I'm new to TP although not a new carer, my mother was diagnosed with AD two and a half years ago (approx a year after I started - consciously - noticing she wasn't her bright sociable self). I've met very few people who are in my boat, and kept meaning to join the forum as its seems such a supportive community. My father, who had his own physical problems and who died last summer, sadly never came to terms wth mum's condition and though he tried, could never be very supportive. In fact I'm glad he's no longer here to witness her deterioration (although the decline could be partly due to his sudden absence).
Anyway after several months of just about managing her care with short carer visits each day and my staying at her house nights and weekends, with mum staying stable and relatively happy, she suddenly started having delusional and paranoid episodes where she would end up crying with anxiety and fear and so would I. After a traumatic six wks she's now a lot calmer with an anti depressant called Sertraline and a small 25mg dose of a tranq called amisulpride - and a live in carer at £590 a week - only 2 weeks in but the barrier of having a stranger in the house has been breached and mum's taken it so much better than expected.
It's not perfect, mum still has paranoid confusion once or twice a day usually, but it's for a much shorter time. she's much better in herself - though I suppose I'm tempting fate. But at least I have a certain amount of my "old" lovely mum back and for that I'm so grateful.
I'd like to ask others how they cope with their loved one's agression - how they can avoid taking it personally and getting upset. Also, mum is the third generation (along with brother and cousin) to suffer dementia - has anyone had experience of getting tested for the faulty gene? Is t worth finding out? I don't have children so it would only impact on myself.
Many thanks for taking an interest.
Jude
Anyway after several months of just about managing her care with short carer visits each day and my staying at her house nights and weekends, with mum staying stable and relatively happy, she suddenly started having delusional and paranoid episodes where she would end up crying with anxiety and fear and so would I. After a traumatic six wks she's now a lot calmer with an anti depressant called Sertraline and a small 25mg dose of a tranq called amisulpride - and a live in carer at £590 a week - only 2 weeks in but the barrier of having a stranger in the house has been breached and mum's taken it so much better than expected.
It's not perfect, mum still has paranoid confusion once or twice a day usually, but it's for a much shorter time. she's much better in herself - though I suppose I'm tempting fate. But at least I have a certain amount of my "old" lovely mum back and for that I'm so grateful.
I'd like to ask others how they cope with their loved one's agression - how they can avoid taking it personally and getting upset. Also, mum is the third generation (along with brother and cousin) to suffer dementia - has anyone had experience of getting tested for the faulty gene? Is t worth finding out? I don't have children so it would only impact on myself.
Many thanks for taking an interest.
Jude