early stage of Alzheimers

[Sue]

Dear group,

I have just found this discussion group and hope to benefit from it. My partner Ian who is in the early stage of Alzheimers also has bipolar disorder and when he has been manic in the past (which hasn't happened for some years now thank God) I found it really helpful to be in an email discussion group on bipolar disorder.

Ian is 77 years old and a loner so care for him really rests on me. So far he doesn't need help in things like dressing and bathing but I have to help him with most other things. He was diagnosed earlier this year and has accepted the diagnosis which in some ways was a relief since we were both finding his declining memory and cognitive skills very frustrating: now we know the cause and can try and adapt.

Ian is taking Aricept which I understand can help with cognitive issues at this stage. But I am concerned about his lack of mobility. He walks very slowly and unsteadily and tries to avoid doing anything that requires moving around. He's had a few falls, nothing very serious but one led to him spraining his ankle. The doctor advised physio but Ian refuses to go: he can be very stubborn! Any ideas?

Thanks,
Sue.

[C.Dub]

Post by Sue
Dear group,
I have just found this discussion group and hope to benefit from it. My partner Ian who is in the
early stage of Alzheimers also has bipolar disorder and when he has been manic in the past (which
hasn't happened for some years now thank God) I found it really helpful to be in an email
discussion group on bipolar disorder.
Ian is 77 years old and a loner so care for him really rests on me. So far he doesn't need help in
things like dressing and bathing but I have to help him with most other things. He was diagnosed
earlier this year and has accepted the diagnosis which in some ways was a relief since we were
both finding his declining memory and cognitive skills very frustrating: now we know the cause and
can try and adapt.
Ian is taking Aricept which I understand can help with cognitive issues at this stage. But I am
concerned about his lack of mobility. He walks very slowly and unsteadily and tries to avoid doing
anything that requires moving around. He's had a few falls, nothing very serious but one led to
him spraining his ankle. The doctor advised physio but Ian refuses to go: he can be very stubborn!
Any ideas?
Thanks,
Sue.

Hi Sue!

On a whim I decided to check out Usenet to see if I could find any AD support groups. Good
thing for you, as it appears this group isn't too well attended. It's likely it would have taken you

years to get a reply -- if at all! :)

First off, I want to say how sorry I am to hear about Ian's diagnosis. If you don't already know
by now, you (even more so than Ian) are going to be in for a very bumpy ride from here on out.

I have a few questions: How much do you know about dementia? Also, are you attending any
sort of Dementia/Alzheimer's support groups? I see you live in Oz, do you know if there *are*
any Dementia/Caregivers' support groups near where you and Ian live? Also, are you caring for him
by yourself? And lastly, is this doctor you mention a geriatrician, and/or does Ian see any doctors
who have any experience in dealing with Alzheimer's patients? I am asking these questions first,
before I address your question, because, to be quite honest, there are almost never any simple
answers when it comes to caring for someone with Alzheimer's. It also helps me to have a clearer
picture of your situation.

A little background on me: I moved back home in 1999, at age 35, to help my mom take care of
my dad, who had just been diagnosed with AD. I agreed to help Mom take care of my Dad, and
in exchange I'd have a place to live while I went to school. And for the next four and a half years
we took turns taking care of him at home. In Nov. 2003, we placed him in a nursing home, and he
died about six months later in May of 2004.

Fast-forward to today: Apparently, I didn't have enough fun the first time around with my dad,
because now I am now taking care of my mother, full-tme. She was diagnosed with dementia a
year ago. I can't help but compare both situations. Probably the biggest difference(s) between
caring for her and caring for my dad is that this time around: a) I am doing this pretty much alone,

and b) the fact that she has so many other health issues, means that her dementia is (almost)
the least of my concerns. I should say also that probably her biggest issue is with mobility --
she's
had 2 hips and 1 knee replaced and suffers from neuropathy (numbness) in both feet. Needless to
say, falling (or rather not falling) is a major concern for us as well.

Anyway, I do hope you see this. And if so, feel free to get back to me, and maybe together we can
come up with a solution to your problem.

Chris

[L***@wnc.edu]

Post by Sue
Dear group,
I have just found this discussion group and hope to benefit from it. My partner Ian who is in the early stage of Alzheimers also has bipolar disorder and when he has been manic in the past (which hasn't happened for some years now thank God) I found it really helpful to be in an email discussion group on bipolar disorder.
Ian is 77 years old and a loner so care for him really rests on me. So far he doesn't need help in things like dressing and bathing but I have to help him with most other things. He was diagnosed earlier this year and has accepted the diagnosis which in some ways was a relief since we were both finding his declining memory and cognitive skills very frustrating: now we know the cause and can try and adapt.
Ian is taking Aricept which I understand can help with cognitive issues at this stage. But I am concerned about his lack of mobility. He walks very slowly and unsteadily and tries to avoid doing anything that requires moving around. He's had a few falls, nothing very serious but one led to him spraining his ankle. The doctor advised physio but Ian refuses to go: he can be very stubborn! Any ideas?
Thanks,
Sue.

I don't have specific advice, but one of the best support groups for Alzheimer's disease is alzconnected.org. Post on the message boards there and you will likely receive some good advice.