I'm new here - the site and the experience so please bear with me.
My mother has finally been diagnosed with Alzheimers after twelve months of struggling to get people to listen to us. She's had her first Memory Clinic appointment today and has been assessed as having such an appauling score that she's eligible for medication as she has severe confusion and memory problems.
The situation is this - my mother is 74 and is being cared for by her 80 year old sister who lives with her. After todays clinic visit it has scared me as to just how long a haul this is going to be for us all and want to find out just what help and if necessary, financial assistance, my mum / aunt are eligible for. I work stupidly long hours running my own business in order to help support myself and my two children, so don't see mum as much as I'd like (and to be perfectly honest and selfish - struggle to cope with the situation when I do see her).
In addition I would find it helpful to share other peoples experiences - did the medication help, what's the worsed I can expect, what's the best way for me to cope with my mothers illness (that sounds selfish, but she's unaware that she has health problems), what's the likelihood of her being able to stay in her home, and I suppose also - and this is an awful question to have to ask - what's the life expectations of an Alzheimers sufferer?
I know that there isn't just one question in this post - but I just don't know what to do.
My mother has finally been diagnosed with Alzheimers after twelve months of struggling to get people to listen to us. She's had her first Memory Clinic appointment today and has been assessed as having such an appauling score that she's eligible for medication as she has severe confusion and memory problems.
The situation is this - my mother is 74 and is being cared for by her 80 year old sister who lives with her. After todays clinic visit it has scared me as to just how long a haul this is going to be for us all and want to find out just what help and if necessary, financial assistance, my mum / aunt are eligible for. I work stupidly long hours running my own business in order to help support myself and my two children, so don't see mum as much as I'd like (and to be perfectly honest and selfish - struggle to cope with the situation when I do see her).
In addition I would find it helpful to share other peoples experiences - did the medication help, what's the worsed I can expect, what's the best way for me to cope with my mothers illness (that sounds selfish, but she's unaware that she has health problems), what's the likelihood of her being able to stay in her home, and I suppose also - and this is an awful question to have to ask - what's the life expectations of an Alzheimers sufferer?
I know that there isn't just one question in this post - but I just don't know what to do.