Hi, I'm just new to the forum and the main reason I wanted to join was because my father has "Alzheimer's", he's 60 and I think he's in the last stages. HOWEVER, I'm so confused...(no, I don't think I'm getting it, yet) I'm confused because as far as I've read (and I've read a lot on the topic in the last 5 years) he doesn't appear to have the classic symptoms. I've read about every kind of dementia there is except Bi-Parietal Atrophy which Sara-Jane talked about because I can't find anything on that one...that must be so hard for Sara-Jane.
Dad can't talk, he seems to know me, or at least recognises that I'm someone who visits him each day (I get a big smile of delight from him most days). He walks non-stop until he falls over (we try to get him to sit down and rest, but can't be at the home 24 hours a day and the home is always short staffed for the job they have to do). Occasionally a word will come out and it appears to make sense but maybe thats wishful thinking...but he really does seem to understand a lot of the time, like I tell him Mum is coming to visit and he came out with "when?" Dad wears nappies/diapers, he seems to forget how to sit down sometimes, he's had seizures, and can't eat or dress wiithout someone feeding him or putting his clothes on. He never enjoyed reflecting on the past, he never forgot names until he couldn't talk anymore, he never wanders away (although he walks back and forth in the one area), he appears to see things that I can't see, or his vision is disturbed in some way because he shoos things away. He'll stare deep into my eyes and he seems to try and kiss me every now and then, he has this adorable habit of puckering up and then 'blowing' (like he's blowing a candle out instead of kissing but every now and then he does manage a kiss. He used to yell like crazy at reflections but if I explained to him that they were just reflections he seemed to understand and would settle down.
Anyway, I'm going on and on, but I just wanted to know if anyone else has had the same kinds of behaviours? This disease hasn't been the pretty sentimental 'alzheimers' you read about (and I'm sure alzheimers isn't) it has been destruction and tragedy as the amazingly intelligent man who was my father dies each day and we struggle (both him and I, I think) to keep him here. [oops that brought the tears on, I've been so good for weeks!] He doesn't seem to want to give up and I can't help him.
Hope someone can empathise...
Nat (aka: jc141265)
Dad can't talk, he seems to know me, or at least recognises that I'm someone who visits him each day (I get a big smile of delight from him most days). He walks non-stop until he falls over (we try to get him to sit down and rest, but can't be at the home 24 hours a day and the home is always short staffed for the job they have to do). Occasionally a word will come out and it appears to make sense but maybe thats wishful thinking...but he really does seem to understand a lot of the time, like I tell him Mum is coming to visit and he came out with "when?" Dad wears nappies/diapers, he seems to forget how to sit down sometimes, he's had seizures, and can't eat or dress wiithout someone feeding him or putting his clothes on. He never enjoyed reflecting on the past, he never forgot names until he couldn't talk anymore, he never wanders away (although he walks back and forth in the one area), he appears to see things that I can't see, or his vision is disturbed in some way because he shoos things away. He'll stare deep into my eyes and he seems to try and kiss me every now and then, he has this adorable habit of puckering up and then 'blowing' (like he's blowing a candle out instead of kissing but every now and then he does manage a kiss. He used to yell like crazy at reflections but if I explained to him that they were just reflections he seemed to understand and would settle down.
Anyway, I'm going on and on, but I just wanted to know if anyone else has had the same kinds of behaviours? This disease hasn't been the pretty sentimental 'alzheimers' you read about (and I'm sure alzheimers isn't) it has been destruction and tragedy as the amazingly intelligent man who was my father dies each day and we struggle (both him and I, I think) to keep him here. [oops that brought the tears on, I've been so good for weeks!] He doesn't seem to want to give up and I can't help him.
Hope someone can empathise...
Nat (aka: jc141265)