Hi - as you will see, I just joined yesterday.
My dad has just turned 69. He has had a diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease for at least 15 years. Over the years that had progressed. His behaviour has changed very badly in the last 3 years. Looking back, they were probably the early stages of dementia setting in but masked to us by his PD.
He is a very independent and strong minded fellow! His eye sight and balance is just awful now and he keeps falling. From appearance he looks like a shipwreck victim!! It has just slowly dawned on my mum and I what is going on. Although they live very close to us, my mum is caring for him day and night and is exhausted and at the end of her tether.
I don't want to blast her with too much given how she already feels in over her head but know I have to gently push her in the direction of their GP and we urgently need to look into getting an Enduring Power of Attorney set up (if that is still possible ). I have found the Alzheimer's Website invaluable for information and am sure I will glean plenty from all of you and your experiences once I have time to read through more. I cannot imagine the GP will fail to diagnose dementia and then, hopefully, Social Services can be called on for a care package (although I am rather a cynic in that hope as have a profoundly disabled daughter and don't think much of SS from her point of view!).
I look forward to 'chatting' to you all.
My dad has just turned 69. He has had a diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease for at least 15 years. Over the years that had progressed. His behaviour has changed very badly in the last 3 years. Looking back, they were probably the early stages of dementia setting in but masked to us by his PD.
He is a very independent and strong minded fellow! His eye sight and balance is just awful now and he keeps falling. From appearance he looks like a shipwreck victim!! It has just slowly dawned on my mum and I what is going on. Although they live very close to us, my mum is caring for him day and night and is exhausted and at the end of her tether.
I don't want to blast her with too much given how she already feels in over her head but know I have to gently push her in the direction of their GP and we urgently need to look into getting an Enduring Power of Attorney set up (if that is still possible ). I have found the Alzheimer's Website invaluable for information and am sure I will glean plenty from all of you and your experiences once I have time to read through more. I cannot imagine the GP will fail to diagnose dementia and then, hopefully, Social Services can be called on for a care package (although I am rather a cynic in that hope as have a profoundly disabled daughter and don't think much of SS from her point of view!).
I look forward to 'chatting' to you all.