Jojjo45, first let me say "Welcome!" We're all here to help each other. I'm glad that you have joined us, though not for the reason it was necessary. As to your problem, this is a new stage for you, and one a lot of us have been through. To make it easier on you, you need to begin to react like you would with a toddler. Store away all items of sentimental value or high value. They may get hidden from you never to resurface, or broken. Only have items that are large (harder for them to hide) and unbreakable out on tables and counters from this point on. It will save you a lot of grief and stress. And you still have to follow them, because they like to see what they can flush down the toilet. Overflowing toilets are commonplace during this stage. They overfill with toilet paper, the cardboard it comes on, sometimes soap, razors, etc.
Some have gotten the dispensable vibrating toothbrushes for them to carry around with them, because they seem to have to hold something in their hands.
This is a pull your hair out stage. I wish you well.
Welcome to Joan's website. I don't post much but I lurke and read. I do learn a lot from everyone. Glad you found us.
Mary.
My husband is also doing what JoJo's husband is doing. I have had many toilet overflows and things are constantly being moved. My husband is not incontinent but has to be prompted to use the restroom when not at home.his standard mini mental score is a 2 because of his loss of language. He recognizes family members and does not get lost in familiar places. He cannot follow any conversation and does not know what any objects are. If you were to put a number on this stage, would it be a 5?
Based upon the information, yes. Some of the stages overlap, and not everyone does everything in each stage. There is a comprehensive list of stages on Joan's home page so that you can read them. Also, the Frank Broyles booklet gives the basic outline of the stages, and it is free from the Alzheimer's Association (Sam's Club used to keep free copies at their pharmacies - I don't know if they still do). My husband has had aphysia (very few words can be spoken) for two years and has gone from stage 4 to stage 6. I am assuming that your husband can still dress and feed himself. If he can't, then he might be closer to stage 6. Can he still shampoo his hair and wash his hands without being reminded? Are there still household chores he can do? When he loses these abilities, then he's probably into stage 6. These stages have different abilities that are lost, and it's hard to tell exactly. And our spouses can stay in a stage for years - or weeks. Each case of AD is different and no two have exactly the same things in each stage.
...so focused on finding that link (they moved it) that I forgot to say hi, and welcome, jojjo45! (Tsk.)
Some AD patients may feel the need to touch things because they're having trouble with their vision. While their eyes may still function properly, the brain can sometimes fail to process the signals properly. It can "tell" the patient that the object is in a different place, or may not allow the patient to recognize the object at all. My husband has had trouble locating objects in space for several years now, and every now and then, hasn't a clue what he's looking at.
But his eyes (despite the huge cataracts) apparently function pretty well. He reads the ticker tape across the bottom of the TV screen during the news, and I have trouble seeing that. And a couple of days ago, he noticed a half-dozen tiny ants coming out from under the clothes dryer.
If you'd like to tell us more about yourself, there are some fun threads, "What are the age groups" and "Where are you from?"
My Mom always did a lot of touching things. Bake a pie and she had to touch it, cookies, whatever. Drove my husband nuts. I think she always did that to a certain extent. I will go through a fabric store and feel all the fabrics as I look. Having sewn all my life I love to feel fabrics and the way they drape. But I have no idea about firurines, and other "hard stuff". It may be their eyes.
DH just seems different to me. Can't put my finger on it. He wanders around the house with his hands folded. But will pick up all kinds of stuff and move it. I don't really care but I sure don't like to have to go looking for stuff when I need it. Doesn't talk much. He's having trouble remembering much of anything. Yet when we are out (church functions, etc.) he's very talkative and quite animated. But not a bit at home. He'll sit in a chair for a couple of hours and do nothing. He does not volunteer to do anything. If I ask him to take out the trash or recycle, i have to tell him which can to put it in. I can only give him one thing at a time. The cat knocked the TV Guide off the table. I asked him to pick it up. He got sore at me and said he wasn't here to wait in me or my cat. Go figure.
If I don't fix his meals, he will only eat cookies. I try to ration them. I buy him a small bottle of wine each week. He'll drink it up in one day. So I quit buying it. Then he asks why I didn't get it and I just say I forgot.
He can still separate and roll up the socks but that's about it.
I'm guessing he's in stage 5+. I'd really like to know for sure but then, what difference does it make. I just hope I outlive him because I know the kids would have to place him. I'd like to keep him home for as long as possible but who knows--if he gets too bad I might not be able to physically do it. But, I can't go there. Today has troubles of its own and that would be a trouble for a later date. Right??
I don't know what I'm talking about now so best I sigh off.
Mawzy, you are such a sweet lady! I also had to hide the little screw on bottles of Scotch that we bought my husband at the distilleries in Scotland last year when we found that he had taken to drinking them while we were at work! He can no longer uncork the wine, so I can leave it in the wine rack.
My husband can't follow instructions at all for about half of the time. Occasionally, he can, but even once he gets started, if anything distracts him, he can't remember what he was going to do. It is so sad.