Hi All,
My first post and thought I needed to reach out for any advice or tips. I have read lots and lots of information about Alzheimer's since my 84 year old mother got diagnosed with mild Alzheimer's in August. What I am struggling with now is how fast she has declined since then.
I have asked for the memory clinic to do another assessment & discuss her medication, but they won't do this until the middle of December.
She now literally can't hold anything in her memory for longer than a minute, has no idea of what day, month, date, time or whether it is day or night now. Is still trying to get to places on the train but forgetting to get off and going to the end of the trainline, luckily only about 40 minutes away. She lives by herself in a retirement flat, so luckily has help at hand if needed. She has carers who now come and give her medication to her as she can't remember when or how much to take. She is on memantine 15mg. Of course as per what I have read is quite normal, she says there is absolutely nothing wrong with her, although she phones me up saying she's confused and asks for help. She is also forgetting to eat and has lost a large amount of weight. I have discussed this with her GP and he is getting a dietician to see her, a month later we are still waiting.
The last straw was a phone call this morning from where she lives to say last night she put her dinner in the oven and then went to an evening in their communal area for the residents. 2 hrs later she tells someone she thinks she has forgotten to turn the oven off ! They find the dinner still in the oven and nearly on fire !
She has had 3 urine tests for a UTI. First 2 were contaminated, the last one the doctors said unlikely any infection but he gave her a course of antibiotics which she has now finished and no change.
I have spoken to the memory clinic again today and they said her cognitive test was quite good back in August and there is no need to do another, but thankfully they will send out an occupational therapist to check how mum is with her appliances round the house. Not sure how this will help with her remembering to turn off the cooker though !
So, I am now thinking she might need more care, maybe someone to live with her which will be an uphill battle, or what else I don't know. Maybe just wait for that crisis to happen. Any thoughts or advice will be greatly received.
Ruth
My first post and thought I needed to reach out for any advice or tips. I have read lots and lots of information about Alzheimer's since my 84 year old mother got diagnosed with mild Alzheimer's in August. What I am struggling with now is how fast she has declined since then.
I have asked for the memory clinic to do another assessment & discuss her medication, but they won't do this until the middle of December.
She now literally can't hold anything in her memory for longer than a minute, has no idea of what day, month, date, time or whether it is day or night now. Is still trying to get to places on the train but forgetting to get off and going to the end of the trainline, luckily only about 40 minutes away. She lives by herself in a retirement flat, so luckily has help at hand if needed. She has carers who now come and give her medication to her as she can't remember when or how much to take. She is on memantine 15mg. Of course as per what I have read is quite normal, she says there is absolutely nothing wrong with her, although she phones me up saying she's confused and asks for help. She is also forgetting to eat and has lost a large amount of weight. I have discussed this with her GP and he is getting a dietician to see her, a month later we are still waiting.
The last straw was a phone call this morning from where she lives to say last night she put her dinner in the oven and then went to an evening in their communal area for the residents. 2 hrs later she tells someone she thinks she has forgotten to turn the oven off ! They find the dinner still in the oven and nearly on fire !
She has had 3 urine tests for a UTI. First 2 were contaminated, the last one the doctors said unlikely any infection but he gave her a course of antibiotics which she has now finished and no change.
I have spoken to the memory clinic again today and they said her cognitive test was quite good back in August and there is no need to do another, but thankfully they will send out an occupational therapist to check how mum is with her appliances round the house. Not sure how this will help with her remembering to turn off the cooker though !
So, I am now thinking she might need more care, maybe someone to live with her which will be an uphill battle, or what else I don't know. Maybe just wait for that crisis to happen. Any thoughts or advice will be greatly received.
Ruth
