Welcome to my website. Please tell us about yourself and your spouse, so we can help you. Are you the husband or wife? How old was your spouse when diagnosed? What kind of problems are you having?
You have come to a place of comfort for spouses who are trying to cope with the Alzheimer's/dementia of their husband/wife. The issues we face in dealing with a spouse with this disease are so different from the issues faced by children and grandchildren caregivers. We discuss all of those issues here - loss of intimacy; social contact; conversation; anger; resentment; stress; and pain of living with the stranger that Alzheimer's Disease has put in place of our beloved spouse.
The message boards are only part of this website. Please be sure to log onto the home page - www.thealzheimerspouse.com - and read all of the resources on the left side. I recommend starting with "Newly Diagnosed/New Member" and "Understanding the Dementia Experience". There are 4 sections for EOAD members - two of which focus on the young teens whose parents have EOAD (early onset AD). There is a great new section on informative videos, and another excellent resource - Early Onset Dementia - A Practical Guide.
Do not miss the "previous blog" section. It is there you will find a huge array of topics with which you can relate. There is a search engine right under the Previous Blog section on the left side of the home page - you can type in any topic - such as "loneliness" or "stress" or "incontinence", and a list of blogs that discuss those topics will come up. Log onto the home page daily for new blogs; news updates; important information.
It is almost midnight here on the East Coast, and I am going to bed, as I imagine so are most of our members. Be sure to check in tomorrow morning, as others will be along to welcome you.
Welcome to the website but sorry you have a need of it. You will receive a lot of support and information here. It has been a big help to me to talk to others who "get it". My husband doesn't have AZ but has been diagnosed with FTD (frontotemporal dementia). He is 60 (diagnosed at 58) and I'm 51.
Welcome, sholl1955. I don't post too often but welcome you here. There are topics of all kinds and discussions that no book contains, YET. If not for this place, I would be completely lost. Again welcome.
Hi sholl1955, I was just checking the message board and saw your post. Welcome, the people here are honest, sincere and very helpfull. I seem to be one of the few men fighting with this awfull disease so I don't post often. Usually all my questions are answered by just listning. My wife is 56 and is in stage 7 very poor shape. I do everything for her. She sleeps 16 hrs a day now but this could change anytime. You will get help and peace of mind here.
Glad you found this site, but sorry you need it as others have said. Welcome to a site of seemingly boundless help and encouragement. My hb is 72, has vascular dementia. I'm 69 and had to quit my part-time job to stay home with him in November. We live in a woods in NW IN, and it's *very* cold now. When I have ?s, this is the first place I look.
Hi sholl1955, welcome to this wonderful family - you will find caring, support and many answers to your questions here. We are all dealing with the effects of some type of dementia with our loved one. My husband has FTD, was diagnosed at 58 and is 59.5 right now. I'm 58. Come back as often as you need to - we're here for you.
Hi scholl1955, how about telling us a little about yourself and what brings you here? You'll find all sorts of caregiver spouses here, mostly women, fewer men, old, young, in-between, dealing with all sorts of dementias -- not just Alzheimer's, and a few with asterisks like me, which means that the journey is finished for us, but we're still here and trying to be helpful with hard earned advice and support when asked.
Welcome aboard this train, scholl1955. So sorry you have to join us, but you will find everyone so very helpful. I don't know what I would have done without being here over the last year or so. My DH is 86, I am 70. He was DX'd in 2003 and ALZ but his decline has not been quick and he can still do most things for himself - except travel! We gave that up.
Tell us about yourself and feel free to post anytime.
Welcome. scholl, You will find this site very helpful. There is no question you cannot ask that someone has not dealt with and will gladly give you some answers.
Welcome scholl. Like the others, I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't discovered this website. I am one of the (rare) men, but, the ladies are very kind and patient with me. In fact, I think I am fortunate because they understand some of my situations with my DW better.
Another welcome to you Scholl. There are so many people who are going through what you are or they have been there before and can help. Just let us know. We are ready.
Scholl, I 've only been here for a few months, but it's been a lifeline for me. My husband has been diagnosed first with Lewy body disease, now with FTD. The doctors say all of these things could overlap! So, welcome. Even if you don't comment, just reading some of the comments is a huge help.