I'm in my 20's and my mum has dementia

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Chrismitch

Registered User
Jun 23, 2011
127
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My son and daughter both live in London. Both in their 20s. Their dad has Alzheimer's. It takes them 12 hours to get to us so visits are infrequent, but I feel so well supported by them mentally as we are often in touch vis email, Skype and what's app! Even though they are very busy with their lives and professions. They would probably like to meet up with you too.
 

Beaky144

Registered User
Nov 3, 2014
22
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Hi Lyla

I am in my early 30's and have been caring for my mum who is now 65 who has FTD. She now lives in a care home and dealing with the loss and grief is incredibly difficult. I was her sole carer and I know my brother (who lives away) struggled with feeling like he didn't do enough to help. The truth is when you are the sole carer you want to do everything you can for your loved one and I know that your dad wouldn't want you to feel any guilt. Your mum is lucky to have your dad to help her.

It's very hard for people to understand dementia if they have no experience of it and even more so with the conditions that affect younger people. There are lots of books out there that offer some help as well as forums like this one.

Miss Merlot I live in London and would be interested in coming along to your "support group" if possible?

Hang in there Lyla. This is horrible but you have to carry on for yourself and your family xx
 

Ktynan

Registered User
May 22, 2014
20
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Hello all,

I'm also in my 20s and my mum in her early 60s has dementia. I am currently based in London and would love to meet up with others who are younger carers?

Thanks


Sent from my iPhone using Talking Point
 

Miss Merlot

Registered User
Oct 15, 2012
3,261
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Lyla - you really seem to have struck a chord here!

Our little group of wine-drinking, young(ish), London carers is now up from two people to six on the back of it!

Looking forward to the next time! :D

As ever, everyone is welcome!
 

CHEZA27

Registered User
Jan 8, 2015
32
0
Hello
I have a mum who is in her early 60's and i was 28 when mum was diagnosed with dementia. Its hard going huni, my dad is ill as well he has heart disease and has spent a lot of time in hospital so I don't have him to care for my mum. I felt exactly the same as you, everyone around me was a lot older and they were there for me but i felt so alone. I don't know whether you cope with it better when your older but its a big thing for someone under 30 to take on and cope with.

I've had to learn all the legal stuff, ive become my mums atternory, had to get all the benefits in place (which is hard work and you have to keep pushing) and do all the communicating with the health professionals etc....Its really hard going huni and its taken over my life. Tbh I would go to the end of the earth for my mum and do everything i could to make sure she was safe and looked after. You do get through each day, and everyday there is something new you have to deal with or accept, its definitely true when they say that dementia takes that person you love.

The advice i can give you is to cherish every moment wih your mum, speak about special memories, music etcc... and always smile when your with her because trust me that's what will stick with her.

Hope reading this helps you, these blogs/forums have been my lifesavers.

take care
Cheryl x

Hi everyone,
I'm new to all of this. I didn't even know this site existed until I finally had the guts to google "young people who have a parent with dementia". I'm finding everything hard and I just feel like I have a hundred people around who can support me, but no one understands what it's like to have a mum in their early 50's with dementia.
I live in London and my parents live 3 hours away in the countryside. It's killing me. My dad is a hero and he loves my mum so much. I just feel so guilty I live far away but I know my mum (I guess what my mum would have said) is to do what I love. It's hard to explain.
She's just so ill now, it's like she's turned into a child.
My dad is amazing and I just feel sorry for him. It's horrible feeling sorry for your dad...
Is anyone else here going through something similar?
I would love to talk to someone who is... Xx
 

KatrineWightman

Registered User
Apr 5, 2015
9
0
Hi Lyla.

I've posted a similar thread to this one last night.

I honestly feel so alone..
Would you mind if I messaged you?
I have a few questions I would like to ask :)
 

MerryWive

Registered User
Mar 20, 2015
55
0
Hi Lyla.

I've posted a similar thread to this one last night.

I honestly feel so alone..
Would you mind if I messaged you?
I have a few questions I would like to ask :)


Hi Katrine, I know that Lyla would not mind in the slightest if you messaged her, I have met her and she is absolutely completely lovely!

Myself and Miss Merlot set up the aforementioned informal meetup since we are both in our 30s and caring for our MILs. Since then we have had quite a lot of interest from people looking after a parent. You are more than welcome to come along if you fancy it and can make it to Holborn.

I just texted Lyla in fact and she said sorry she can't get on the forum right now as her laptop is broken, but she will be sure to get in touch with you asap.

Caring can be very isolating, so it is helpful to come to TP and know you are not alone. XXXX
 

ojgiles

Registered User
Apr 10, 2015
1
0
Hi Lyla

It sounds like I am in a very similar situation as you.

I'm 23, my mum was diagnosed with early onset 4 years ago while I was at University. I have since graduated and moved to London, whereas my parents are at least 2 hours away at home.

It is so difficult dealing with the guilt of not going home all the time. To be brutally honest in my case, my mum has reached a point where my visits don't make too much difference any more but I find it extremely hard seeing how hard this is for my dad.

He retired early with hopes of travelling the world with my mum, but has seen his dreams he worked so hard for shatter. He is struggling to cope, but doing everything he can but I can see that sometime soon it is likely he will break.

I am contemplating moving home to help take care of mum and feel really selfish that the idea of putting my career/friends/relationship on hold indefinitely seems like this evil disease is ruining my life along with that of my parents.

Not too sure where I'm going with this (I'm finding the rant quite therapeutic) but basically, you're not alone at all - always here to chat things over if you need anything.

Liv x
 

Pickles53

Registered User
Feb 25, 2014
2,474
0
Radcliffe on Trent
I am contemplating moving home to help take care of mum and feel really selfish that the idea of putting my career/friends/relationship on hold indefinitely seems like this evil disease is ruining my life along with that of my parents.
x

Not wanting to butt in, but just to say that as a parent nothing would distress me more than to have my daughter give up on her own dreams and compromise her own future at such a young age. Your feelings do you great credit, but the best gift you can give your parents is to live your own life well.

Help your dad organise some support for him and your mum, visit when you can, but it is not selfish to continue with your own plans too.
 
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EmmaThrace

Account Closed
Apr 17, 2013
10
0
London
Hi All,

I haven't logged on in a while and was reading through all the comments.
It just breaks my heart to know others go through a similar thing like I did.
I'm 23 now and my Father passed away in the December of 2013 of frontal lobe dementia at the age of 49.
My heart goes out to all of you and I am here to talk to if anyone should want to.
But in response to ojgiles' post...I hope you don't mind me saying that I also agree with other comments in that life is for living. And having even lost someone, I know that my father wouldn't have wanted me to stop pursuing my life and dreams.
 

Miss Merlot

Registered User
Oct 15, 2012
3,261
0
Just wanted to add in here that there are a lot more than our original two or three girls now down for joining our next meet up of ladies in their twenties and thirties dealing with dementia - we have a date in the diary set for our next London-based meet-up already!

If anyone would like to join our unofficial, wine and chit chat based "support group", please just PM.

All are welcome, and all will be among friends...
 

em_goldy

Registered User
Apr 17, 2015
2
0
Sydney, Australia
I am so glad I stumbled upon this website. I am 27 and my mother has vascular dementia. She moved in to a nursing home last year and no longer knows who I am. This has been the toughest year of my life but knowing I am not alone has lifted a weight off my shoulders x
 

magicpink

Registered User
Apr 28, 2015
2
0
Bedfordshire
my dad

Hi Lyla,

I am in exactly the same situation as you with my dad, he is only 64 (myself 34) and is now in an assessment centre and will never come home again. I still live at home so mum mum has my support but it is so hard. He was diagnose two weeks after she retired. I am trekking the grand canyon in march to raise money because it is all I feel I can do. I don't think my friends have any idea how serious and hard the situation is.

Rosie
 

Kimberlumps

Registered User
Aug 30, 2014
4
0
Epsom
Does anyone fancy signing up to do the 2015 marathon en mass as young carers with Young alzheimers parents? I'd love something to work towards!!
 

MLM

Registered User
Jun 17, 2014
130
0
Manchester
I wish I had seen the marathon suggestion sooner, I would've loved to have done this :)


Sent from my iPhone using Talking Point
 

Johnny5

Registered User
May 3, 2015
8
0
Just wanted to raise my hand and be counted as a younger adult carer, I am interested in knowing more about the informal meet up group that was mentioned by Miss Merlot. Please feel free to PM me.

Thank you and best wishes to you all,
Johnny5
 

Breanna

Registered User
Aug 27, 2015
1
0
Similar Situation

I can relate. I'm 28 and my mom is 55. She was diagnosed a few years ago. My husband, toddler daughter, and I were living 4 hours away when she was diagnosed. I tried just traveling to see her once a month, but it wasn't enough. After a lot of thought and prayer, we moved our family down to be with them. But I also needed to be there since my parents own their own business and my mom wasn't able to work in the office as much. Over the past couple of years, I have completely taken over the office and I'm partly my moms caregiver as well. It's so hard because early-onset is so different than regular Alzheimer's and people don't really understand. They just think she's in her 50s- it's can't be that bad. But when I see my mom regressing and my daughter progressing, it's extremely difficult. My daughter is now smarter than my mom in many areas and this frustrates my mom. They get in fights like two 5 year-olds would. But to only be in my 20s and have to see my mom suffer and slowly deteriorate is so sad. And you're right that there's a lot of support around, but they still can't fully understand. Why do we have to lose our moms at such a young age? I'm pregnant with another daughter who is due in December and I know she won't know my mom, her MeeMee. It's just so depressing.


Hi everyone,
I'm new to all of this. I didn't even know this site existed until I finally had the guts to google "young people who have a parent with dementia". I'm finding everything hard and I just feel like I have a hundred people around who can support me, but no one understands what it's like to have a mum in their early 50's with dementia.
I live in London and my parents live 3 hours away in the countryside. It's killing me. My dad is a hero and he loves my mum so much. I just feel so guilty I live far away but I know my mum (I guess what my mum would have said) is to do what I love. It's hard to explain.
She's just so ill now, it's like she's turned into a child.
My dad is amazing and I just feel sorry for him. It's horrible feeling sorry for your dad...
Is anyone else here going through something similar?
I would love to talk to someone who is... Xx
 

Quilty

Registered User
Aug 28, 2014
1,050
0
GLASGOW
Justvto say hello to all the young carers. Im well past it now at 49 but i was a carer at 28 less than a year after i got married. My dad had cancer and died a year later. I know this is nothing like caring for someone with dementia as i am 5 years pkus down that road with my mother now. What i wanted to tell you was what my dad told me before he died. He said " you dont look back at your life and wish you had spent more time at work. Get out there and enjoy every minute if your life. Fillow your dreams".
As a parent myself i now only want the best for my kids. I want them to follow their dreams.
Your parents will be happy to see you living the life you want. Be there for them but keep going. Love quilty
 
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