One Hell Of A week!

[Penny Lane]

Update on my husband........Last Tuesday night he was really acting crazy and got a little violent with my son. We ended up calling 911 and took him to Emergency. He has been in the hospital since. He hadn't slept in 2 days (which is called The Sundowner's stage of Dementia). He kept trying to leave his hospital room but was on a monitor that rang every time that he got near the door. Well, the past 2 days they put him on meds to level him out and he finally slept for 10 hours. He was much better today but still really confused.

Don't know much yet but the nurse told us that when our doctor goes in on her rounds that she will talk to a case worker about sending Dave to A Memory Care Facility. There is one right here in Swartz Creek and we want to send him there on a month trial basis. If he has settled down after a month by taking meds he might be able to come home. Medicare doesn't cover Memory Care(which is a lock down situation) so it will be very expensive. I don't know how much (if any) our HAP insurance will cover. Or possibly Veteran's. Our case worker will find all of this stuff out for us. So after consulting with our doctor tonight he most likely will be moved tonight . We are to call at 10:00 AM tomorrow and talk to the case worker to find out what is what. If Dave does happen to be able to come home after a month my son will be here to help me take care of him. He has moved in with me and has agreed to quit his job and live here basically with me being his employer. His job is only seasonal anyway. Just the summer months (Landscaping) So he will work for me for room and board and some cash. This is the plan anyway. Dave was much better today. He finally slept after 2 days and has a good appetite. But he's stll confused and cannot be left alone. Will keep you updated!

[Bonniegirl]

OMG!!! Marlene!! I really am sorry!! I don't know what to say except I'm so sorry this is happening to Dave ! It is very cool your Son will be there to help, that is a relief and you are a strong , brave woman. But still , so sad and so sorry about all this!

Again , many prayers for you and hoping Dave can improve with modern medicine and all, and prayers that your insurance can cover all of his needs!!!

God bless you. Love you Marlene, you are the sweetest lady! One of the top nicest, kindest, coolest people ever on this forum!! I'm so hoping everything turns out well for Dave, you and your family!

[Penny Lane]

Originally Posted by Bonniegirl

OMG!!! Marlene!! I really am sorry!! I don't know what to say except I'm so sorry this is happening to Dave ! It is very cool your Son will be there to help, that is a relief and you are a strong , brave woman. But still , so sad and so sorry about all this!

Again , many prayers for you and hoping Dave can improve with modern medicine and all, and prayers that your insurance can cover all of his needs!!!

God bless you. Love you Marlene, you are the sweetest lady! One of the top nicest, kindest, coolest people ever on this forum!! I'm so hoping everything turns out well for Dave, you and your family!

Thanks so much Bonnie! Your friendship is precious to me!

[OH Nuts!]

Oh Marlene, you surely a full plate. Glad to hear your husband has a caseworker. Saying a prayer that everything works out. Keep us posted. God Bless.

[MA]

Originally Posted by Penny Lane

Update on my husband........Last Tuesday night he was really acting crazy and got a little violent with my son. We ended up calling 911 and took him to Emergency. He has been in the hospital since. He hadn't slept in 2 days (which is called The Sundowner's stage of Dementia). He kept trying to leave his hospital room but was on a monitor that rang every time that he got near the door. Well, the past 2 days they put him on meds to level him out and he finally slept for 10 hours. He was much better today but still really confused.

Don't know much yet but the nurse told us that when our doctor goes in on her rounds that she will talk to a case worker about sending Dave to A Memory Care Facility. There is one right here in Swartz Creek and we want to send him there on a month trial basis. If he has settled down after a month by taking meds he might be able to come home. Medicare doesn't cover Memory Care(which is a lock down situation) so it will be very expensive. I don't know how much (if any) our HAP insurance will cover. Or possibly Veteran's. Our case worker will find all of this stuff out for us. So after consulting with our doctor tonight he most likely will be moved tonight . We are to call at 10:00 AM tomorrow and talk to the case worker to find out what is what. If Dave does happen to be able to come home after a month my son will be here to help me take care of him. He has moved in with me and has agreed to quit his job and live here basically with me being his employer. His job is only seasonal anyway. Just the summer months (Landscaping) So he will work for me for room and board and some cash. This is the plan anyway. Dave was much better today. He finally slept after 2 days and has a good appetite. But he's stll confused and cannot be left alone. Will keep you updated!

Praying for you Marlene and please do keep us posted!

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by Penny Lane

Update on my husband........Last Tuesday night he was really acting crazy and got a little violent with my son. We ended up calling 911 and took him to Emergency. He has been in the hospital since. He hadn't slept in 2 days (which is called The Sundowner's stage of Dementia). He kept trying to leave his hospital room but was on a monitor that rang every time that he got near the door. Well, the past 2 days they put him on meds to level him out and he finally slept for 10 hours. He was much better today but still really confused.

Don't know much yet but the nurse told us that when our doctor goes in on her rounds that she will talk to a case worker about sending Dave to A Memory Care Facility. There is one right here in Swartz Creek and we want to send him there on a month trial basis. If he has settled down after a month by taking meds he might be able to come home. Medicare doesn't cover Memory Care(which is a lock down situation) so it will be very expensive. I don't know how much (if any) our HAP insurance will cover. Or possibly Veteran's. Our case worker will find all of this stuff out for us. So after consulting with our doctor tonight he most likely will be moved tonight . We are to call at 10:00 AM tomorrow and talk to the case worker to find out what is what. If Dave does happen to be able to come home after a month my son will be here to help me take care of him. He has moved in with me and has agreed to quit his job and live here basically with me being his employer. His job is only seasonal anyway. Just the summer months (Landscaping) So he will work for me for room and board and some cash. This is the plan anyway. Dave was much better today. He finally slept after 2 days and has a good appetite. But he's stll confused and cannot be left alone. Will keep you updated!

Marlene, I haven't been on this board since Feb. and have not read all that you have been going though, but your above message says a lot.

I'm deeply heartbroken knowing the very hard road you are on with Dave (I have been there twice, in the past three years).....hopefully you will be able to get him home soon.

If he does go to a "Memory Care Unit," try to do your best to keep his surroundings and routine as normal as possible.
(I know it won't be easy)
Use pictures, blanket or a favorite glass or mug to drink with. Talk this over with your doctor first as Dave could break the pictures or mug. I do know that having things that Dave is familiar with will help him.

I wish there would be more that could be done by me and others on this board to give you SUPPORT.

I don't know if this will be of any help, but I found this online.

Payment Options & Financial Assistance for Alzheimer's / Dementia Care
https://www.payingforseniorcare.com/...ssistance.html

You will be in my prayers.

[MISST3]

So sorry to hear of your ongoing problems. I hope everything works out with your insurance for extended care. Your husband is very fortunate to have a loving family to stand by him.

One thing I did want to mention, for you to keep in mind is that infection and/or pain can cause people with Dementia , who can’t describe their symptoms, to act out. I know of two instances where the acting out was because one person has a huge sore on the bottom of their foot, the other had a abscessed gum. While crowds, noise, and disrupted routines, can cause act outs, so can pain. Also, urinary tract infections, can often be the problem. Just something to think about.

[Penny Lane]

Originally Posted by Foggy

Marlene, I haven't been on this board since Feb. and have not read all that you have been going though, but your above message says a lot.

I'm deeply heartbroken knowing the very hard road you are on with Dave (I have been there twice, in the past three years).....hopefully you will be able to get him home soon.

If he does go to a "Memory Care Unit," try to do your best to keep his surroundings and routine as normal as possible.
(I know it won't be easy)
Use pictures, blanket or a favorite glass or mug to drink with. Talk this over with your doctor first as Dave could break the pictures or mug. I do know that having things that Dave is familiar with will help him.

I wish there would be more that could be done by me and others on this board to give you SUPPORT.

I don't know if this will be of any help, but I found this online.

Payment Options & Financial Assistance for Alzheimer's / Dementia Care
https://www.payingforseniorcare.com/...ssistance.html

You will be in my prayers.

Thanks Foggy That's very helpful!

[Penny Lane]

We have 2 alternatives. There are 2 Memory Care homes in Swartz Creek.Both have beds available. We have to wait until a representitive of both homes visit Dave to see just how much care he will need. Then the caseworker will get back with us. The most expensive one (4400.00 a month) has a complete lock down and the other i(3800 a month) is a lock down with alarms on the doors. There would be someone on staff 24 hours a day. So it depends on which facility will accept him. Probably won't know until Monday. He will be in hospital all weekend. Today he didn't really seem to recognize me or the family. He thinks he's in jail. So that's all we know right now. But in either place we will give it a month's trial and if he is leveled out on meds he might come home after that.

[Foggy]

Here are some other things to look at or try.

You can try to tweeking his diet, make little changes.
Some of the items I'm listing are expensive, but may help.

You can try to change over to a Keto Diet- Try to find MTC OIL-It helps to "Support a Ketogenic Lifestyle" and it helps to boost brain function

COCONUT OIL-try to find "Organic Virgin Coconut Oil Cold Pressed and Unrefined"
There are many uses for coconut oil:
This is one, (the website contains 29 uses for coconut oil)

6. Improve Brain Function
The MCTs in coconut oil are broken down by your liver and turned into ketones, which can act as an alternative energy source for your brain (14).

Several studies have found MCTs to have impressive benefits for brain disorders, including epilepsy and Alzheimer's (15, 16, 17).

Some researchers recommend using coconut oil as a source of MCTs to increase the production of ketones (14).

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition...-uses#section6

There is also a supplement called Focus Attention from a company called "Nature's Sunshine."
It helps to support neurotransmitters in the brain
Warning: Do not take or give any supplements without first talking it over with your doctor. It could react badly with any med's that they have him on.

The medical field now has listed “Alzheimer’s” and “dementia”
as Type 3 Diabetes. The reason is because of the similarities of the brain function that diabetics have with low blood sugar.
https://alzheimer.ca/en/Home/About-d...tia-connection

Just remember YOU are not alone!

[Penny Lane]

Originally Posted by Foggy

Here are some other things to look at or try.

You can try to tweeking his diet, make little changes.
Some of the items I'm listing are expensive, but may help.

You can try to change over to a Keto Diet- Try to find MTC OIL-It helps to "Support a Ketogenic Lifestyle" and it helps to boost brain function

COCONUT OIL-try to find "Organic Virgin Coconut Oil Cold Pressed and Unrefined"
There are many uses for coconut oil:
This is one, (the website contains 29 uses for coconut oil)

6. Improve Brain Function
The MCTs in coconut oil are broken down by your liver and turned into ketones, which can act as an alternative energy source for your brain (14).

Several studies have found MCTs to have impressive benefits for brain disorders, including epilepsy and Alzheimer's (15, 16, 17).

Some researchers recommend using coconut oil as a source of MCTs to increase the production of ketones (14).

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition...-uses#section6

There is also a supplement called Focus Attention from a company called "Nature's Sunshine."
It helps to support neurotransmitters in the brain
Warning: Do not take or give any supplements without first talking it over with your doctor. It could react badly with any med's that they have him on.

The medical field now has listed “Alzheimer’s” and “dementia”
as Type 3 Diabetes. The reason is because of the similarities of the brain function that diabetics have with low blood sugar.
https://alzheimer.ca/en/Home/About-d...tia-connection

Just remember YOU are not alone!

Coconut oil. Interesting. Thanks!

[Penny Lane]

We didn't go yesterday. My sister,Leah, checked in on him at work last night(she's a nurse at Genesys) and he didn't recognize her. Just a blank stare. When he talks about going home we think he's still living at his family home in Gaines. He keeps calling Kathy (my daughter)Karen(his sister) and called Ian(grandson) Ralph(his brother). He keeps talking about playing ball with Jesse and Doil.(childhood friends)So we are thinking that if we brought him to our home it would confuse him. Kathy got a call from the caseworker from the Memory Care facility in our town and she is going to see Dave on Monday . There is a room available and it's total lockdown which means he can't leave the building. He tends to wander a lot so in there he can walk around and talk to people. He will not think he's in jail. The other place(cheaper) would not be good for him because he would be monitored with a bell just like the hospital and kept in his room. We think he would do much better in the other one. We are still going to try it on a month basis just to see if he progresses but I think he will probably stay in the home. Mainly for his safety and our sanity! It is a sad sad thing watching someone you love fade away like that so quickly! And if he stays there my son won't have to quit his job. It is nice having Joe home again. And Kathy has been a trooper but she is taking this really hard. She is having us over for Easter dinner . The next thing to do is to get an appt. with the Veteran's. Hopefully they will help out with the costs. Right now I'm good getting it going for a while but that money will go fast! So we are resigned to the fact that he will not be coming home. ��

[MA]

Originally Posted by Penny Lane

We didn't go yesterday. My sister,Leah, checked in on him at work last night(she's a nurse at Genesys) and he didn't recognize her. Just a blank stare. When he talks about going home we think he's still living at his family home in Gaines. He keeps calling Kathy (my daughter)Karen(his sister) and called Ian(grandson) Ralph(his brother). He keeps talking about playing ball with Jesse and Doil.(childhood friends)So we are thinking that if we brought him to our home it would confuse him. Kathy got a call from the caseworker from the Memory Care facility in our town and she is going to see Dave on Monday . There is a room available and it's total lockdown which means he can't leave the building. He tends to wander a lot so in there he can walk around and talk to people. He will not think he's in jail. The other place(cheaper) would not be good for him because he would be monitored with a bell just like the hospital and kept in his room. We think he would do much better in the other one. We are still going to try it on a month basis just to see if he progresses but I think he will probably stay in the home. Mainly for his safety and our sanity! It is a sad sad thing watching someone you love fade away like that so quickly! And if he stays there my son won't have to quit his job. It is nice having Joe home again. And Kathy has been a trooper but she is taking this really hard. She is having us over for Easter dinner . The next thing to do is to get an appt. with the Veteran's. Hopefully they will help out with the costs. Right now I'm good getting it going for a while but that money will go fast! So we are resigned to the fact that he will not be coming home. ��

So sorry that you’re going through with all of this.

[OH Nuts!]

You sound like you have him in good hands. Maybe the doctors can also find meds that will help. Even though this is clearly STRESSFUL on many fronts, you do seem to have helping hands. Please take care and the only thing I know from dealing with stressful situations is to just take the next right action. Once you do that, the next seems to appear automatically.

The only thing I know from helping someone in this state is do not move or take them out at night. The board of a civic club tried to honor a former member who had some dementia. They got her and her attendant to the event in a car service. But when they left at night, she freaked out the minute she was outside, only a 100 foot walk to the car and she wouldn't budge. Took 15 minutes of coaxing to get her to move.

Please keep us posted and don’t forget to take care of yourself too. God Bless.

[Penny Lane]

Originally Posted by MISST3

So sorry to hear of your ongoing problems. I hope everything works out with your insurance for extended care. Your husband is very fortunate to have a loving family to stand by him.

One thing I did want to mention, for you to keep in mind is that infection and/or pain can cause people with Dementia , who can’t describe their symptoms, to act out. I know of two instances where the acting out was because one person has a huge sore on the bottom of their foot, the other had a abscessed gum. While crowds, noise, and disrupted routines, can cause act outs, so can pain. Also, urinary tract infections, can often be the problem. Just something to think about.

The hospital has done a thorough check on all of his vitals and they tell me that he is in very good physical shape so I doubt if it's a medical problem. But thanks anyway for the advice! Happy Easter!