sharon,

They might be used as synonyms by some, but that is not accurate. They are different.

Short answer - dementia is a cluster of symptoms. Alzheimers is a disease. ( which may show some of the cluster of dementia symptoms.)

Dementia is a word for a group of symptoms caused by disorders that affect the brain. It is not a specific disease. People with dementia may not be able to think well enough to do normal activities, such as getting dressed or eating. They may lose their ability to solve problems or control their emotions. Their personalities may change. They may become agitated or see things that are not there.

Memory loss is a common symptom of dementia. However, memory loss by itself does not mean you have dementia. People with dementia have serious problems with two or more brain functions, such as memory and language.

Many different diseases can cause dementia, including Alzheimer's disease and stroke.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia among older people. Dementia is a brain disorder that seriously affects a person's ability to carry out daily activities.

AD begins slowly. It first involves the parts of the brain that control thought, memory and language. People with AD may have trouble remembering things that happened recently or names of people they know. Over time, symptoms get worse. People may not recognize family members or have trouble speaking, reading or writing. They may forget how to brush their teeth or comb their hair. Later on, they may become anxious or aggressive, or wander away from home. Eventually, they need total care. This can cause great stress for family members who must care for them.  (+ info)

how do I get paid for taking care of a dementia patient in a wheelchair in her home?

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I will be living with as a room mate with a 44 year old women with dementia . She receives SSI payments, and medi-cal health care.
I'm not able to find on the web any reference to a care giver receiving any financial compensation for this 24/7 work.
She has to apply with Medi-Cal for In-Home Support Services, be approved, and then they arrange in-home care for her. You can find out at that point if you are eligible to be her caregiver under that program or not. However, my guess is you have to be Medi-Cal certified and they can also tell you how to become such.  (+ info)

What is the psychiatric term to define making movements and gestures with your hands, as seen in dementia?

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Often seen in Alzheimer's dementia patients, when they interact with objects that aren't really there. It's a very specific term used only in psych... and it's driving me crazy that I can't remember it! Please help.
Tardif diskenesia? (sp)  (+ info)

What is the exact name of the test that clinical psychologist or psychiatrist would use to diagnose dementia?

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What is the exact name of the test or tests that a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist would use to diagnose dementia or Alzheimer's disease?
uhhhh...... pie?? *srry if im not any help... when i saw this question im just like "MY BRAIN HURTS!" I dont like big words... they just confuse me even more! lol*  (+ info)

where is a support group for caregivers of dementia parents?

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I take care of my elderly father who has dementia. Lately things have been getting very stressful for me and I am looking for a support group that I can talk to and get some help in dealing with this. I live in Chicago Heights, IL which is about 30 miles south of Chicago.I would appreciate any help and advice on this matter. Thank you in advance!
I took care of my mother in law for several years and live in a area where there was no support group. There is a good one online at MSN, but I noticed they are closing their groups down in 2009. The online message board system is great because as a caregiver you can't always get out of the house.
If you have not found it yet a great resource is a book called the 36 hour day.  (+ info)

Does anyone have any suggestions for activities that a dementia patient can do?

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My father has had dementia for about 3 years. He gets soooooo bored over the winter. Anybody know of activities he could do? Thanks!
Depending on how severe your parent’s dementia is or their stage of dementia, activities can vary; however, designing activities that involve their past interests are of the utmost importance. Did your dad like to tinker around the house? His ability may not be what it once was, but try giving him a small (and safe) task that he is able to accomplish (either independently or with your help) will create a sense of purpose for them. Make it something that's a meaningful activity, rather than something to just pass the time.

I am the editor of a website called AgingCare.com and it has lots of information on dementia. You can read the article that I am referring to at: http://www.agingcare.com/137087  (+ info)

How can I clean my wifes teeth when she has Dementia?

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How do you clean someons teeth when they have Dementia and can't do it themsleves and won't let you do it for them, need to keep bacteria down in the mouth.
wait until she is asleep as the mouth will be relaxed, just use a dry brush and a tiny ammount of tooth paste to limit foaming.Ask your dentist for a prescription for 'duraphat 5000' tooth paste as its high in fluoride and will hopefully limit any risk of tooth decay. hope this helps.
Good luck and well done for the care and attention you are giving her.As a dental hygienist i see many adults with mental health problems and their mouths are totally neglected.  (+ info)

Do you have any advice for create a safe environment for my mom in early-staged Dementia?

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I believe my mom may have Dementia or even Alzheimers and are coming to terms with it.... Does anyone have any advice from personal or professional experience? She will move into a retirement home this week and I need to assist...
Thank you very much for all the answers so far - I believe the retirement place I found is safe and secure, but she still stays on her own at the apartment. Any ideas in terms of her latest fear for falling or bathing?
Contact The Alzheimer's Disease Association, they can help with these questions.  (+ info)

Can you suggest to someone they may suffer dementia?

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How do you approach a relative or loved one, and help them get help for dementia? When I mention it to my mother, she explodes at me, with frightening anger. But joke, or no joke, is her anger coming from fear? Lately she has been ringing up people, making complaints, also in public, in supermarkets - also displaying anger at people, at her activities, losing track of money, and things, when shopping. However when I bring up the subject of dementia, she threatens me that I should leave home, rather than even question her behaviours.
My husband is quite a bit older than I, he also has Churg-Strauss Syndrome, and he often displays signs of dementia. Sometimes getting lost when in the grocery store, sometimes not remembering conversations we had five minutes earlier.

Sometimes arguing with me about why he needs to take so many medicines and am I trying to kill him! This particular incident was followed by him screaming for 45 minutes about everything I've ever done wrong. Yikes!

Just yesterday, I came home from the grocery store and put away $600 worth of groceries with his help. Afterward, I went down into my shop to work on one of my projects, when I came up he was getting dressed to go to the grocery store to buy food because I never buy any. All sound like signs of dementia, right?

Wrong. Different illnesses effect your ability to concentrate, and some medicines alter your thought process. He takes a steroid called prednisone, which alters his mental state and makes him combative. He also takes some pain medicines to deal with some neuropathy pain. All of which effect how he perceives his world.

My suggestion to you is to educate yourself on the medicines she currently takes and the side effects of them. This is most likely where the problem lies. Depending on her age.  (+ info)

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