I'll tell you what...Jeff did NOT look so hot when he came downstairs after his shower with my sleep-shirt tucked into his jeans. I went upstairs to get his real shirt, and recognized my mistake right away--the blue t-shirt I'd neatly laid out next to his jeans (with pre-threaded belt,) undies, socks, and hanky was too close to the color of the bedspread. My maroon sleep-shirt, otoh, stood out. Thus, it was grabbed instead.
One more piece of insight as I deal with his failing visual processing. If I want him to find it, make sure it doesn't blend in.
This month marks the first time (2 times, actually,) that he's had to ask a close relative to i.d. themselves. It happened once each with his sister and brother. (Both are people he sees all the time.) The difference between him not knowing who they were right off the bat, and the typical AD pattern of not recognizing people, is that it stems from visual processing, not so much loss of memory of the face. Hence, once they identified themselves, he relaxed, laughed, and all was well.
Now, my opening the car door for him is a matter of course. Otherwise he grabs at anything--the side mirror, the trim, even the next car over.
An advantage (maybe?) is that he is wearing his Medic Alert/Safe Return "sport band" without even noticing it. It's next to the watch he can't read. He can't tell one from the other. They must both just be something he meant to have on.
Emily--Steve has EOAD, but he has the visual problems you have described. He has a pronounced problem identifying things/people because of agnosia rather than memory loss; same with opening the car door. What you described with grabbing the mirror, trim, other car--exactly the same. So I'm not sure what the difference is with PCA--maybe the order in which the symptoms happen?
My understanding is that PCA is not different, per se, except in that it's used to describe the particular variation of AD pathology in which the greatest damage, early on, is to the areas of the brain controlling visuospatial stuff. There's got to be a great deal of overlap, particularly as the disease progresses.
There is no pattern..there is no recipe..one day is one day. I've been so confounded by the difficulties as they roll in, change and disappear just long enough to think..'well, he's better'.. THEN something else changes..THEN he can't seem to locate a chair when its right beside him. A hand is offered for a customary handshake and he doesn't recognize this gesture or act as if he 'sees' it. He hasn't been able to recognize our car for probably 3 or more years. He's opened doors and 'gotten into' unlocked vehicles..not even recognizing that the woman in the driver's seat was not MEEEE!! Bless her heart..she didn't scream..and THANKFULLY most of the people in our small town knew him! Well thats beside the point..but I'm learning that he can FIND things easier if there is a contrast of light/dark or color..some days better than others of course.
emily, my DH is the same about colors. Our son threaded a piece of bright colored surveyor's tape through the door handle on the passenger side of the car. So far its working and it keeps his hands off the mirrors! Also another problem he had was the white soap in the white shower. I now make sure there is a colored soap in the shower and that he has it in his hand! These little things we never think of until they happen...oh, I also use a bright color pillowcase for him.
Those are helpful Audrey, thanks. The diminished vision is a thing that is clearly worsening, even just this month, and it helps for someone else to point out things I hadn't thought of yet.
I am getting much more apt to ALWAYS turn lights on or up, and provide more guidance when it's dim, because vision is becoming so problematic. Only problem is, he often doesn't think he needs help, still. Last night, maneuvering around outside from houses to cars, he kept swatting at me because I was being a little too helpful.
Bumping this up to ask others dealing with PCA...are you spouses still on Aricept? My DH has lost so much ground in the last couple of weeks. I'm thinking about asking his neuro if there is any need to continue with Aricept. He fell twice in one day while attempting to sit down. I now watch him constantly if he is awake. He isn't sleeping well and when he does sleep he wakes telling me that "someone wants money to buy food" or that there is "someone looking for something and he needs to help".....I'm about at my wits end...its so sad watching this quick decline.
We are still using exactly what was prescribed in '07. That is, Namenda and Aricept. I presume I will continue unless things take a precipitous decline, at which point I might decide to let it go.
We're doing the same, Emily. DH can't tolerate Namenda but has never had problems with Aricept. This has been a swift decline for him. I'm hoping he will hit a plateau because I don't know what we'll do. (But then that is always the question, 'what will we do?' Then that time comes, we face it and go on to the next 'what will we do?')
My DH also suffers from PCA and presently he is in the hospital with possible pneumonia or as the dr. said he may be aspirating fluid or foods into his lungs. The situation is serious and now they have suggested a test to see just how he is swallowing. I'm to meet with the doctor this morning. He is not opening his eyes when I talk to him although he does a little talking at times...very little.
Jackie....This is exactly what we went through in August of 2010. Of course, my husband passed the tests with flying colors. After a 2.5 day stay, he was sent home.
My husband in August......He has the PCA variant of ALZ........He sure LOOKS okay! Six weeks later, it would have taken him all day to get these words out...........
Is that a facility you've chosen Ann? I hope it's a good fit! We are no where near that decision yet (as far as I can tell...among the things I've learned from this Board: Anyone's status CAN take a precipitous turn for the worst unexpectedly.)
Although the signs of Jeff's decline are many, none are of the sort that change his ability to live comfortably at home. I'm just helping a lot more with dressing, showering, food selection and keeping implements accessible, etc.
I feel very much like the mother of a large but reasonably good-natured toddler. I can take him places but not leave him alone. Energy runs out early and bedtime is not very negotiable.
Trying to maneuver him around when it's past his bedtime and the problems multiply geometrically. He actually begins running into objects and cannot comprehend a word.
Sounds like some of the same issues with Sandra, the dog "Bradley" will be sitting on the sofa next to Sanda and she will ask, where is the dog? What I might be saying is poor motor skills is problalby her PCA making it difficult for her to find her drink, or food or anything.
Yes, this is where my husband has been placed...It's not perfect, but does have a good reputation AND is in a good location for me. He didn't qualify for the ALF, but gosh darn it.......still looks okay! I need to figure out a schedule so that I am not with him 12-24 hours a day.
I don't know what this PCA variant is, can someone fill me in? I do know that my husband has trouble seeing things with little contrast and I am constantly amazed at what he misses. And, he makes light of not being able to see stuff. I was thinking it might be because of his glaucoma and cataracts; but his visual exams are always fine with the doc, meaning that he apparently passes them. However, as I said, low contrast, he's not so good with. He hasn't hopped into anyone else's car yet, but he sometimes doesn't recognize ours. I hadn't attributed that to his vision, but after reading the above threads, I think maybe it is. Maybe that's why he walks so slowly, as well?