B. is in stage 5 and on a crash course for 6. Lately I have been noticing a lot of anxiety and maybe the start of depression? We are still at the place where i have a caregiver come for 2 hrs a day...at lunch time. Just before Christmas our caregiver quit (with no notice). I was off for two weeks so hired a new one and had her start on Monday when I went back to school. I think it was too many changes for him. But by Wednesday he was more comfortable with the new caregiver and now he really likes her. But the depression is kinda new. Any thoughts?
I think that they know they are losing it, and that must be enough to make anyone depressed. If I speak from my experience, it goes up and down. Sometimes they are convinced that there is nothing wrong with them at all- it's the rest of us who are lacking.
I often see a look in my DH eyes that tells me he is depressed. He would never admit it. Sometimes it's after him being upset about something he keeps trying to tell me that makes no sense, or something that never happened, and depending on the circumstance I cannot go along with it. I am sure he senses sometimes that I'm depressed too over lifes circumstances.
When the neurologist in Nevada diagnosed my husband with EOAD he was really depressed. We came back to Vancouver for a second opinion and was diagnosed with MCI. He didnt' really understand it so I explained it leaving off the part where due to family history it may well progress into Alzheimer. This lifted his depression with the result he is remembering more.
Besides, if in the late stages, somewhere inside they must know or have awareness of the condition they are in. We really don't know. I would bring it up with the doctor and re-visit the meds he is on.
There is a strong association between depression and dementia. Untreated depression can cause dementia symptoms. Antidepressants are prescribed for many AD patients. I'd talk to his doctor about your observations.
No question there is a very strong association between depression and dementia. Unfortunately, the assumption seems to be made that depression IS the problem rather than a resulting condition of possibly a bigger problem. As I have expressed in several previous posts, it really hurts to see how my wife's very close (joined at the hip) friends and family have disappeared. This started 8 years ago. There is no doubt it was driven by her behavior and outbursts. Many of them have in fact explained as much to me since learning of the diagnosis. For folks that are very social beings like my wife, the absence of friends and family feeds depression. I am certain this is why she takes out so much anger and frustration on me - besides my son, there is no one else in her life to take it out on. I get to go to work for a release and social contact. She basically has no one. Over Christmas, one of her sisters called out of all of her friends and family. I'm not very social but I think I'd even get depressed after going this long with so little social contact. Wife is doing poorly. She is now at the top of the waiting list at the ALZ home I signed her up for so I do have an option if my son says "enough is enough". Hell, I'm about there myself. Unfortunately, she would readily figure out what is going on if I placed her as all the residents (14 bed facility) are much older than her. So, I will likely use the drop in care the facility also offers before I'm able to place her as a perm resident. This is no fun. Thenneck
I actually have it worked out with the administrator that she will be their hairdresser. Since the nurses now do the resident's hair every day, this would be a relief to them (wife was hairdresser for 29 years). I insisted that she can't use scissors though. Hopefully, she thinks she is just working there. This tactic kind of reminds me of the "lying" thread. I can live with this one. Thenneck
Thenneck, sorry your wife isn't doing well. And I know what you mean about the disappearing friends. It's so sad that people run away from difficulty. But we can't or rather we choose not to.
I am going to see about some meds for him. Thanks for your input everyone.
Yes, about the depression that was one of my husband's first signs of the disease. When the dr. put him on an anti-depressant that helped, but then he stopped it cold turkey. Yikes, that was a nightmare for both of us. Thank God he's now taking it but as the disease is on progressing (stage 3) I think they need to up the dosage. As the caretaker I am on a yo-yo as y'all are probably to....but I am taking a mild tranquiller which helps. I hope this helps you.