The first thing I am glad I did was to find such a great group of people that understand having an AD spouse. I started reading about a year ago and you have helped me in many areas from NH romance, to medicine adjustments, to being prepared with depends, to so much more. The second thing I am glad about was following my heart and bringing my DH home from the NH. The med adjustments at NH made the home stay happen. Our pcp said that DH has now moved to early end stage and that it will get to be too much for me due to the difference in our sizes. I again followed your advice to have a plan and called the NH to get him on the waiting list. It crushes my heart to have to make this plan! He is only 61.
I am very glad that we have been able to help you, and pleased to see that you decided to write. Welcome. Along with the message boards, I hope you have been reading the resources on the left side of my home page - www.thealzheimerspouse.com and my blogs.
61 definitely qualifies as Young Onset - If you have not already done so, please check out the "Young Onset Dementia, A Practical Guide" on the left side of the home page.
My DH is 59 and has been in a NH for 3 months. I was at the point of total exhaustion when a room became available. Tough choice, but so glad I took it. Life is definitely not "back to normal" but it definitely better. Now that I have more of my "wits" about me, I am checking out a could of other places to make sure I made the right choice.
Thank you for all the warm words of welcome. Like you, I never wanted to walk this path but now that I'm here I'm glad to have found such a wonderful support group. I have been attending my local alz support group for a couple of years but they are all children with an alz parent. They just do not face the same kinds of things of having an alz spouse. I find it interesting that this group is made up of so many backgrounds in so many areas of the world and we are all drawn together by the love for our alz spouse. Thanks Joan for bringing us all together since we are so spread out that we would never have found the support we each need to draw from the group!
OKRose welcome! Yes this place is so great. You said it, it is DIFFERENT when it is your spouse, not underplaying others suffering , but it is DIFFERENT that is for sure. As sad as it is to see a parent or relative with this disease, and you love them, you do not sleep with them , have pillow talk, discuss every little issue. How I miss my mate , I was really missing him this week he is just not there anymore.
OKRose - you will find this place with all the various folks has more information than I ever would have thought of. This alz is the pits but coming here is like talking to family - no much better these people know what I'm talking about and are there now or have been where I am in this nightmare. welcome.
welcome OKRose. its good to see you are posting now after a long time of in the wings just reading. we are here to help you along this terrible disease, anyway support or just hugs. divvi
A big welcome OKRose...I'm sure you will find comfort here..everyone is so caring and anything you want to know is here. I would be a total mess, without the support and caring company here...we all understand.