These are all new to my frontal temporal demented and blind dh but is happening so suddenly to the most gentle man in the world. He can't sit down, is at my side with every move, asks constant jumbled questions and is often either psychotic or hallucinating. His morning daycare won't take him anymore & full time help has begun, but am not sure will last. Was going to call the police last night, but am so afraid of what will happen to him. Have no LT insurance, but there is a veteran's home very close by that has a waiting list. Have sworn I would never admit him but am afraid I will have to do it after managing for over ten years. How to you all manage to do this so bravely? Am having nightmares over leaving him in a strange room. We still share ours. Sorrry, felt like venting, as am tired of always joking & making everyone comfortable. I honestly don't feel sorry for myself, just scared.
I'm so sorry you and your dh are going through this. Is he on any medication for the hallucinations? I would call his doctor. My husband has FTD and he rarely sits for any length of time. He paces around the house or follows me around but I have no experience with hallucinations.
I agree with deb. I would strongly advise calling the doctor immediately. Aggression can escalate into violence. I don't know what medications he is on, but they could be causing the problem. The doctor can adjust, change, or add medications to alleviate the problem.
I urge you to contact your Doc also. My husband also has FTD and has gone thru all you mentioned, but the medications have made a HUGE difference...he's still a pacer and has anger issues, but absolutely nothing like before the meds kicked in.
Contact his dr for meds. My DH has FTD and has fewer days of restlessnes and no longer paces (due to meds). Be aware if you call the police (I did 2 yrs ago) I lost control of him (admitted to psych hospital even tho they knew he had dementia) for 4 months and got a $110, 000 bill which wasn't covered by insurance.
Ann, you're welcome. I wish someone had told me what would happen BEFORE I called the police. Unfortunately the situation was dangerous for me and I had to call. They arrested him on a domestic violence charge (even tho I repeatedly told them he has dementia and doesn't know what he's doing), tried to persuade me to file a restraining order, took a photo of where he hit me for their records and registered me as a domestic violence victim. And I had to appear in court because the police pressed charges on my behalf (I refused). I had no idea that the police would do all that AND admit him to the local emergency room for mental health evaluation which ultimately led to the hospitalization. My advice to all is let your local police know that you have a LO in the house with dementia (call the non-emergency line or visit them) and ask them to keep the info on record in case there is a call made for anything associated with the dementia (aggression, wandering, etc). BTW, due to changes in the law, insurance companies have to provide the same coverage for mental health issues as they do for physical health issues. That bill was passed in December 2008, effective in 2009. If it were to happen now, the health insurer would have to cover the psych hospital charges as they do other medical bills.
Just a short while ago I walked over to our local police station and told them my husband has dementia. It was at a time when he was showing aggressiveness and I was scared. I hope it helps that I did this. Right now, he is calm, after upping the meds. Thank God for the meds....
cookie80 - if your hb has veterans coverage, one way that will work to bypass the waiting list is to go in via the psych ward. When my MIL died there was no one left to care for my FIL. He had not been using the VA but the doctor backdoored him in via the psych ward. He was a runner so a danger to himself. He had to spend 3 weeks in the psyche ward but then got into the AD unit.
dh was getting violent, our children were begging me to place him. Please, Mom, they said, we don't want to lose you to the same disease. The doc said to always look for a way out when I'm alone w/him. Finally had to place him and within weeks he became violent at the facility, they called the police and he was taken away in handcuffs--again, my dear sweet love, the kindest of men. Yes, I lost control of him, but he was placed in a lock down facility and meds adjusted until he could return to the facility. There was nothing more I could personally do for him but to be there and love him. It turned out to be the best thing all around, but I think I waited too long, like so many others. It's not easy, never will be. No one, the police, facility or lock down facility ever abused him or did anything w/out telling me what was going on. I appreciated that. You have to protect yourself, too, Dear Cookie, you're important. Keep in touch, someone will always be here.