I would love to meet other AS in the Carolina area. I went to an Alzheimer's Assoc. local support meeting. There were 4 women there all much older than myself and dealing with elderly gentlemen. At the time my husband was 60 and still devestated with his MEMORY issue. Things are different now he is much more accepting tells you he is depressed when it is he is bored. We lived through his trying to kill himself and me. I have only one child and not having really worked in the community. I have a limited amount of friends and have found that many don't deal with this well. I would love to find others to speak with and get ideas with coping with the changes. God has plans for the caregivers...
Florence where are you in one of the Carolinas? Welcome to the site I hope you will find what you need here as we all have. BTW, I am in SC near the coast.
Welocme, Cally from Canada. You will find folks here are very supportive and caring.You can vent, lament, learn, share and help others. Sometimes, dare I say it, have a laugh or smile from AD humor. We need it to remain sane, I think. Hello and welcome to Tom and Florence, too.
Lloyd and I are from Canton, Ohio. We did just drive to North Port, Florida for 3 weeks. Took along an 18-yr-old grandson for help. It did not go as well as hoped, but what does in this journey. May try it again soon. Lloyd loves the beaches.
ol don* you're close to Joe and I. We are half way between Grayling and Mio. Hour and 45 minutes away. We will be heading that way the end of May or first of June depending on confirmations and graduations.---Joyce43.
I have a sister that lives in the Grayling area. It is beautiful there. I've canoed the Ausable many times. Great place! We also have family at Higgins Lake.
We are in Luzerne, in the middle of the Huron National Forest. We will be there for the summer and into the fall. Nothing like the color in Northern Michigan. If you visit your sister this summer, let us know. Welcome to this site Parmer65. Where do you live?
Hi, lolakins. I am across the river on the Jersey side. Humor is very helpful for the overstressed caregivers = ) Members on this site come from all over the states and a few countries outside of USA. Some from metro area and some from small towns. We hear about the variety of resources to support people with dementia and their caregivers. I am interested to know about the care services offered in NYC and the paying for care methods available in large urban areas.
I lived in NW NJ for many years before moving here. I imagined our retirement years very differently! The Alzheimer Chapter in NYC is excellent offering many free workshops re: handling behaviors, finances, support groups, etc etc . I have been to many workshops. The staff is available for consultation. Most of the museums offer special programs for those with Alzheimers and their caregivers. I attended several at Museum of Modern Art and Metropolitan. All are free. We also attended a "tea social" offered by a ballroom dance team. DH enjoyed that. Most activities are on Alzheimer NY chapter website. I attended a support group in NJ, but it was comprised of caregivers who were caring for people at all levels of the disease. At the time my husband was in early stages and hearing the progression and symptoms of late stage put me into a depression and I never went back. The dynamics of caring for a spouse are so different than caring for a parent! Here in NY I am in a support group exclusively for spouses. there are 5 of us who have been in attendance for 3 years and, like this blog, we can talk about anything and laugh at things "outsiders" would find bizarre! One of the important advantages for me is that in NY they offer community Medicaid supplying home health care aides allowing the impaired person to stay at home longer. The "look back" is only 1 month and not the 60 mo for nursing home Medicaid. I have just gathered all the documents to apply for community Medicaid.
Wow, lolakins----community Medicaid. Yes, you are fortunate to be living in city with supports nearby. I would have loved going to MOMA. Glad that you are here on this site.
Thank you! We live 40 miles north of Charlotte, NC. Hopefully we can visit MI in June. I have two sisters in Michigan. One in Berrien Springs and the other in Grayling. My wife and I are originally from St. Joseph, MI and visit at least once a year.
I tried a local support team but only one had a spouse that passed away from the disease. All the others in the group complained about their parent which was of no use to me. It also made me very depressed. It is difficult to share personal experiences in a group like that. I don't want to come off as complaining because I love my wife and respect her/our privacy.
Hey Phranque,have to look ya up again,won't be in such a rush this time,daugthers trying to talk me into movingt there full time,so of course I have to visit an seize the "moment"
Hi Elaine, I hope you have a nice visit. I remember Burlington (I guess from when we lived in Toronto), as a nice small, quiet place away from the frantic pace of Toronto. But then to me, water always gives the impression of peacefulness. Visit Oakville if you have a chance, there used to be a great little French restaurant on the main street.
Hi. Im from california.. Ontario california haha.. kinda blend with the last two posts.. as my name is also Elaine.. Im new to this site.. I hope it gives me some directions...I read alot online..I'll be scouring this site.. !
Back after more than 1 year. We have been dealing with Lymphedema in addition to Alz. Last year became way too much - 6 hr daily for therapy. It stopped on Sep 21st. BH went down fast and was hospitalized with major problem just after Xmas. After 2 months, a rehab facility that insisted he would never walk again - WRONG - a major redo of first floor bed/bath to accommodate wheelchair, etc. Now have help 6 hrs/5dw. Still exhausted and only couple nights of solid sleep in months. Googled and relocated the site; thank goodness. Couldn't remember when I needed it before. Daughter barely yet accepting that her dad has Alz. After a near separation when we were both exhausted, have cautiously started over and talk couple times a week. BH sleeps most of the day except when he has therapy. Then he is exhausted and sleeps the next several hours. Week-ends, sometimes he only talks when he eats and then goes right back to sleep. Am very lonesome and like so many of you struggle to care for everything else as well as BH. Live outside DC in MD. See there's another SS member on list. Looking for connection to others that know just how difficult the days can be. Also - Father's Day ideas and Anniversary? Not much to purchase, except donuts, chocolate, strawberries, and McDonald's (I no longer can even look a hamburger in the eye). Suggestions? To all of you who are newer members. The support we share with each other is what keeps the lights on!!!
Teddy's mom, where do you live in MD? I live in Southern MD. No one really knows how lonely it can be. My email is in my profile if you don't want to publicly say where you live.
Elaine, I live in Montgomery Co - Silver Spring area or Wheaton, some say.
Read Joan's message today. Just what I experience. Hate week-ends as the silence is deafining. Have lost almost all friends during the past 4 years. Since last Jan been really bad. Yes, talk to the doc, talk to the PT, talk to Teddy. Glad he can't talk back or tell what I sometimes think. But I keep saying It's not Paul, its that damm disease. As one person said to me, wish it was her husband once so she could be mad at someone instead of something that doesn't talk back.
Have acq through what work I still am able to do, but that's not friends. Both local friends have family and are very busy with them. That too hurts as i am jealous. As Joan said, who do we talk to about what's in the news, on TV, or even our worries? I still have my faith, but my church doesn't understand. They know that Paul can't attend services; what's wrong with me? Why don't I come to church? My friends in Texas who still take in meals, visit the homebound, etc., don't understand why it is different here. It just is. Last Xmas, couldn't even get to a mall, did all shopping on the computer or by catelog. I just wanted to see the decorations in the store once.
Then Paul went to the hospital 2 days later. I fought first the hospital and then the rehab because Lymphedema affecting one's legs is absolutely not understood. Why doesn't he just ring the bell when he needs to - remember, he has Alzheimers. "Just let him sit in soiled diaper, it doesn't matter. Oh and then it occurs over and over. Lymph socks cost $365@ and insurance doesn't cover. They have to be handwashed. No, the rehab doesn't do that. So every night I had to return to the rehab and wash the socks. Never got home before 12 or 12:30. Sorry, the pain is still a bit raw.
Where do you live Elaine? Do you ever get out for a nice quiet lunch or anything? Write back. Nancy