I am new to this group and I live in Mi my husband has had ad for 5 years.I am going to join some groups he got this horrible desiese at age 61 and I am having a rough time with it! I work full time I am 14 years younger the him he is in about 3rd stage at times I am scared any input would be great.
Welcome, dmisey1. You have certainly found a wonderful place here. So much help and so much love and understanding. Ask any question or post any problem and someone who is further down the road in this journey will be here to give advice, share what they've been through and maybe even give you a cyber hug. Joan will be along shortly to give you a personal welcome.
dmisey1, so sorry you had to find us - but so very glad you did. You will find it a great, helpful place to be for advice, assurance, guidance and also some humor! Welcome aboard this train - we are all in it together.
Oh Dmisey1, I am sooo sorry. I am 20 years younger than DH and he is now in stage 5 moving to 6. It only gets harder. I recommend one thing, start to plan for your own future. I waited too long and now I am scrambling to get legal, health and living issues taken care of all at once. I also work, both for the money and my own mental health. It's the worse disease this long goodbye.
Welcome to my website. You have found a place of comfort and understanding of spousal issues. Please be sure to log onto the home page - www.thealzheimerspouse.com - There is a wealth of information and resources there. Look on the left side - I would suggest starting with "Newly Diagnosed/New to the Website", and also look at EOAD (Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease), since your husband was diagnosed under age 65. You do not mention if you have any children living at home - if you do, check the section under EOAD - it is for young teens with parents who have AD. Please check out the Previous Blog section, as I know you will find many, many topics to which you can relate.
I urge everyone to go to the home page daily, as there are always news and information updates, as well as new blogs that chronicle my struggle with this miserable emotional roller coaster AD ride.
Everyone here is on the same journey, just different stages, so we all benefit from each other's experiences.
Dmisey1, Welcome. Sit down with a cup of your pleasure (tea, coffee or a margarita!). There are days we need all 3!! I only found this web site a few months ago myself but find it to be a godsend. Any thought, question or problem can be entered and discussed. Because there is such a variety of people and a variety of stage that their lo is in, someone always has something helpful to offer. We will hug and support you as much as you need. Come back often.
Welcome Dmisey1, You have found an amazing site. Very quickly you will find yourself, loved, supported, encouraged, inspired, laughing and sometimes (like me) crying. This is a truly AWESOME group of Spouses. As you read you will see that each case of dementia is a bit different, but in many cases there will be someone who knows exactly what you are talking about. Ask a question and you will get an answer, we have some great "researchers" among us. Need a laugh, you will get one, we have some great cyber-parties, to lighten the mood. Need a hug or a shoulder, we all will be there. So welcome to the gang.
Welcome Dmisery1. I echo what others have said, this site is a very good support group. I am 12 years younger than my husband and he is about stage 5 now. Although he was just diagnosed last year at age 64, I suspected that he has had AD for about 4-5 years. I also recommend you take care of the legal stuff now. Get your durable power of attorney (DPOA) for financial and health, update your wills and health care directives. I recommend you find a good elder care attorney.
It only gets worse but with the support of the wonderful people on this site, you will have support to get you through.
Welcome Dmisey1. This is a good place to be. Somewhere on this site (may be a link on the home page), there is a list of things that other wish they had known in the early stages. Take the time to find it and read it - there are some excellent suggestions on it. It is easier to make some hard decisions now when you can still discuss them with him - it is also easier to think things through before problems start to happen.
Welcome! So glad you found us. This site and its members witll hold your hand through the scary parts of AD. Please read the home page...it has a lot of vital information. Also, try to read all the old post as you go along, they are a gold mine of practicle advice from people that are walking in your shoes.
welcome Dmisery1 you have found the best site ever, i am only a new member of a little over a month, have gotten alot of good advice, hugs, handholding and now there for me when i had to make the bigest decision to place him in a home, embrace all who post they are wonderful
Hi & Welcome dmisey1, I am so sorry you have the need to join our family, however, I am glad you found us. I am sure you will find everyone kind, helpful beyond belief & non-judgemental. My husband is 58 years old, he has Frontal Temporal Dementia (FTD) not AD, however, same outcome. He is stage 5-6. Again Welcome. Please feel free to post at anytime. Hugs, Kadee