@@elmobolan4274 there seems to be a great variety of presentations. I’m lucky that Heather is calm and relatively cooperative, etc.

@JohnvanGurp yes, my mother was formally diagnosed and is receiving medication to delay the enviable, but I know it can only do so much....thank u.

If there’s one piece of advice, I can give you, that is to be prepared to adjust your sales and the rudder as the wind shifts. You have to be ready to accept changes as they come and just roll with them. If you can stay ahead of things by a step or two, that will relieve a lot of stress as well.

@JohnvanGurp Absolutely-we never correct her or make her feel bad. We just continue to answer her questions or act like she has told us something, even though she has repeated herself 4-5 times.

@@shirinvahedi5090 thank you for the kind comment Shirin!

@@MsMamatube thank you so much for that feedback, I appreciate it!

@@jenniferrobinson1792 thank you so much for your kind and supportive comments, it really lifts my spirits to hear from people like you.

@@lorih.1087 What a story about your dad - it sounds like he was a kind and loving man. Thanks for sharing and for your encouragement. I really appreciate it.

@@penni6432 Thank you for your very supportive and kind comments, I appreciate it!

@@jilliananderson5509 thank you so much, I honestly can’t tell some days if I’m on the right track so having this kind of positive feedback really helps me. I appreciate it!

@patnewson6908 Hi Pat, no I do all of that myself. I hired a home care company a while ago and asked that they arrive at 8am hoping to start to get that kind of help but they said the morning shift starts at 8:30am. Everything is done by then, and the other busy period is at bedtime also when I’m alone. So I just gave up and will keep doing it. I am getting better at it with some strategic “stations” set up in the house. Same with showering… I just get in the shower with her. I can’t imagine having a stranger get her showered. I have her in a day program three times per week and my sister comes once a week, so I get sufficient breaks. I’m keeping my options open for the future and that could include 24 seven live-in help, or even a care facility. Thanks so much for your comment, I really appreciate hearing from viewers.

Thanks so much for that Marty. it’s great to have this kind of positive feedback, it really lift my spirits. Have a great day.

It sounds like he was quite an exceptional leader, and a wonderful father as well. Yes I definitely see my girl shining through here and there throughout the day and that’s what keeps me going. Thanks so much for your comments, I really appreciate it!

@@JohnvanGurp 💙💙💙

Yes, when I look at those old videos I tear up. I guess that’s natural.

@@JohnvanGurp Completely natural. 👍🏼♥️🇨🇦

@@user-sj8mf8jn1z I’m humbled by your praise - thank you! I feel like I’m on the right track here with my hunny. I appreciate your comments!

@@rodvessey7426 thanks Rod, I really appreciate that. Sorry about your mother, even at 93 it can be difficult.

@@NickPiers thank you Nick, I’m sorry to hear about your mom. I really appreciate your comments and your support here and on Facebook as well. You’re a good egg!

@@emmek2814 I will confess that’s something that’s never crossed my mind. It might be worth a try! Thanks for the suggestion, I appreciate it.

@@nancisailormoy9135 I’m glad you enjoy those videos! I have others and I think I’ll do a few more over time. She was so vibrant and alive and was the best partner I could ask for. I still love her to pieces even in her current state. Heather was prescribed donepezil and fluoxetine by the geriatric doctor. Neither one has a really strong track record of positive results so I was a little sceptical from the start. She had side effects from the donepezil. If she took it in the morning, she was nauseous, and if she took it at bedtime, she had sleep disturbances with vocalization and thrashing around, so I just stopped and her doctor agreed that was the best decision. The fluoxetine also didn’t seem to make any difference at all, and I wonder if it’s sometimes prescribed for mood issues for some dementia, patients, along with the limited evidence of some help with the progression of memory loss. I stopped that as well and again her doctor felt that was a reasonable decision. Some of the thinking is that her memory degraded so drastically and so quickly that it was really pointless to try to slow things down, and with her loss of speech, quality of life isn’t that great anyways. Everything is moving so fast that it’s really pointless to try to make these incremental wins, in my opinion. Anyway, I’m not an expert or a doctor and I’m just sharing my observations. I hope it’s helpful.

@@deedeew4040 it’s so very many people seem to be touched by it, in all walks of life. It truly is devastating to families and victims. Thanks so much for your comment, I appreciate it.

@@sonyawinterberg9278 thank you Sonja, I have very fond memories of that evening as well and the warmth of your company and the company of your friends. Unbeknownst to us it had probably started then already. Well, that’s the way it goes. I really appreciate your support, and your comments and that you reach out. *hugs*

@@mscavsfan she had a diagnosis at our local geriatrics clinic and they never got specific about what type of dementia she has. The frontotemporal diagnosis is my own, but obviously I’m not a doctor so who knows. It’s just based on my observation and reading. After her diagnosis they more or less said goodbye, go live out the rest of your days. We don’t really need to see you again. Everything points to frontal, temporal dementia, under the label of early onset dementia. I don’t think they’re exclusive.

My mum had early onset Alzheimer’s- she was 59 years old when it all started - and she died when she was 72 in 1997. There was no help back then and when my dad asked for help bathing my mum as they only had a bath with a shower over it and she couldn’t understand how to get in - social services (in the UK) offered to come round once a month! She was doubly incontinence and my dad told them to f**k off. She ended up in hospital for the last 3 years of her life as back then, patients with Alzheimer’s went to hospital not a care home. You are doing an unbelievably difficult job and I send you a huge hug 🤗. PS sorry for the long post ❤❤

@@maggietaylor9475 wow, 13 years! Brutal… in comparison, I’m pretty lucky with all the resources available. Thanks for your comment, I really appreciate it.

@@JohnvanGurp and, to make matters even worse, early on in her illness, the doctors knew what was wrong with her, but didn’t tell my dad as they said ‘it would upset him’, so my poor dad spent at least three years thinking she had a psychosomatic condition. It was only when they moved nearer to me did they get the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s from their new doctor. I am SO glad that understanding of this illness and support for the families is now in place. If you are religious, may your God go with you. If you’re not, sending you love and peace on your journey x

@@maggietaylor9475 incredible… wow! The current openness and lack of stigma is definitely the way to be.

@@eastcoastrabbit4474 you are right about that… The speed at which this has come on is absolutely staggering and breathtaking. It’s been a hell of an adjustment process, and only through a lot of tears, grieving and letting go on my part have I been able to keep my head screwed on straight. We met when we were 15 so it’s been 46 years. That’s a very deep well of love to draw from to find the internal resources and strength to provide the best care possible, and that’s my commitment to her. Thanks for your comment, I really appreciate it.

@@JohnvanGurp I love how you love her. You are an amazing husband, and Heather is an amazing wife!

@@toryberch thank you so much for that kind comment, I really appreciate it.

@@JohnvanGurp Yw 😊

@@Jeevesbert there were a few others over the years… Kindred spirits! I would count you among them for sure.

@@northernlitez1 this is a really simplistic way to look at things and it’s not possible for everybody. Some people have fur greater challenges to face. But when I get up in the morning, I can either have a sad and miserable day or I can have an OK or even happy day. It just depends on how you face the challenges that come along… So I try to keep it light, I try not to let anything feel too heavy or serious, and I look for solutions and strategies as I go through my day. This formula seems to work. Thanks for your comment!

@@annealbert9490 thanks for your comments. I really haven’t looked into it to any degree and I never thought about the changing sensitivity of nerves. It totally makes sense! Long before diagnosis, Heather was already exhibiting signs of odd, thermal regulation, by wearing coats when it really wasn’t coldand really fussing over household temperature and car temperature etc. it all follows. Luckily I don’t have any concerns with the nakedness and privacy and she has no problem with me being right there in the shower with her and helping her clean. Thanks again for the comments, I really appreciate it!