Larena

[Guest guest]

Larena,

Welcome to the group. I too, care for my 77 year old father with

LBD. I agree with Abby. It seems odd that you haven't seen some

changes. I would definately check into his medications. My dad was

in horrible shape before his diagnosis. After we discovered what

was going on they started him on Exelon for his cognitive function

and Abilify for his hallucinations. He was also on something for

depression. We saw a tremendous change in him once the medications

were adjusted. Once again, welcome. You will be in my thoughts and

prayers.

Donna L

> Larena:

>

> First of all, welcome to the group of wonderful people who are

sure

> to help you along this very bumpy road that has sprung in your

life.

>

> Like you, my father was officially diagnosed with LBD in mid-

October

> of last year. I can completely relate to having your life being

> turned around. I feel as if my life is in no way, shape or form

> anything like the carefree existence I had before my dad came

home.

> I can't say I haven't laughed since my dad's been diagnosed

because I

> have but I do know each of my laughs is a little less hard and a

> little more sad. When you think about it, we really haven't had

too

> much time to " digest " this.

>

> I'm so sorry you had this happen to you. While I'm pleased at the

> postings of new members, like everyone else here, I wish we didn't

> need to be here because of LBD.

>

> It appears odd to me that your dad hasn't had some change from

> these " bad " days. What medication is he on? You should be seeing

> some shift in his symptoms - albeit a temporary one. (My dad is

on

> 10mg of Aricept to help with his cognitive function and 25 mg. of

> Trazodone to help calm him down. He used to be on Sinemet to help

> with the Parkinson's .)

>

> I hope you do get his meds adjusted and have some semblance of

your

> father once more.

>

> Welcome once more and please let us know how your dad is faring.

>

> Abby

[Guest guest]

Hi Larena,

Welcome to the group. I am new also. I saw Kathy's email while I was trying to

catch up on messages.

As she said I live in IL, but I have been living with my dad as caregiver for

over a year and 1/2. Dad lives in Brewster in Putnam county. Actually I was

born in the Bronx a looooong time ago. Actually I am the only one in the family

born in NY.

One of the first things that I had to do when I came to NY (in between finding

doctors and caring for dad 24/7) was to find a lawyer. Dad had nothing in

place. I would suggest finding a elder care lawyer. There is a web site that

is for elder care lawyers. I will see if I can find it and post it. It covers

all of the US so could be of interest to others too. I found a wonderful lawyer

and she makes house calls! Since dad can't walk well enough to go out, she came

to him. I didn't find the lawyer from the web site but she is on there. I got

her name from the County Geriatric Care manager. That is another place you

could call for help. We got the Power of Attorney done and the health care POA.

Dad has a draft copy of a will made up but haven't had the final copy signed

yet. The lawyer told me that it can be signed at any time. (Dementia doesn't

enter into this document.) One of the great things about this elder lawyer is

that she is also an elder care financial planner. I have been moving assets out

of dad's name to prepare for moving to the nursing home, but when I sell the

house, I think that the State of NY will get half! She also told me to get the

medicaid application and start collecting paperwork. I've had so much other

paperwork to do that I haven't even started that yet. Luckily dad didn't

through anything away, but unluckily I've had to go through every piece of paper

and file a lot of it until I knew what he had. I have also found many old

checks that were never cashed and trying to get them reissued. Even found that

NYS had unclaimed funds waiting for him to claim and I got those for him. I

think that I know more about his benefits and assets than he ever did. Well I

go on. I know it is hard and your dad is so young.

If I can help you with anything, please give a shout.

Gwen

[Guest guest]

> Hi Larena,

>

> There is a web site that is for elder care lawyers. I will see

> if I can find it and post it. It covers all of the US so could be

> of interest to others too. I found a wonderful lawyer and she

> makes house calls!

> ........................

> If I can help you with anything, please give a shout.

>

> Gwen

Hi Gwen,

I was just browsing and your message popped up. The site you

mentioned is: http://www.naela.com

It's the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Funny that you

should be talking about them. The next update to the LBDA web site

will have this listed on the 'Links' page.

Jim

[Guest guest]

Hi Larena

Let me know where you are located and I will add you to the list.

kath skward2@...

Re: My Mom

> Hi Hannah,

>

> My dad has three small children with large chins that follow him

> everywhere. My girlfriend's mother thinks her nursing home is

> a " spa " that she's vacationing at. The workings of the brain is

> amazing, isn't it?

>

> Best wishes for you and your mom, and welcome.

> Larena

>

> > To Anyone Who Cares;

> > I'm new to this disease. Well, fairly new. My mother began her

> > problems last March(2003). She was telling us of the parade that

> went

> > past her house. She does live on a busy highway, but people on

> horses

> > in togas, some in the trees letting down yellow streamers and than

> as

> > quickly as they are released, drawling them back. We had her go to

> > the emergency room supecting a stroke. Lots of test were done and

> she

> > was set back home.

> > We took turns staying the night with her. That was were things

> got

> > weard! She would be up at night, telling us of what (we

> affectionaly

> > call the " tree people " ) they were doing. Her decriptions are so

> > vivid, but we knew not to question her. Time went on and we noticed

> > she would spend hours in her sunroom looking outside. She lived

> > alone. My father has been gone since 1990. I became alarmed when I

> > found out from the neighbors that she was 'playing games' with them

> > and taking food out for them to eat. She called the police several

> > times to have them see that they were invading her property and

> > setting up survilance cameras around her place. She started to

> become

> > frighted and crossed the four lane highway once to get away from

> one

> > of the 'tree people' who had a gun and was in her house.

> > We then had her admitted to the adult unit at the city hopital

> > near where we live. They had her in and out for a month, then

> > suggested she should go into assisted living. It has been so hard.

> > Mom made me power-of-attorney, just financial, but I find a lot of

> > the responsibility has fallen on me. I'm the next to the youngest

> of

> > six children.

> > Her closeness to these people is unreal.(Of course, they had to

> > move to the nursing home!)I fear that she will go further into this

> > world and cease being a part of mine.

> > I recently signed up with your e-mail group and my box is full

> of

> > messages you have written to one another. Please give me time to

> > clear them and then write to me. Your ideas and experiences will

> > help, I'm sure. Or you can contact me the old fashion way at

> > Hannah

> > 60 Stonybrook Dr.

> > town, OH 45121

> >

> > If I could record Mom's experiences, it would make a fascinating

> > book!

> >

> > Thanks for letting me vent!

>

>

>

>

> Welcome to LBDcaregivers.

>

>

>