I have been quite behind on welcoming new members, and for that, I apologize. As many of you who have been reading already know, I started this website in 2007, because I couldn't find anyone who would talk about how I felt - I thought I was the only one feeling the way I did about what Alzheimer's Disease was doing to my marriage. I needed a place that dealt with my unique issues as a spouse of an Alzheimer patient. This site is now 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".
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.
Gaginny, You have your hands full with PTSD and FTD. There is a lot of information here on FTD, but not so much on the combination of PTSD and FTD. Please keep posting and asking questions. There is always someone who can either answer you or point you in the right direction.
CrankyPants, I placed my husband a year and a half ago, and I am still feeling the trauma, although have received much help from a grief counselor. My point is NOT to make you feel worse; it is to let you know that we all go through a myriad of emotions during placement. Honestly, the "sticky" thread above - Caregiver Life With Spouse in facility" has been of great help to me. I would suggest reading as much of it as you can. The main point of this website is to let Alzheimer spouses know that they are NOT ALONE in all of their conflicting emotions and thoughts. For a good insight into emotions related to placement, read my previous blogs dated from July 2013. ( Home page - www.thealzheimerspouse.com - left side is "previous blogs". Click that - everything is arranged by year.)