Guest guest Posted July 3, 2001 Report Share Posted July 3, 2001 Hi Jane, This is the first elder care center of its kind here and it really just opened a few months ago. They have a dr. 24/7, a geriatric specialist, nursing care, crafts and hobbies, etc. Right now they only have FIVE patients, plus some that come different days of the week. This is not a Honduran custom and it has some stigma attached to it (abandoning your parents, etc.)....my DH (who is still in denial that this is AD and not reaction to medications, etc) is having a fit. asked me to take him over there so he can see how really nice it is. So anyway, I am not sure about the nurses training, etc. but from all outward appearances all seems to be in order. For the time being, MIL will be going only during the day. MArlene will pick her up at five on week nights and we will keep her for the weekend (the center does not take the daily people on the weekend). I am glad I have you to share it with Joya OT: MIL Well, we went to the geriatric specialist yesterday (she is at the care center they just opened up) and she did the test where you write and draw and all that (???) and out of, I think 36 questions MIL got 15 correct. said she almost cried ( SIL, not MIL) when she saw her mom could not draw a house they showed her and did a stick figure like a three year old would. The dr. concurred with the internist and said MIL is in stage six AD....basically told that it was going to require a lot of patience cause it was only going to get worse. We believe she started this about five years ago, although she has been depressed most of her life and manic too. Dr. says life expectancy is 8-10 years (I read 15 somewhere). JoyaPlease visit our homepage at http://members.xoom.com/AChallengersYou will find information, recipes, before and after pictures.To contact any of the the list moderators, you can email them at:Joya (joya7@...), Kari (kari@...), Norma (norwood@...), JJ (cybercat@...), Dianne (lambert1@...) Visit our 2000 Train Tour Site - http://www.brunnet.net/k & l/web_site_train_tour/actraintour.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 3, 2001 Report Share Posted July 3, 2001 Hi Jane, This is the first elder care center of its kind here and it really just opened a few months ago. They have a dr. 24/7, a geriatric specialist, nursing care, crafts and hobbies, etc. Right now they only have FIVE patients, plus some that come different days of the week. This is not a Honduran custom and it has some stigma attached to it (abandoning your parents, etc.)....my DH (who is still in denial that this is AD and not reaction to medications, etc) is having a fit. asked me to take him over there so he can see how really nice it is. So anyway, I am not sure about the nurses training, etc. but from all outward appearances all seems to be in order. For the time being, MIL will be going only during the day. MArlene will pick her up at five on week nights and we will keep her for the weekend (the center does not take the daily people on the weekend). I am glad I have you to share it with Joya OT: MIL Well, we went to the geriatric specialist yesterday (she is at the care center they just opened up) and she did the test where you write and draw and all that (???) and out of, I think 36 questions MIL got 15 correct. said she almost cried ( SIL, not MIL) when she saw her mom could not draw a house they showed her and did a stick figure like a three year old would. The dr. concurred with the internist and said MIL is in stage six AD....basically told that it was going to require a lot of patience cause it was only going to get worse. We believe she started this about five years ago, although she has been depressed most of her life and manic too. Dr. says life expectancy is 8-10 years (I read 15 somewhere). JoyaPlease visit our homepage at http://members.xoom.com/AChallengersYou will find information, recipes, before and after pictures.To contact any of the the list moderators, you can email them at:Joya (joya7@...), Kari (kari@...), Norma (norwood@...), JJ (cybercat@...), Dianne (lambert1@...) Visit our 2000 Train Tour Site - http://www.brunnet.net/k & l/web_site_train_tour/actraintour.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 3, 2001 Report Share Posted July 3, 2001 How old is your MIL, Joya? Life expectancy with AD is really dependent on how she handles the disease. It can be significantly longer - or much shorter. Isn't it awful to see that the simple tests like drawing a house are simply not do-able anymore? Do you like the care center? Does it have an Alzheimers unit? Have the nurses and assistants been there for a while? Are they well-trained? I think that she will get the best care if you and the rest of the family are closely involved with her, show up when least expected, etc. (Of course that has to balance with your MIL's need for a changeless schedule!) Bring soft things for her to wear, nice things to smell and touch, photos of beautiful things (photocopies will be the best because she may rip up the pictures. . . ) Oh, it's a dreadful disease. Be sure that all of you take care of yourself in the midst of this! It is a long haul! Love to you! Jane OT: MIL Well, we went to the geriatric specialist yesterday (she is at the care center they just opened up) and she did the test where you write and draw and all that (???) and out of, I think 36 questions MIL got 15 correct. said she almost cried ( SIL, not MIL) when she saw her mom could not draw a house they showed her and did a stick figure like a three year old would. The dr. concurred with the internist and said MIL is in stage six AD....basically told that it was going to require a lot of patience cause it was only going to get worse. We believe she started this about five years ago, although she has been depressed most of her life and manic too. Dr. says life expectancy is 8-10 years (I read 15 somewhere). JoyaPlease visit our homepage at http://members.xoom.com/AChallengersYou will find information, recipes, before and after pictures.To contact any of the the list moderators, you can email them at:Joya (joya7@...), Kari (kari@...), Norma (norwood@...), JJ (cybercat@...), Dianne (lambert1@...) Visit our 2000 Train Tour Site - http://www.brunnet.net/k & l/web_site_train_tour/actraintour.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 3, 2001 Report Share Posted July 3, 2001 How old is your MIL, Joya? Life expectancy with AD is really dependent on how she handles the disease. It can be significantly longer - or much shorter. Isn't it awful to see that the simple tests like drawing a house are simply not do-able anymore? Do you like the care center? Does it have an Alzheimers unit? Have the nurses and assistants been there for a while? Are they well-trained? I think that she will get the best care if you and the rest of the family are closely involved with her, show up when least expected, etc. (Of course that has to balance with your MIL's need for a changeless schedule!) Bring soft things for her to wear, nice things to smell and touch, photos of beautiful things (photocopies will be the best because she may rip up the pictures. . . ) Oh, it's a dreadful disease. Be sure that all of you take care of yourself in the midst of this! It is a long haul! Love to you! Jane OT: MIL Well, we went to the geriatric specialist yesterday (she is at the care center they just opened up) and she did the test where you write and draw and all that (???) and out of, I think 36 questions MIL got 15 correct. said she almost cried ( SIL, not MIL) when she saw her mom could not draw a house they showed her and did a stick figure like a three year old would. The dr. concurred with the internist and said MIL is in stage six AD....basically told that it was going to require a lot of patience cause it was only going to get worse. We believe she started this about five years ago, although she has been depressed most of her life and manic too. Dr. says life expectancy is 8-10 years (I read 15 somewhere). JoyaPlease visit our homepage at http://members.xoom.com/AChallengersYou will find information, recipes, before and after pictures.To contact any of the the list moderators, you can email them at:Joya (joya7@...), Kari (kari@...), Norma (norwood@...), JJ (cybercat@...), Dianne (lambert1@...) Visit our 2000 Train Tour Site - http://www.brunnet.net/k & l/web_site_train_tour/actraintour.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 3, 2001 Report Share Posted July 3, 2001 We believe she started this about five years ago, although she has been depressed most of her life and manic too. Dr. says life expectancy is 8-10 years (I read 15 somewhere). My thoughts and prayers are with your family, too, Joya. This is a terrible thing to experience and the bad part is that it only gets worse. When gramma died, I was relieved that she didn't have to live like everyone was a stranger and being so unhappy and oblivious to life in general. Poor thing. So I can appreciate how hard this is for your family, although I didn't have to take care of gramma... that must be more than difficult. Kari Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 3, 2001 Report Share Posted July 3, 2001 We believe she started this about five years ago, although she has been depressed most of her life and manic too. Dr. says life expectancy is 8-10 years (I read 15 somewhere). My thoughts and prayers are with your family, too, Joya. This is a terrible thing to experience and the bad part is that it only gets worse. When gramma died, I was relieved that she didn't have to live like everyone was a stranger and being so unhappy and oblivious to life in general. Poor thing. So I can appreciate how hard this is for your family, although I didn't have to take care of gramma... that must be more than difficult. Kari Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 3, 2001 Report Share Posted July 3, 2001 Joya, it's a miserable situation. But your elder care center sounds lovely for now! For about a year, we had MIL go to a similar situation about a day or so a week. We stopped after a while because it was such an enormous task to get her ready to go. Took sometimes 3 hours. (!!!!!) It was also very difficult for my DH because of a similar social emphasis on caring for your own elderly parents yourself. But after interacting with her on a daily basis (when he's in town) he is able to see the intellectual degredation and the physical challenges for himself. That has been the blessing of her living right next door to us. At the same time, it's made it easier for his sisters to abdicate. And that's another story best not started! But. . . at least it's easier for us!!! I'm glad to know that you are dealing with similar situations --- and that there are other knowledgeable and wonderful people on this list who have "been there - done that." You've got an ear here, dear! :)Jane OT: MIL Well, we went to the geriatric specialist yesterday (she is at the care center they just opened up) and she did the test where you write and draw and all that (???) and out of, I think 36 questions MIL got 15 correct. said she almost cried ( SIL, not MIL) when she saw her mom could not draw a house they showed her and did a stick figure like a three year old would. The dr. concurred with the internist and said MIL is in stage six AD....basically told that it was going to require a lot of patience cause it was only going to get worse. We believe she started this about five years ago, although she has been depressed most of her life and manic too. Dr. says life expectancy is 8-10 years (I read 15 somewhere). JoyaPlease visit our homepage at http://members.xoom.com/AChallengersYou will find information, recipes, before and after pictures.To contact any of the the list moderators, you can email them at:Joya (joya7@...), Kari (kari@...), Norma (norwood@...), JJ (cybercat@...), Dianne (lambert1@...) Visit our 2000 Train Tour Site - http://www.brunnet.net/k & l/web_site_train_tour/actraintour.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 3, 2001 Report Share Posted July 3, 2001 Hello Joya: My heart goes out to your husband and mil. That is a long tough road with a heavy cross to bear. OT: MIL Well, we went to the geriatric specialist yesterday (she is at the care center they just opened up) and she did the test where you write and draw and all that (???) and out of, I think 36 questions MIL got 15 correct. said she almost cried ( SIL, not MIL) when she saw her mom could not draw a house they showed her and did a stick figure like a three year old would. The dr. concurred with the internist and said MIL is in stage six AD....basically told that it was going to require a lot of patience cause it was only going to get worse. We believe she started this about five years ago, although she has been depressed most of her life and manic too. Dr. says life expectancy is 8-10 years (I read 15 somewhere). JoyaPlease visit our homepage at http://members.xoom.com/AChallengersYou will find information, recipes, before and after pictures.To contact any of the the list moderators, you can email them at:Joya (joya7@...), Kari (kari@...), Norma (norwood@...), JJ (cybercat@...), Dianne (lambert1@...) Visit our 2000 Train Tour Site - http://www.brunnet.net/k & l/web_site_train_tour/actraintour.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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