Hello,
This is the first time I have ever started a thread. My grandmother is 78 and has been experiencing memory problems over the past year. Her GP has prescribed citilopram to help her anxiety and has said he'll refer her to the local memory clinic if there is no improvement in a month. My mum and I sorted her medication out into a weekly pill box to help her remember to take them, but she took them all out at the weekend so we have spent the morning sorting it out again. My gran is getting more and more confused and distressed by these symptoms and fears that what happened to her mother is happening to her (her mother died with alzheimers disease nearly 30 years ago). Other things happening as well, forgetting how to use microwave etc. She lives alone in a bungalow, in a small village but still drives and we live fairly near
The main worry to me is my own mother who came out from hospital 4 weeks ago after a major op. She also does a fair amount of stuff for my other grandparents as well and she has been crying over lunch not knowing if she'll be able to cope if what happened to her gran happens to her mum. I am trying to support my mum as much as I can, but although I have worked with people with dementia I feel at a loss to know where to begin.
Sorry for going on...I know all of you have far bigger problem than us, but would really appreciate any information about the role of memory clinics and how they can help patients and their families.
Thank you for listening.
Jodie
This is the first time I have ever started a thread. My grandmother is 78 and has been experiencing memory problems over the past year. Her GP has prescribed citilopram to help her anxiety and has said he'll refer her to the local memory clinic if there is no improvement in a month. My mum and I sorted her medication out into a weekly pill box to help her remember to take them, but she took them all out at the weekend so we have spent the morning sorting it out again. My gran is getting more and more confused and distressed by these symptoms and fears that what happened to her mother is happening to her (her mother died with alzheimers disease nearly 30 years ago). Other things happening as well, forgetting how to use microwave etc. She lives alone in a bungalow, in a small village but still drives and we live fairly near
The main worry to me is my own mother who came out from hospital 4 weeks ago after a major op. She also does a fair amount of stuff for my other grandparents as well and she has been crying over lunch not knowing if she'll be able to cope if what happened to her gran happens to her mum. I am trying to support my mum as much as I can, but although I have worked with people with dementia I feel at a loss to know where to begin.
Sorry for going on...I know all of you have far bigger problem than us, but would really appreciate any information about the role of memory clinics and how they can help patients and their families.
Thank you for listening.
Jodie