Ms. Vickie My Dad passed away this year. I took care of him at home for two years. I wanted to let you know your videos were such a blessing for us. Thank you again.
Excellent video. My brother (70) shared this video with me (65) today. I'm considering going to Dr to get exam to establish my baseline, starting to notice short-term memory loss. Our mother and one of her brothers had Alzheimer's. Your video was very helpful, thank you! "Hey from another Southern gal over in Georgia! It's so nice to hear people that sound like me!" 😁. ☮️❤️😎
Excellent video my dad has dementia. Ever since my mother passed away it’s been down hill for him . But what’s worse is that he eats very well but is losing weight rapidly. He’s 5’11 n about 145 pounds . He’s in stage 6 . I really don’t know what’s crazing the weight loss .
Thank you Ms. Vickie. My Dad is in the later stages of dementia with grace. Thank you for helping countless people. I have been a nurse for years and your videos with such empathy, knowledge and GRACE. Thank you again and God bless.
I just found you because I reach out for prayers for my twin sister who went into an Assisted Living facility on Saturday. In just two days of visiting your site I have learned so much and it has been comforting to hear from thise who have had this experience. Thank you so much for what you do and may God bless you abundantly 🙏
My husband having Alzheimer’s Dementia and losing his memory in stage four has lost his short term memory, but I swear he can remember everything from his past including coming out of the womb!
Isnt that the truth?!? Seems the past is so vivid to my sil. Although she is getting more advanced now and doesn’t talk about the past like she used to…
We noticed a difference in our mom when she started calling us multiple times a day and talking about the same thing and not remembering that she already called. She also lost weight and we would ask her what she ate today and she would struggle so hard to remember what she ate. Soon after this we couldn't get a hold of her by phone and when my brother arrived at her home, she was sitting on the floor at the front door and was confused and didn't know why she was there. We took her to her doctor and realized since her last appointment ( 30 days ago)she had lost about 35 lbs. She was hospitalized after no success at gaining the weight back and diagnosed with dementia.
Big hugs. I know it’s hard as a caregiver. If you haven’t joined the group, there is so much good support and encouragement over there. Here is the link: m.facebook.com/groups/dementiawithgrace
I thought my dad just had Alzheimer’s ( his momma had it too and died at age 88),and I thought I knew what stage he was in but in July he had an ischemic stroke , and he had already had numerous “ TIA’S ( mini strokes) through the years , so when I took him to a neurologist for a follow up he told me “ you’re not dealing with one type of dementia, you’re dealing with 3.”🤦♀️ My 86 year old dad has only his longest long term memories intact, from age 6 when he got his eye shot out w a BB gun thru age 20 when he met my momma for the very first time.😍 He was constantly asking me about how my mom came into his life, so I finally just wrote their love story down so he can read it every time it comes to his mind. When I showed him their wedding picture he didn’t recognize that it was them😔. When I show him pictures of us 5 children he doesn’t recognize us . One day I walked into his trailer and he asked me,” whose your father? Then he caught himself and said ,” I am.” In the evening I try to keep him entertained by playing Yahtzee, Sorry, trouble or Go Fish. Or we do puzzles age 3+, but it’s worse than when I taught my 2 grandsons the games, because they eventually were able to learn the games but w dad it’s like the movie FIFTY FIRST DATES, I have to start over explaining things every night😏. But I am happy to spend this time w him where he still knows me❤️. Thank you for all your wisdom regarding dementia 🙂.
I found you on Facebook. Someone there sent me a link to your videos. I am so thankful to find some information and help! Doctors diagnose and wish you luck! I have no clue where to begin to know where to learn how to best care for my mom!
I'm finding your videos to be very helpful along with the FB group but I think I'll have to skip tomorrow's video and maybe circle back to it at some point. I'm learning so much from the group but I'm not sure I'm ready to hear about what behaviors could possibly come next. Just dealing with todays behaviors is daunting enough for me atm. But thank you for what you're doing Vickie.
My mom has vascular AND Alzheimer’s. I finally got her to move out of her home around stage 4 in 2023. The move was so hard for her. She lasted 10 months in independent living and after 5 falls, I moved her to Assisted Living in February. She moved from Stage 4 to Stage 5, and is currently headed to Stage 6-she can’t stand for long, she beginning to experience incontinence. She is quite verbal, and can talk for hours, but she doesn’t make any sense. She is frequently lost in false memories and is outraged at perceived injustices. Even when I match her emotions and offer to do something or call someone to take care of the thing she is imagining, she will argue with me, then gets verbally abusive. Just this week though, she seems to be “giving up”, she talks to me with her eyes closed about 1/3 of the time, and she doesn’t seem quite so agitated. She doesn’t want to go out for our weekly meals or cook with me anymore. Thank you for this video, it helps to hear someone explain what I’m seeing
I am just beginning a virtual caregiver support group. Your link was recommended by one of the participants. I love you already. Thank you for helping me with my journey.
Is it possible for someone to suffer from Dementia and just be too prideful to admit it?I definitely suspect my dad has it but he’s always been too prideful to admit anything is wrong. I don’t think he will ever get a formal diagnosis. Meanwhile my mom and myself clearly see changes.
Yes, it can be an ego thing. But it can also be anosognosia, a condition sometimes present in dementia in which a person truly has no insight into his/her own disease process.
Is low energy and constantly falling asleep during the day and in between conversation with others part of dementia? What stage would such behaviors fall under?
My sister has vascular dementia she between 6-7 her directional & cognitive skills are totally gone she can’t stand or walk. It’s becoming extremely difficult
I have a question .I'm not understanding how with my husband that he's able to remember to remind me of something I ask him to remind me to 4 hours later and it was very accurate in his doing so but at same time he doesn't go to restroom unless I remind him to .he can't fix himself a cup of coffee or dress himself without me telling him each piece. But he was able to remind me where to pick up after walking his dog where to pick it up .4 hours later and that's just example. I'm feeling he like doesn't want to make any decisions on his own .he was diagnosed with alzeimers a couple of years ago .help me understand
Hope this helps somewhat. First, the brain in intricate and not even the most robust physicians or researchers can fully know its complexities! Hearing that in mind, here is my HUMBLE explanation: the tasks you are describing are different. One is memory + emotion (where to pick up a dog) and the other two are process tasks. The dog walking would be a “simple memory” plus an emotional experience (the love of the dog and fear over losing the dog or not know where to pick up for instance) The fact of a memory and the feeling of a memory are processed and stored in two different parts of the brain. The process tasks are lots of different parts. It’s the doing, the how to do, the what to do it with; the right things to use and what they look like, where they are, how to locate them etc. It doesn’t seem like a difference but it is. And it’s SO FRUSTRATING! There is a video on teeth brushing that illustrates this. I will try to find it and link it!
Hello, My mother just passed and seem to only have dementia 2 1/2 years... She started having seizures, fell and fractured her hip was told she had to have surgery and the died before she could even do therapy. Do you have any information on this type of decline ?
Any time a person with underlying dementia goes through a significant trauma and then surgery, a decline seems to be par for the course. The severity of the decline is different for each person. That could account for the fast decline…but then each person is different. So sorry for your loss. ❤️💔❤️
Incontinence is usually a Stage 5 thing. Sometimes they just can’t “make it” in time due to mobility issues. Sometimes they have lost the urge to go. All my love. It’s a hard journey ❤️❤️❤️
Hey Leisa, thanks for the question… Risperidone, and other atypical antipsychotics, are being used in low, low doses in folks with dementia with good success. It depends on the type of dementia as the effect of the drug. In high doses yes it can be considered a chemical restraint, but, in some cases of dementia where you see psychosis… Hallucinations and aggressive delusionsi…t can be a tremendous help to both the person with dementia and their caregivers. Obviously hallucinations and delusions are usually terrifying and frustrating for the person they can’t reason with this change in their reality, and it is a mercy to them to use something to stop the psychosis. I would try to work closely with her care team to watch the effects of the medicine. If she just seems calmer and more placid? then I would say it is beneficial. If she is “zonked“ then the dosage might need to be lowered. All my love, Vicky ❤️
Also, it would only affect staging her, if the medicine is making her sleep all the time. Yes, it could sedate her enough to where her function, and cognitive issues could be masked, but you have to outweigh the cost benefit ratio. I’m so sorry for this part of the journey.
Thank you. I just worry that she has not been properly evaluated and the meds were given purely as a convenience for the nursing staff. That is what was implied to me, by her daughter. The staff said if she wouldn't calm down, she would be kicked out.
I understand. We need to do a better job (medical community) in learning AND then teaching front line caregivers on way to manage/lessen behaviors before we resort to meds. My whole book discusses this. I teach in facilities, but so many don’t want to pay the cost to train their whole staff 😔 Here is copy of my book if you wanted to buy and share with staff?? It may help? amzn.to/2SQ1Yby
We were told my huenen b has mild to modern dementia I have tied everything came o to your web site you have help me a lot whe do you know that when it is time for a nursing home
Watching this today ...
I am care giving of a friend whom is suffering ...
Most helpful , thank you !
Ms. Vickie My Dad passed away this year. I took care of him at home for two years. I wanted to let you know your videos were such a blessing for us. Thank you again.
Excellent video. My brother (70) shared this video with me (65) today. I'm considering going to Dr to get exam to establish my baseline, starting to notice short-term memory loss. Our mother and one of her brothers had Alzheimer's. Your video was very helpful, thank you! "Hey from another Southern gal over in Georgia! It's so nice to hear people that sound like me!" 😁. ☮️❤️😎
Glad it was helpful! It’s important to establish a baseline. Praying that it’s all well.
Excellent video my dad has dementia. Ever since my mother passed away it’s been down hill for him . But what’s worse is that he eats very well but is losing weight rapidly. He’s 5’11 n about 145 pounds . He’s in stage 6 . I really don’t know what’s crazing the weight loss .
Thank you Ms. Vickie. My Dad is in the later stages of dementia with grace. Thank you for helping countless people. I have been a nurse for years and your videos with such empathy, knowledge and GRACE. Thank you again and God bless.
You are so welcome and thank you for your sweet words! ❤️ All my love! Vicky
I just found you because I reach out for prayers for my twin sister who went into an Assisted Living facility on Saturday. In just two days of visiting your site I have learned so much and it has been comforting to hear from thise who have had this experience. Thank you so much for what you do and may God bless you abundantly 🙏
My husband having Alzheimer’s Dementia and losing his memory in stage four has lost his short term memory, but I swear he can remember everything from his past including coming out of the womb!
❤️❤️❤️
Isnt that the truth?!? Seems the past is so vivid to my sil. Although she is getting more advanced now and doesn’t talk about the past like she used to…
We noticed a difference in our mom when she started calling us multiple times a day and talking about the same thing and not remembering that she already called. She also lost weight and we would ask her what she ate today and she would struggle so hard to remember what she ate. Soon after this we couldn't get a hold of her by phone and when my brother arrived at her home, she was sitting on the floor at the front door and was confused and didn't know why she was there. We took her to her doctor and realized since her last appointment ( 30 days ago)she had lost about 35 lbs. She was hospitalized after no success at gaining the weight back and diagnosed with dementia.
Your videos have been so helpful. Thank you! Of course you accent, sweetness and disposition is like the whipped cream and cherry on this tough topic.
Aww! How sweet of you to say!
Thank you. Inprocess of possibly losing home. Husband making all kinds of crazy decisions. I just geel so lost.
I hope you’re ok. It comes a time where you have to take control whether he likes it or not.
Thank you for posting this information, we are in stage 4 or 5 with my father.
Big hugs. I know it’s hard as a caregiver. If you haven’t joined the group, there is so much good support and encouragement over there. Here is the link: m.facebook.com/groups/dementiawithgrace
Vicki you are a very amazing person, smart, caring, and loving. I love looking at your sweet happy face on your videos! ❤️
Thank you Mrs Geraldine! ❤️❤️❤️
I thought my dad just had Alzheimer’s ( his momma had it too and died at age 88),and I thought I knew what stage he was in but in July he had an ischemic stroke , and he had already had numerous “ TIA’S ( mini strokes) through the years , so when I took him to a neurologist for a follow up he told me “ you’re not dealing with one type of dementia, you’re dealing with 3.”🤦♀️
My 86 year old dad has only his longest long term memories intact, from age 6 when he got his eye shot out w a BB gun thru age 20 when he met my momma for the very first time.😍
He was constantly asking me about how my mom came into his life, so I finally just wrote their love story down so he can read it every time it comes to his mind.
When I showed him their wedding picture he didn’t recognize that it was them😔.
When I show him pictures of us 5 children he doesn’t recognize us .
One day I walked into his trailer and he asked me,” whose your father?
Then he caught himself and said ,” I am.”
In the evening I try to keep him entertained by playing Yahtzee, Sorry, trouble or Go Fish.
Or we do puzzles age 3+, but it’s worse than when I taught my 2 grandsons the games, because they eventually were able to learn the games but w dad it’s like the movie FIFTY FIRST DATES, I have to start over explaining things every night😏.
But I am happy to spend this time w him where he still knows me❤️.
Thank you for all your wisdom regarding dementia 🙂.
Big hugs!
I found you on Facebook. Someone there sent me a link to your videos. I am so thankful to find some information and help! Doctors diagnose and wish you luck! I have no clue where to begin to know where to learn how to best care for my mom!
I'm finding your videos to be very helpful along with the FB group but I think I'll have to skip tomorrow's video and maybe circle back to it at some point. I'm learning so much from the group but I'm not sure I'm ready to hear about what behaviors could possibly come next. Just dealing with todays behaviors is daunting enough for me atm. But thank you for what you're doing Vickie.
Totally understand. See you soon!
My mom has vascular AND Alzheimer’s. I finally got her to move out of her home around stage 4 in 2023. The move was so hard for her. She lasted 10 months in independent living and after 5 falls, I moved her to Assisted Living in February. She moved from Stage 4 to Stage 5, and is currently headed to Stage 6-she can’t stand for long, she beginning to experience incontinence. She is quite verbal, and can talk for hours, but she doesn’t make any sense. She is frequently lost in false memories and is outraged at perceived injustices. Even when I match her emotions and offer to do something or call someone to take care of the thing she is imagining, she will argue with me, then gets verbally abusive. Just this week though, she seems to be “giving up”, she talks to me with her eyes closed about 1/3 of the time, and she doesn’t seem quite so agitated. She doesn’t want to go out for our weekly meals or cook with me anymore. Thank you for this video, it helps to hear someone explain what I’m seeing
Wow, your sound is great! Thanks for creating a great environment to listen and watch!
Thank you!! It’s all done on my phone!!!
Love your simple explanations. Thank you so much for sharing your expertise.
Glad it was helpful! All my love! Vicky
I am just beginning a virtual caregiver support group. Your link was recommended by one of the participants. I love you already. Thank you for helping me with my journey.
AWW! I'm so glad you found us! ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you I'm glad I've found your site. I find it very helpful
Glad it was helpful!
I love your accent. Very informative. Thank you
What accent?! Me?? 😂 thank you for always leaving great comments!!
Good morning. Well, the first of the year I will be moving with my Uncle who has this illness. His wife will also be assisting me.
Is it possible for someone to suffer from Dementia and just be too prideful to admit it?I definitely suspect my dad has it but he’s always been too prideful to admit anything is wrong. I don’t think he will ever get a formal diagnosis. Meanwhile my mom and myself clearly see changes.
Yes, it can be an ego thing. But it can also be anosognosia, a condition sometimes present in dementia in which a person truly has no insight into his/her own disease process.
Is low energy and constantly falling asleep during the day and in between conversation with others part of dementia? What stage would such behaviors fall under?
That is usual in 5 into 6 and 6. Just much more sleeping in those times.
My sister has vascular dementia she between 6-7 her directional & cognitive skills are totally gone she can’t stand or walk. It’s becoming extremely difficult
Big hugs…I know it’s hard.
So helpful. Thank you.
Happy you found help here. Feel free to check out the group too!!!
Ty
You’re welcome!
Does this content apply to vascular dementia? If not, can you point me to a link. Thank you.
I have a question .I'm not understanding how with my husband that he's able to remember to remind me of something I ask him to remind me to 4 hours later and it was very accurate in his doing so but at same time he doesn't go to restroom unless I remind him to .he can't fix himself a cup of coffee or dress himself without me telling him each piece. But he was able to remind me where to pick up after walking his dog where to pick it up .4 hours later and that's just example. I'm feeling he like doesn't want to make any decisions on his own .he was diagnosed with alzeimers a couple of years ago .help me understand
Hope this helps somewhat. First, the brain in intricate and not even the most robust physicians or researchers can fully know its complexities! Hearing that in mind, here is my HUMBLE explanation: the tasks you are describing are different. One is memory + emotion (where to pick up a dog) and the other two are process tasks. The dog walking would be a “simple memory” plus an emotional experience (the love of the dog and fear over losing the dog or not know where to pick up for instance) The fact of a memory and the feeling of a memory are processed and stored in two different parts of the brain. The process tasks are lots of different parts. It’s the doing, the how to do, the what to do it with; the right things to use and what they look like, where they are, how to locate them etc.
It doesn’t seem like a difference but it is. And it’s SO FRUSTRATING! There is a video on teeth brushing that illustrates this. I will try to find it and link it!
th-cam.com/video/8wB1eZBeCGY/w-d-xo.htmlsi=3eZERpInwSUnUSt_
Hello, My mother just passed and seem to only have dementia 2 1/2 years... She started having seizures, fell and fractured her hip was told she had to have surgery and the died before she could even do therapy. Do you have any information on this type of decline ?
Any time a person with underlying dementia goes through a significant trauma and then surgery, a decline seems to be par for the course. The severity of the decline is different for each person. That could account for the fast decline…but then each person is different. So sorry for your loss. ❤️💔❤️
Hello Grace my dad has dementia I have a question what stages have you seen sometimes going to the bathroom and sometimes in bed?
Incontinence is usually a Stage 5 thing. Sometimes they just can’t “make it” in time due to mobility issues. Sometimes they have lost the urge to go. All my love. It’s a hard journey ❤️❤️❤️
🤗🙏👍 thank you.
My sister is being given Resperidone - as a chemical restraint, I feel. How does that medication affect knowing what stage she is in?
Hey Leisa, thanks for the question… Risperidone, and other atypical antipsychotics, are being used in low, low doses in folks with dementia with good success. It depends on the type of dementia as the effect of the drug. In high doses yes it can be considered a chemical restraint, but, in some cases of dementia where you see psychosis… Hallucinations and aggressive delusionsi…t can be a tremendous help to both the person with dementia and their caregivers. Obviously hallucinations and delusions are usually terrifying and frustrating for the person they can’t reason with this change in their reality, and it is a mercy to them to use something to stop the psychosis. I would try to work closely with her care team to watch the effects of the medicine. If she just seems calmer and more placid? then I would say it is beneficial. If she is “zonked“ then the dosage might need to be lowered. All my love, Vicky ❤️
Also, it would only affect staging her, if the medicine is making her sleep all the time. Yes, it could sedate her enough to where her function, and cognitive issues could be masked, but you have to outweigh the cost benefit ratio. I’m so sorry for this part of the journey.
Thank you. I just worry that she has not been properly evaluated and the meds were given purely as a convenience for the nursing staff. That is what was implied to me, by her daughter. The staff said if she wouldn't calm down, she would be kicked out.
I understand. We need to do a better job (medical community) in learning AND then teaching front line caregivers on way to manage/lessen behaviors before we resort to meds. My whole book discusses this. I teach in facilities, but so many don’t want to pay the cost to train their whole staff 😔 Here is copy of my book if you wanted to buy and share with staff?? It may help? amzn.to/2SQ1Yby
My husband is 79 he at very angery hurt my filing a lot
We were told my huenen b has mild to modern dementia I have tied everything came o to your web site you have help me a lot whe do you know that when it is time for a nursing home
My mom's seems to be a result of diabetes
Nocaptions.
Sorry! I will check! Normally they are turned on!
Thank you for the information. After several strokes, I'm concerned about brain injury and dementia 🩷