Early On-Set
@Carolb
My husband was 49 in 2002 when our journey with Alzheimer's began.
I joined this TP site in 2011. I was so grateful to have a place to ask questions in English (we are expats in Switzerland and my husband is English and I am American). I get real life experience from other carers here on Talking Point. Practical solutions and good tips on dealing with the various stages of the disease (obsessive compulsive behaviors, anger, aggression and acceptance of the intellectual/rational loss of my brilliant capable kind husband. ) Bits of our full story are posted and you can read the details by going to PalSal if you are interested. I have had ups and downs along the way and was frustrated, frightened about about the future and finances and lots of various worries over the years. (I myself was diagnosed with leukemia in 2015-and am now in remission again for the second time)
The best advice I received was
bring in help as early as possible. Someone to help weekly with housework and occasionally with gardening, at first. The idea of staff made it easier for the switch to people who then came in to help him as his disease progressed. My OH easily accepted walkers to join him on physical activity, 3 to 4 hours of mountain hiking 3 to 4 times a week keeping him from getting lost, which was a problem fairly early on. I believe this kept him from becoming a "wanderer". He loves to be in nature. Exercise has helped him to maintain his appetite and also has kept him physically fit over this journey. Now, he is never left alone. I have lovely people on contract for walking, and for what I call mansitting....so that I can continue to have my own life which has kept me sane over this long long journey. And he now goes to a daycare 3 times each week....of course, in the early part of our journey he did not wish to go to daycare as he was sooooo much younger than anyone else. But eventually, it became a solution, and now he enjoys his time at his daycare.....
As Brucie said above....each person is unique in their path with the disease.
I am grateful that my husband was able to see all four children graduate from universities (two from medical schools) , and begin their lives, He has been with us to the marriages of two. and we now have 6 grandchildren and one on the way in Feb. Our youngest was 11 at the start of our journey with this disease. But we have learned things along the way. A good life is possible and finding joy in moments in each and every day has been a practice I continually work on. Some days have been better than others, but each day was worth living......so far.
Welcome to Talking Point.....