This is a first for me - I don't do chatting on-line, as a rule. When I found this message board, though, I felt a sense of relief that I can talk with others who actually get what I'm dealing with. Not sure anyone who's not lived with this disease has any idea the uniqueness of the situation. Unfortunately we don't have any support groups near where we live, so I've pretty much been on my own. My husband was initially diagnosed about two and a half years ago at the age of 56 with a confirming diagnosis in 2009. My life has changed dramatically - from looking forward to an early retirement to travel and do things I'd always wanted after 35+ years of busy corporate life- to starting a new career to help with income and taking on every aspect of household responsibility. It truly is overwhelming some days. I'm looking forward to talking one on one with others who deal with these issues, too.
Welcome to the site, I am sure Joan who owns the site will be chimming in soon. I am taking care of my wife and I left the corporate world shortly after she was diagnosed in 2007, not because she needed the care at that time, but because we knew that we better do somethings now and not wait any longer I also felt at that time I could get a job later as I was 53 when I made that decision. I think you will find answers to most of your questions here and if not ask, I am sure someone will answer you. I am glad that you found this site but it is bad that you had to have a reason to be interested in this journey we are all on.
welcome sisrael. almost everyone here can say the same thing about the dramatic changes after diagnosis. many of us also had plans for enjoying our later lives traveling and fulfilling those dreams we all thought would surface once retirement hit. like you we are here caring for spouses--- and angry and lost about the unprepardness of all the emotional and physical losses in our marriages. there are so many topics that are in the archives here and its easy to access them under the search engine. hope you find support and lots of friendly ears to hear and offer good advice if you need something answered. divvi
Sisrael welcome to your new home. I am one of the "after" people being newly widowed as you can see by the * after my name. This is a place of true understanding. It is indeed overwhelming when you realize everything is on your shoulders. Anger, sadness and fear are your new mantel. We are here for you.
Welcome Sisrael. This site is a lifesaver. You will learn the real stories behind the lives touched by ALZ. Feel free to talk about everything that concerns you. At least one other person has been there. You are not alone.
Welcome Sisrael. You will soon realize you couldn't have found a better place to be to get you through this rotten journey. Everyone is helpful and caring.
A big welcome to you, Sisrael. You have landed in a soft place with lots of help and concern. So sorry you need to be here, but I know you will gain lots of knowledge as well as support.
Welcome Sisrael. My husband has been in a nursing home since mid-January. Before that time and even now, I get a lot of support from here. Everyone is here to listen and give you advice if you need it.
Hello Sisrael. You will find it is so good to have a place you can go and not be ashamed for having the thoughts and feelings so many of us have. No one knows us like the people here do. They're going through everything we are and the ones who've been living through this "rotten journey," as Jean21 so aptly calls it, can help so many of us who have a long way to go. Welcome.
Welcome to our place for whatever we need at the moment whether it is to vent, ask advice or just seek comfort. It helps to know we are not alone. My husband is in placement but I will always be his caregiver.
I will add my welcome to the rest. Because we are spouses and not children/grandchildren of AD persons, something that comes up here frequently that doesnt come up as often in other places is the younger onset aspects. I am 52 wife just turned 60. Her MCI Dx (and work cecessation) was at 57.
Good Place, There is probably nothing that cant be discussed here (or has been already?) but if you have been lurking/reading for any time you already know that. Sorry you have to join us.
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 (Early Onset, now known as Young Onset) 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.
Welcome Sisrael----my husband was 53 when diagnosed, now 58, and has declined rapidly---I now have fulltime care for him while I'm at work. What I find interesting is that we were either so young or workacholics or busy raising our kids that we never even talked about what we would do during our "golden" years. In some ways, maybe that makes it easier to accept that there won't be any, at least for "us" as a couple. I had to spend the first 4 years adjusting to his diagnosis AND getting my youngest off to college with some semblance of a normal life, I hope, and I've made the decision now to keeping working for the money, health insurance (for me and daughters---DH on Medicare) and my sanity! Anyway, SO glad you found this site but SO sorry you are in this situation.
Sisrael, let me add my welcome to the others. They have done an excellent job of saying how wonderful this site is and how much help it will be for you as you make your journey through the maze that is caring for a spouse with dementia. You will find a family here and help and support. Sorry you have need to be here.
I echo all that the others have said, especially Weejun's comment about finding a family here. I feel closer to people here than to my own family in many ways. You will find lots of support and help here.
Dear Sisrael, I too join what others have already said, and I welcome you to this wonderful site. You will find that this site such a nurturing place to go to when things become unbearable.
Let me add my welcome and add myself to the group of younger onset. I'm 55 and my husband was diagnosed two years ago at age 63 with Lewy Body Dementia. I'm intending to continue to work full time most of all for my mental health. Our big change was to renovate a house especially for his needs and move.
Hello sisrael--Two and a half years is a long time to go without outside support, glad you have joined in with our group here. My husband was dx 5 years ago at age 60. Yes, it completely changes every phase of one's life. You mentioned wanting to chat one-on-one, what people do to facilitate that is to put their email address in their profile, and also there is a sticky near the top of the message board topics entitled "Use This Thread to Contact Each Other" where messages can be exchanged for that purpose.
Welcome, I am so sorry you have to join our "family" but it truly is a wonderful place for support, information and just venting when it all gets too much. I too am among the spouses dealing with early onset dementia - dh was 58 (2 yrs ago) when diagnosed with probable AD, the FTD. I have had to quit working due to my own health problems and we have ft live-in care for dh. Our lives have totally changed in the 2 years and will continue to as his disease progresses.
Let me add my sincere welcome to our family. Sorry you have to be here, but as everyone else has said....you are in the right place! We're all in the same leaky boat, but we keep each other afloat! Glad you're here!
Welcome to this wonderful site! If you go to the front and read Joan's blog, there is a very fine article about the beginning of this site just a mere 3 years ago. Were it not for this site, so many of us would be just lost and alone. We are a great group here, share trials and tribulations and lots of funny things too. I would say most of us start our day, during the quiet hours we do manage go have, with a glance at this site with our first cup of coffee or tea.. You will find understanding and friendship here.