Brennie posted under "Where are You From?" I have copied it and posted here, so we can get to know her and give her a big Alz. Spouse Welcome. Brennie - my welcome is at the end of this post. joang
CommentAuthorbrennie CommentTime1 day ago edit delete I live in Virginia Beach,VA. I haven't seen anyone in here from this immediate area. My husband is 67 & I am 62. He has AD. He has 7 children & I have 2. None of his 7 children are here & most of them seem not to believe that he has AD, don't know anything about it & don't want to know. A few of them have simply written him off. His children are scattered from Maine to Florida & New York to Tenn. The ones that do still speak to him will maybe call Christmas & sometimes on his birthday, with the exception of his only daughter & his youngest son. My daughter has her own serious health issues, but she loves him like a Dad. Sometimes I wonder if I will survive his AD. I find myself wondering how nice is might be to develope amniesia. Sometimes I really hate to come home from shopping. We have no close friends here. He doesn't like getting friendly with neighbors & doesn't want them in our home.So I am very much alone in this. I am thankful for this site as I have been at witts end.Thank you for the opportunity to vent.
Brennie, Welcome to my website. You have come to a place of comfort for spouses/partners who are trying to cope with the Alzheimer's/dementia of their husband/wife/partner. The issues we face in dealing with a spouse/partner 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/partner.
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 section on informative videos, and another excellent resource - Early Onset Dementia - A Practical Guide. You can go to the top of this page, click on "search", and type in EOAD, making sure the "topic" circle is filled in. All of the EOAD discussions will come up - there are about a dozen of them.
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" feature on the home page that allows you to look up different topics that may have been explored in a previous blog. Log onto the home page daily for new blogs; news updates; important information.
Brennie, welcome! Have a BIG HUG ((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
You sound like you needed hugging!
A few of us are fortunate to have children we can count on, but several have children scattered all over the world. Others have children who are in denial; some have children that move in to help. We never know until the cards are played who will draw the Aces and who will draw the Joker.
We can only survive this disease if we build a wall around our heart. It isn't easy, and it takes determination. AD puts you on an emotional roller coaster. Some days are good, some days are bad, some days have both. You have to keep your sense of humor and your self-preservation in tact. We are here to help each other - to offer advice, to offer solace, to give hugs, and to really be here with others who understand what we are going through as no one else can.
I'm bringing Caregiver Tips to the top for you. Please read all of it from start to finish. It is loaded with the BEST advice from all of us...
Welcome Brennie!!! We are so glad to have you join us. I live in a very, very small town is West Texas. This is my only contact to speak of with others that are going through what I am. It has been my sanity saver. Hope it is for you.
Welcome Brennie! You have landed in an awesome place. We will always be here to listen, laugh, cry, support, educate and hug you. I never would have gotten through my personal ordeal without this family. So, welcome, join in.
could have sworn i posted a welcome to you already Brennie yesterday! i hope you will join in any of the topics we are here to help you thru the hard times ahead. divvi
Another Texas welcome to you, Brennie. We have four children..I think Mary said it best. We are fortunate that ours are willing to help. They each have different ideas and are involved in different ways. One, prefers to be in denial and I think its because its such a drastic difference in WHO he has always known dad to be. Dad can't function in the ranching business now. He can't identify his own cattle or operate the equipment or fix things. The dad he's known looks the same, talks the same, appears to be able to do things but can't. Again, welcome.
Welcome Brennie. Read...read...read... and make good use of the search function. I don't think we've missed any topic you might run into. Need help--ask. Need to vent--do it. We all need to do that sometimes. And if you have an idea to help, pass it on---that's a key to our survival on this road. You've just joined a huge caring family "who knows" what you're going through.
Thank you all so much. I have been so alone in all this. I am pleased to have found this site & such wonderful people. I was beginning to feel like I would like to have gotten amniesia than to go through this private hell. I know longer feel so alone. I AM HOWEVER, ENJOYING THE FACT THAT i NOW HAVE MY OWN BEDROOM
Thank you all so much. You are all so kind. I am so pleased to have found this site & such wonderful people. Before I came here, My life was a private hell. I know longer feel so alone. I am actually glad that my DH threw me & my llittle shih-tzu out of the bedroom. I love having my own space & the fact that I get some much needed sleep.Who says you have to sleep in the same bed or even in the same room....lol... I seem to have sent a similar post, I was interupted by a phone call from my Grandson wanting a ride home from work. Maybe the A.D. is rubbing off...lol..
welcome brennie - I am in southwestern PA but I LOVE VA Beach. My stepson lived there for 10 years and his father and I loved taking trips to see him. You have come to a good place for understanding and caring. Enjoy your bedroom!
welcome brennie, you are in the right place, so many cyber friends here and all with love in there hearts for each other, I would not have survived if not for them. Gail