I can't seem to send a comment, so just let me tell all of you wonderful people how much I needed and cherished your words of wisdom and advice on this new life I am about to enter into. Your caring and heartfelt words will certainly guide me.
I have many questions, but will address only one now. I'm sure others have noticed some changes in my husband over the years, however, he still functions fairly normally in his everyday life. He volunteers at the foodbank, attends search & rescue meetings, and works a part time job quite efficiently and competently. He has no problems driving so far. Is it necessary to tell everyone he has Ahlzeimers? In time it will become more and more evident and I know by then, no explanation will be needed.
We are leaving soon for the doctors office and ,thanks to all of you, I think I'll get through it okay. Again, thank you all for your wonderful advice and comfort.
I told close family members, but did not tell others until, having the knowledge that would explain his puzzling behavior, help them treat him more compassionately.
That is good he is still so active. As mary75 said, until you know there are problems I would not. Exception might be if the memory problems might impact what he does like at his job.
My husband continued to work for a couple years but then was having trouble finding where he was suppose to go (he was working part time doing delivery for an electrical company). Thankfully about the same time the economy tanked and he was laid off. About 4 years ago I started doing most of the driving but he still drove but only with me in the car per doctors orders. He could not find his way around. He finally quit on our last R trip when driving the RV was too stressful for him.
It is always hard to know who to tell and when. My husband had no problems telling people when he was diagnosed.
Charlotte, I finally figured out that I have to go to both blogs to get every new message. My husband is 81 and I am 69. His official diagnosis as of today is the "brain fog" that we talked about, but, as I said, the doctor was just being gentle on him, but further testing will give a clear diagnosis.
We, to are RV'ers, but this year, I have to do more and more getting the trailer hooked up and unhooked. He's pretty much lost the ability to do any backing, so we just go where there are pull-thrus. Also, he forgets important supplies and tools. Still does most of the driving, though. Camping is slowly becoming less and less, as he gets pretty disoriented in unfamiliar surroundings.
My husbands' symptoms actually started in 2008, but I was the only one who noticed them.by the way, my name is Charlotte, too.
We live fulltime in our motorhome - have for almost 11 years. I have to do most all it now, he can't keep it straight how to even empty the holding tanks. In 5/2013 we left where I was working in Nevada and came up to Eastern Washington. It was that trip he said it was too much after 30 minutes, so for the first time, I drive from Reno area to E. Wash. We have only moved once since being here and that was 2 years ago. It is just so much work doing it all myself and trying to get him to help with putting the car on the car dolly. Oh well. Nice thing is we can move where we are parked and doesn't bother him much because the inside where we live is always the same. But, as I said, it has been two years since we moved so not sure how he would be moving. We almost moved into 62+ apartment but both times it fell through for various reasons. So I am coming to terms with staying in the MH. I wondered if charlee was for Charlene or something similar.
We also used to travel in a motor home until a few years ago. Got tired of towing the car (fell off the tote on rough roads in Yellowstone), so we downsized to a travel trailer where we could unhook and have the truck to get around. I, too have taken on many of my husbands jobs hooking up and unloading. I have had to learn so much about maintaining the trailer, etc. so I can make sure he hasn't forgotten to do something.
He takes about a day to re-orient himself. Last year, on our first campout, he woke me up pacing all over the camper...he couldn't remember where the bathroom was. Seems like we just don't enjoy it like we used to. In time, I know we will have to give it up all together.
Your husband is young to have Alzheimers, although I know it strikes many at very early ages. Sounds like you've got a pretty good handle on things. Hope it rubs off on me.
We live in SE Idaho where there are hundreds of beautiful places to go, but we stay closer to home any more and always where there are full hookups and cell phone signals.
You must be close to Craters of the Moon. Always wanted to stop there but never did. Now in Richland, Wa.
My FIL and his younger sister had it, so it was no surprise. His dad went 25 years from diagnosis and his sister 9. Our prayers is he goes quicker like her - already at 7+ years.
We're about 75 miles from Craters. I personally was never thrilled with it...just a lot of lava and craters for miles, but a lot of people go there. I'm more the mountains type.
My SIL had it, too. She was my husbands maternal half-sister. Had it for about 5 or 6 years, but they lived so far away, we didn't see her very much. Went to see her about a year before she died and she didn't even know her husband most of the time, but would have conversations with her father, even though he had been gone for years. She actually died of pneumonia after breaking a hip.