Dementia Caretaker Talk Hallucinations Confusion Sadness Lost Wandering and more

This is about my journey as a caretaker for someone with Dementia and things I have learned or am learning about dealing with Dementia and talking about living with Multiple Sclerosis and some MS related information or whatever I decide to talk about. I am not a doctor, check with a healthcare professional for any help you need. I am just giving my view of life with MS and talk about what I do but not giving advice, just showing what I am going thru.
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[@MrRigamortis86]

Nice rocking out w the lady bugs and bumble bees in the flowers Yeah it is rough how so many folks spend their twilight yrs in bad facilities. Ty for the content and have a good first week of July😊😊

[@underthecowlofms]

Gotta keep the critters happy 😊🦋🐞🐝 I hope to keep ma from one but I recently understand when it gets to a point that they have to. Past couple times I left the house to run errands she had problems and got scared which makes me have to be with her 24/7 unless someone is here so it puts a huge damper on your own social life doing anything you used to enjoy which sucks. Have a great 4th, don't blow a toe off 🤣

[@jenniferroshto7377]

My grandma had Alzheimer's, but my aunt insists it was dementia, not Alzheimer's. Whatever it was, she believed there was poison sprinkled on top of all her doors in her apartment, men were trying to steal from her, etc. When she went into a nursing home, she hated being around all the old people, when she was in her 90s as well. Now my mom thinks she's coming down with it because she can't get her computer to work right. I asked her when was the last time she used it? She said about 6 months ago, and I said that's why. I can't remember how to do some things, too because of MS. I have crappy short term memory and my husband gets frustrated when I can't remember what he told me 30 seconds ago. I have to be very focused when driving and don't go out of town anymore. It really sucks, but I'm still walking half to a mile at a time without a cane. One of my hobbies is card making with cardstock, rubber stamps and ink. I really have to focus though. I was stamping a pink flower that had two different shades of pink, but I stamped one of the shades green because I was thinking about the leaves around the flower. MS is so frustrating! I used to burn through books and have to s of them, but I swear I've been reading the same book for two years. It's hard to accomplish anything when I'm so tired I sleep until noon and takes me two hours to wash up, get dressed, comb my hair and feel awake. Then I don't sleep well because of insomnia or headaches. Keep doing what you can for yourself and your mom!

[@underthecowlofms]

Dementia and Alzheimer's are related, here in Wisconsin we have an Alzheimer's institute is also a Dementia facility. There are types of Dementia that have many Alzheimer's issues also like wandering off confused. Mine also worries about trust with people, always thinking everything and everyone are out to get her and take her stuff. Yeah the if we don't use it we lose it phrase is very true after our 40's. Ma has quit knitting and doing game books or reading and just sits staring into space unless outside walking around picking up sticks and weeds. Having a hard time finding anything else she will do anymore which makes for a long day of repetitive weird questions and thoughts. If I don't use something regularly I have to remind myself how to use it, with the MS cognitive issues I have when I forget how to do things I do every day like showering routine or dressing, just simple things we always did and start to forget parts of them. I can watch a movie or read something and a few days later pick it up again and not remember it. I still have lots of cognitive issues from the MS but doing the Podcast has helped me stay sharper and quicker. I still have my days where I repeat things I forgot I talked about and struggle to think of things but it has definitely helped. MS is a cruel MonSter, I am losing more of my walking every month, trying to keep away from the wheelchair but it is getting harder and harder. This year already I have done months of physical therapy and plan on taking more in the fall. It is a bummer how much time things can take for us and by the time we get done we are ready for a nap before doing what we were getting ready for. I hope you have as good a MS week you can with the holiday upon us, the heat was bugging me but the week is starting off cooler thankfully but 90's by Wednesday. Take care, thanks.

[@thriverprivate3383]

People without family members should be cared for too though. Yes more regulation needed for sure. Got to sleep closer to whomever you are caring for. Baby monitor works if you are a light sleeper; certainly can’t hope she stays in bed till you get up and that is just one of many reasons it is hard to find people to do such work and they should be paid well not on the bottom of wage barrel as caregivers are in general.

[@underthecowlofms]

Agreed, all people should be cared for. My wife and me talk about it all the time, you can't be guaranteed if you have kids that they will take care of you in the future but people like us without kids have to worry that we get something set up before/if we lose our mind/body or who knows what will happen other than getting thrown into the system and being lost and forgotten. It is hard to be by them 24/7 when you are the only person with them but then again, I get paid nothing and if she goes into a home where paid people are supposed to be caring for them and we don't see what is happening all day they are sometimes left alone more in those facilities than anyone knows. I have a few friends that work in elderly and hospice care facilities and the nightmares I have been told are the reason I will keep ma home as long as possible. My sisters went to a facility close to one of them that is all new and fancy looking and they found up to 5 elderly people locked in 3 different areas without anyone in the rooms with them other than the few other elderly patients in the room and when asked what medications ma was on my sisters said she is on nothing and they said she will be. I saw the abuse my grandma went thru also and I just can't understand how bars and restaurants are inspected more thoroughly than these facilities. Thanks for checking it out and I hope you enjoy your holiday week!