My leukemia's back.

[Alaskan]

He never did remember her again.

I have heard that can happen because the one with dementia remembers the YOUNG person they married, and not the old person they became.

And yrs, x3? on the many kinds of dementia. Which is good in a way... because some have causes that we can now understand.

Some is just due to reduced blood flow to parts of the brain, where just improving collesterol levels and stuff like coffee (that helps dilate capillaries / improve blood flow) can slow progression.

 

[ronott1]

Alzheimer's, and dementia are not the same thing, although there are some similarities. As others have stated, get your resources together, so you'll occasionally have time for yourself. My grandfather developed dementia when he was in his 80's. He did not decline rapidly, but did decline through the years. My mother was always able to "work with" him. He was set in his ways about a lot of things, but usually cooperative with my mom. She talked with him, not at him, although when he was having his saner moments, she would address him as an adult, but quickly be able to change when his mental state warranted it. Mom, and dad included him in most things, and took him wherever they went.

On the other hand, we had a friend that her dad woke up one morning, screaming about the woman in his bed. It was his wife. He had forgotten her. He remembered all their grown kids, but forgot her. He constantly complained about "that" woman. He didn't like her in his bed. To pacify him, she moved into a different room. Later, he didn't like "that" woman in his house. The kids told him she cared a great deal about him, and was there to help him. There were times the kids would have to call him, and reassure him it was ok for "that" woman to be there. He never did remember her again.

There are different types of dementia. Alzheimer disease is a type of dementia. Some are treatable (preventable like mini strokes). It is important to know what type of dementia they have. Robin Williams was being treated for the wrong type of dementia which likely lead to his suicide.

I am sorry for you having to go through this with your Grandfather.

My Grandma on my Mom's side had mini strokes. Eventually she lost the ability to form long term memories. She had them up to a point and then no new ones. She could only remember about the last half hour of time.

Still quite sharp but it was weird to realize that She did not remember that you had seen her just an hour earlier.

They try to hide it too

 

[bruceha2000]

weird to realize that She did not remember that you had seen her just an hour earlier.

That was my paternal grandfather in 1979 when I graduated college. His recall had been slipping for years but it really came out when my aunt and uncle had a family graduation get together for me. This was in So. Cal and my Dad and stepmother lived in Oregon. Dad was there and every time my grandfather saw him, he said "Hi Lou, when did you get here?". He died a couple of weeks shy of his 96th birthday in 1991. He spent many years in a nursing home, thought my aunt (his daughter in law) was his daughter (he had just the 2 sons) and apparently had a friendship there speaking Spanish (his first language) to a woman who was speaking German. Neither understood the other, kinda odd.

 

[Cynthia12]

Cold outside. Warm in my house. ☺ Need to get going on some PT. Late start this morning.

 

[Alaskan]

Everyone on my maternal grandmother's side got dementia. ..except for 1 alcoholic.

My one great aunt was interesting. ..I think she was on a 5 minute loop. I didn't mind though... I got to work on my delivery. By the 10th time of practice I was making a great impression!

My greatgrandmother wasn't so bad... she could remember you as long as you didn't leave her sight.

 

[lazy gardener]

Freezing rain here today, on top of 4" of snow. I spent about 2 hours snowblowing slush. so when things freeze up, we'll still be able to get out of the yard. Oh the pleasure of winter. Not.

 

[bruceha2000]

I'm looking at the same stuff LG. Not warm enough to melt all the snow off the driveway area like the last thaw a week or so back. Could be an ice rink out there and the cars don't have skate blades.

 

[Blooie]

Sunny and 31 here in Wyoming.

 

[Alaskan]

Sunny and 31 here in Wyoming.

any snow?

 

[Blooie]

Some on the ground, but we haven't had any since the skiff we got on top of the freezing rain we had on Friday. This is much more like our normal "Big Horn Basin" weather than the past 3 years have been, thank goodness! We usually don't get a ton of snow. The first 15 we lived here we didn't even have a snow shovel. Most years we are able to just sweep the snow off. The mountains surrounding us trap most of it. But we DO get the winds...boy, do we get winds!!