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.
When you feel comfortable doing so, please tell us about yourself and your husband, so we can get to know you.
Welcome to our 2nd home NancyJ. We are sorry that you had the dementia devil land in your life, but with that being said, you could not have found a better family than this one. You will find support, love and understanding that will warm your heart. We will cry or laugh with you, share your concerns, offer advice, support and suggestions. We always have our cyber rope ready to toss to you when the going gets rough. I can say from personal experience, that I WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED without Joan's Place. So welcome my new friend. Arms around, Susan*
Ask anything at all if you do not find the answer in the open threads.... we will always be totally honest with you. There are many points of view and many approaches to every problem.
Welcome NancyJ, I am glad that you are here but not glad that you have a reason to be here. Keep coming back, you may find that this is where you can go to find anyone that absolutely knows what you are going through at any given time and that will be so comforting!!!!!
NancyJ - Welcome to the family! Sorry you have to be here, but since you do it'a a good place to be. You can ask anything, tell us what is on your mind & share your fears & tears with us. We have either been there done that or will soon. Come back often!
Welcome, NancyJ. When you feel like sharing, this is the place to come to. When you feel like crying, this is the place to come to. When you have something to be happy about, this is the place to come to. When you don't feel like talking but just want to read what others are going through, this is the place to come to. I wouldn't know what to do without it. Here is where all the ideas come from to help us get through a very difficult time in our lives.
I hardly know what to say about all of your welcomes. Thanks for helping me ease into sharing and for all your experiences. Some have made me laugh and some sure on right on. As I said the loneliness is the worse part.
Paul and I celebrated our 50th Ann last June and his 80th birthday in April. We have 2 married children and 2 grandchildren. Our daughter and husband are out of the country 5 mths per year and then in NC the other time. They come up in Fed for 5 days - and we used to see them in fall for a week before they left. The last drive (10 hrs) was a bit much for me but PJ was still walking, etc. Not sure I can make that drive with him anymore. Sitting in the car itself is hard for him and last time he fell at a restaurant after sitting so long. Other than that, they are not available for any assistance.
Our son and wife live closer; but not much help ever. I try to get him to come at least 1/m but it doesn't always happen. Wife works and son is childcare provider. PJ has taken negative position and sometimes refuses to go visit when we're invited for a Sunday. Makes me more lonely.
Even some of the financial issues that they need to become familiar with are ignored. It took nearly 2 years before daugh accepted the AZ diagnosis. Not being around also means she doesn't understand that PJ has little ability to stand, walk, etc. Fusses at me to see that he gets "exercise as that would improve his health."
AZ robbed us of several friends before we knew about AZ. None are nearby neighbors, so only have 1 friend that takes PJ to lunch about every 3 weeks. PJ lost tech savy before we knew and seldom looks at his email msg fr old coworker friends. However most of them are his age and all they do is share jokes. I keep in touch periodically so that they know what's happening to PJ. Couple of weeks ago he wiped out one entire folder of saved emails including some health notices. Repeat after me <grin> it's the disease!
As all of you know, one of the hardest parts is having full responsibility 24/7. I still haven't found anyone to shovel snow again this year. Dealing with contractors, auto repairs, making insurance decisions - the grocery shopping routine is one I have come to dread. PJ can't help at all at any stage.
Guess that's enough about us for today. Thanks much! nmj
NancyJ...welcome to our family. I live in a very small town with not support groups etc. This sight has held me together. You have found a soft place to land for the duration and after. Come often.
NancyJ....Welcome to our HOME....You have found a place that is more phun than Walt Disney World in a hurricane, more phrustrating than getting your license renewed during the holidays, more truthful than Wikeleaks, and more entertaining than all TV shows combined. This site is actuality and reality, although the names have been changed to protect the identity of those who still have one. May your visits be pleasant and phun, and hopefully you will get lots of good advice, tons of sympathy, and form friendships that you never thought possible. This site is totally FREE, and anything free is worth twice as much as you paid for it.....There is no spam, no popups, no viruses, but there are plenty of wonderful people who make the disease a bit more tolerable......You will get to know some wonderful people, and they become so precious, especially those who have an * after their names.....They traveled the journey, and are still here to help the rest of us make it through....WELCOME from all of us at alzspouse.....