Welcome to Talking Point! Find out more and say hello...

[Mark_W]

Welcome to Talking Point

If you have dementia, or care for someone who does, you're very welcome to join our community and get support from others. Find out more about how to join and say hi to our friendly community on this discussion!

Finding out more

If you've got questions about how to use Talking Point click on these links below.

• You can find answers to frequently asked questions here.
• Our Help videos will show you how to navigate the different areas of Talking Point.
  
• We also have a Quick Guide explaining how to use Talking Point including logging in, posting, replying, checking private messages and searching.
• Also we recommend having a read through our Guidelines which are some useful tips and things to remember when posting.

Connecting with others

Head over to our list of forums to find people who are in a similar situation, people at a similar stage of dementia or an information topic that interests you.

Here are some tips on how to post a reply or start your own discussion...

1. When you're in a forum, look for the blue "Post New Thread" or "Reply" buttons at the top or bottom of discussions

2. To start a discussion, type a title, add your message and choose 'Create Thread'.

3. To add a reply just add your message and choose "Reply"

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Any questions?

If you have any questions about using Talking Point, you can email us on talkingpoint@alzheimers.org.uk or Use our Contact Form - we're here to help.

Saying hello

This is our welcome thread - the place many members start. Our volunteer hosts and regular members are here to say hello to you and to welcome you to our community.

Why not tell us a little about your experience and how you'd like Talking Point to help you?

Whatever you're facing today, we hope you find our community to be helpful and supportive.

Mark

 

[Rebel Daughter]

Hi, my Mum has Alzheimer's and is on medication now. I don't live close by (400 miles away) how can I best help her and my Dad? I am visiting this weekend, again what can I do that would make a difference?

 

[Lesley2804]

Hi, is it possible to get respite at home where a support worker goes into the home for 3 hours to allow your dad some time to do his own thing and the support worker looked after your mum by either sitting chatting, taking her out just getting to know her?

 

[Danila]

Greetings! I'm just beginning this journey with my mum. We don't have a diagnosis yet, had first appointment at the memory clinic, brain CT coming up in a couple of weeks, but the symptoms seems pretty certain from what I'm reading. She's forgetful, she repeats herself, she gets fixated on an idea. The worst thing of course is that she can see what's happening. Poor mum is distressed, but quite often says, yes I've got dementia. From a practical point of view, my husband and I have the flexibility to move in with mum, which is what we've done. Just taking it day by day. Any suggestions gratefully received! Thanks for listening.

 

[karaokePete]

Hello @Rebel Daughter, you are welcome here and I hope you find the forum to be a friendly and supportive place.

Do take a good look around the site as it is a goldmine for information. In particular, there is a page where a post code search can be done to check for support services in your parents own area. If you are interested in this, clicking the following link will take you there

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/find-support-near-you

Now that you have found us I hope you will keep posting as the membership has vast collective knowledge and experience.

 

[karaokePete]

Hello @Lesley2804, welcome to TP. I hope you find the forum to be a friendly and supportive place.

Such a service is available in my area so it would be worth while contacting Social Services about this.

There are Society Factsheets about care needs assessments etc that you may find useful and you can find these by clicking the second lines of the following links
Replacement care (respite care) in England (462)
PDF printable version

Assessment for care and support in England (418)
PDF printable version

Now that you have found us I hope you will keep posting as the membership has vast collective knowledge and experience.

 

[karaokePete]

Hello @Danila, you are welcome here and I hope you find the forum to be a friendly and supportive place.

Do take a good look around the site as it is a goldmine for information. When I first joined I read old threads for information but then found the AS Publications list and the page where a post code search can be done to check for support services in ones own area once a diagnosis is in place. If you are interested in these, clicking the following links will take you there

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/publications-factsheets-full-list

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/find-support-near-you

You will see that there are Factsheets that will help with things like getting care needs assessments, deciding the level of care required and sorting out useful things like Wills, Power of Attorney etc.

Now that you have found us I hope you will keep posting as the membership has vast collective knowledge and experience.

 

[Trickywoo]

Hi there, I took early retirement to be with my wife who only was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s at 61. I’ve had a representative from the Alzheimer’s society at home to run through and start off the PIP process with Dwp. Also some support groups but my wife didn’t like them due to they were all older people there. There seems to be a lack of support for people under 65 with Alzheimer’s in our area? Early days and I will be investigated other avenues to find support.

 

[nitram]

@Trickywoo
Is there any chance that your wife could 'volunteer to help' and attend the sessions?
It could be anything - helping with tea and biscuits, recording who's there for fire safety purposes, handing out musical instruments,.....

 

[Weemerseymac]

Hello.

I'm a newbie here from North Merseyside.

My elderly Mum has a diagnosis of Alzheimer's and my Dad, who recently moved into a rest home due to unrelated issues, is now going through the dementia assessment process.

Hoping to find some support for working daughters and sons (of all ages) of those living with dementia. The networks in my area all appear to be in the daytime.

TIA

 

[nae sporran]

Welcome to TP @Weemerseymac. Sorry you are struggling to find support networks in day time. I think it's the same here, though there is a supper club one day a month. You will find advice and support here and there are a few members in your area.

 

[Mike L]

Hello everybody . Just came across your site and have joined to learn as much as I can about dementia and how to deal with it from a carer’s point of view . Also to share ideas if I can be any help as time passes .
My wife has been having problems with her vocabulary and memory for about 8 years and really struggling for the last two years . She did the Addenbrookes test and got 77/100 . An MRI scan followed but didn’t show any major changes . Her specialist has just diagnosed her with FTD of the Semantic dementia variant . I have tried to explain to her the diagnosis but she thinks it’s none sense and there is nothing wrong with her .
Anyway I hope to learn as much as I can about semantic dementia as I can now so I know how to cope with the demands ahead and help her to have the best life possible .

 

[nae sporran]

Welcome to TP, @Mike L.
Sorry your wife has struggled for so long without a diagnosis. I think denial or inability to understand a diagnosis is fairly common and in my partner's case she is happier on days when she has a degree of ignorance. I don't know about semantic variants, but many on here will be able to help if you start your own thread. In the meantime https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/types-dementia/frontotemporal-dementia will give you some info and the link to other resources looks useful.
If you type your town or postcode into the box at https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/find-support-near-you you should find some extra local help and support. https://carers.org may find you some carers groups near you too. I hope any of that is helpful.

 

[Alzheimerhelp]

I'm currently trying the Dr Bredesen Recode program with my 67 year old mother who is showing signs of early onset Alzheimer's. I am hoping this will turn things around for the better and will post over the next 6 months how we do.

 

[katee72]

I'm new to talking point. My Father just got a diagnosis of Alzheimers today, following an assessment at the memory clinic before Christmas and the subsequent scan. It wasn't an unexpected diagnosis and we are not really in the early stages however it now seems appropriate to do the research now there is a label and gather support. Whilst Dad needs my support my Mum as the primary care giver is looking tired and weary and found today's diagnosis quite traumatic emotionally. I need to be able to support her too and thought a bit of online support for me too wouldn't go amiss. I'm reading lots, sending emails and trying to find out as much as I can. No questions as such just interested to read others experiences.

 

[nae sporran]

Welcome to TP, @katee72. Your mum's reaction is normal, it can be very tiring caring for someone with dementia and hard to accept where it is leading. There is a wealth of reading at https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/publications-factsheets if you have not already looked there and if you or your mum need help locally then https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/find-support-near-you is a good resource.
I won't burden you with any more, but would recommend a care needs assessment to see what help your mum can get with daily caring and respite if she needs it. You will find the support and answers here as we are all in the same boat one way or another.

 

[Duckythree]

Hi there, I care for my mum who has eventually been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease at the end of last year, it's been a long battle. This also affects my mums mobility severely. My own life is on hold as it was becoming impossible to hold a job down and care for her too. Each day is a challenge as it is a life of confusion and turmoil! I'm hoping for some tips etc from this forum☺

 

[karaokePete]

Hello @Duckythree you are welcome here and I hope you find the forum to be a friendly and supportive place.

Do take a good look around the site as it is a goldmine for information. When I first joined I read old threads for information but then found the AS Publications list and the page where a post code search can be done to check for support services in ones own area. If you are interested in these, clicking the following links will take you there

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/publications-factsheets-full-list

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/find-support-near-you

You will see that there are Factsheets that will help with things like getting care needs assessments, deciding the level of care required and sorting out useful things like Wills, Power of Attorney etc.

Now that you have found us I hope you will keep posting as the membership has vast collective knowledge and experience.

 

[EvieMay]

Hi!
I've been lurking on here for a while but I've finally decided to start discussing all the ups and downs of being a carer.

My Aunt (who is more of a mother to me) was diagnosed with dementia a little while back and I'm adjusting to the new role I have in her life.

I'm looking forward to chatting to people who know what I am going through!

 

[karaokePete]

Hello @EvieMay, welcome to TP. I hope you find the forum to be a friendly, informative and supportive place.

You have certainly come to the right place for understanding so feel free to ask questions or join any threads.