Mayo Clinic Health Manager

Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.

Free

E-Newsletter

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

• Housecall
• Alzheimer's caregiving
• Living with cancer

• September 25, 2007 2:59 p.m.

  I am so glad to find this blog. My boss has Alzheimer's. He owns the bank where I am his administrative assistant aka caregiver. He is in midstage and to the point he really should not be here but his wife keeps bringing him. I am sure he is very, very insistant about her bringing him to work. (we were finally able to get his pickup away from him) It is very frustrating to me to see him declilne. I have worked for him for 28 years. Additionally, my husband has been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease so when I go home I am a caregiver too. No support groups for either condition close to me.

  - Bert

• September 25, 2007 2:36 p.m.

  My Dad is 81 and in the end stage. Our family is fortunate as we are a large, close family and everyone supports each other and our Mom, but even with that it is the toughest thing we've had to deal with. It's been a long haul since the first inkling that something was wrong; forgetting what things are called, not knowing how to use the toaster. My advice is to educate yourself as much as you can about what to expect and how to cope. Dad doesn't recognize anyone and has limited verbal communication, but our time together is cherished. The hardest part was truly accepting he has AD and he wasn't going to get better. Keep your sense of humor (even if it becomes kind of morbid at times) keep your patience, keep your memories, and just keep loving them. They still know that much even at the end.

  - Sophia

• September 25, 2007 2:24 p.m.

  I just read a few of the messages posted here. What a relief!! I'm 56 and I didn't want to admit to myself that something like Alzheimers could affect me at what I thought was an early age. I'm very interested in finding out more and appreciate the efforts of Mayo Clinic.

  - Don Felipe

• September 25, 2007 2:03 p.m.

  My 65 year old husband is in the middle stages of Alzheimers. He likes his vodka but I notice an incredible change in him after just a couple of drinks. I know it is the mixture of the Aricept and Prozac with the booze, but can't get him to stop. Is there anyone out there who may be having the same problem? All the books say to remove the alcohol, but he just can't give it up. Sunday, he walked over to the corner store to get some because I wouldn't take him, and of course he got lost trying to get home. He was 4 blocks away from our house when I found him. I felt bad that I didn't take him, yet I will not condone the drinking. I would be grateful for any suggestions.

  - Nancy

• September 25, 2007 2:03 p.m.

  I'm so gald that this blog is available. It is very lonely being the cargiver. Now I can comisserate with fellow caregivers. My husband is 79 has been diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment and is on Aricept. It seemed to be very effective for the fist year, but now I see little improvement. However I don't know how much more deminished he might be if he were not on this medication. We also don't know if this will go into Alzheimer's, but from what I read it probably will. He still exhablits his same sweet prsonality but is getting increasingly quieter in social situations. Sometimes I am astounded at his short term memory loss. For instance a phone call from one of the children cannot be retold minutes after hanging up. I look forward to hearing more from all of you as we share our difficulties.

  - Patty

• September 24, 2007 4:22 a.m.

  My husband had Alzheimer's as early as probably age53 but we were too into denial to pick up on it. His doctor had his insurance company approve some test after which he ASSURED us that he didnt have Alzheimers but I knew some symptoms he was exhibiting were not right and the third or fourth MD correctly diagnosed Alz. By a few years I could no longer care for him and he went into a nursing home. It was very devastating to our whole family{six kids} .His father also had it. When he died we had no idea that there was a familial component and my kids are frantic that they are in line to get this dreaded disease. I would like to be an activist to raise money for more research but I dont know how to go about it. I would be grateful for any help or suggestions. Barbara

  - Barbara

• September 23, 2007 4:23 p.m.

  I've wondered, too, about how to differentiate between Alzheimer's and other dementias. My dad says the doctor diagnosed dementia in my mother but didn't specifically say it's Alzheimer's. How do we know for sure, or can't we? Emma, I think you belong here as much as any of us. Perhaps you'll have some insights as a non-family caregiver that will help others here. I look forward to reading more.

  - Louise

• September 22, 2007 8:07 p.m.

  Hello, I am not a caregiver to a family member with Alzheimer's disease but I do care for people affected by this disease. I wonder if anyone can tell me how Alzheimer's is differentiated from senile dementia and is there now a definitive diagnosis for AD? I know at one time it was felt that a person could only be diagnosed by autopsy after death. I know how challenging,frustrating and physically&emotionally draining your tasks are. I can empathize for I have been caregiver for my Dad who had been left profoundly confused and debilitated after having a stroke. The people I care for with AD have one common factor and that is that they are, in fact,people. They bring joy to my life as well as sorrow. I don't know if it is appropriate for me to be on this site since I don't have a spouse or parent or family member with AD but I just wanted to comment. Wishing you all well, Em

  - Emma

• September 22, 2007 3:33 a.m.

  Like Rose, I haven't been able to find a support group, but I also haven't been able to find a daycare or respite care facility, and the strain is beginning to get to me. I life in the Hurricane Katrina counites that were nearly wiped out, and it seems that it took all Alzheimer's support with it, too. The only support I can get is through the internet and I need badly to learn of activities that might help my husband hold on to the memory he has left. I can't get him to do the social things we used to do because he doesn't want people to realize anything is wrong with him, but we do go eat with two old men for dinner and he tries to listen, but his hearing is so bad he doesn't understand much of what is being said. He has some very expensive hearing aids but he can't wear them because they not only don't fit right, but they also make his hear hurt because he isn't used to hearing normal sound. I wear the same type and brand of aid and I must admit, he isn't entirely wrong. Barb

  - Barb

• September 21, 2007 10:27 p.m.

  I'm sorry to hear about your wife. my husband has that terrible disease. I`m trying to find a support group in my area. so far without any luck. thank you rose

  - Rose

• September 21, 2007 5:45 p.m.

  Hi Angela I hope this site is successfull! There are so many people out there that need help and do not go to support groups, for what ever reason(s). I have been a care giver for my wife going on 15 years. The last 5 I have been a volunteer for the Alzheimers Assoc. and am VERY involved in many things. Just a note, the last figures I saw said there were 44 million people out there that were affected in some way with a person with AD. That is scary! Also, I believe there are many more than 5 million in the U. S. with AD. African American and Hispanic people are known to feel this disease is a normal part of aging and they are probably not in the statistics. Thanks for letting me ramble on

  - Duane