All about Dementia
-
Alzheimer is a subset of dementia.
-
Any idea for Parkinson, how Long does it take from hand shaking to not able to walk or work?
-
Hi there!
We are a group of students from NUS working on a project for our entrepreneurship module and we're looking to find out more about the difficulties that caregivers face when taking care of the elderly.
We have prepared a survey to gather insights on caregivers' challenges as well as possible solutions to these challenges.
We would like to ask for your help to reach out to people who have elderly at home and hire caregivers to complete the survey as part of our market research. (Link below)
All responses in the survey are confidential and will be kept anonymous. No personal information will be collected. Thank you for your help and time!
https://forms.gle/gN8UwGAWbimzkmZX9 -
A few weeks back, my MIL passed on suddenly due to brain hemorrhage. Prior to that, MIL had dementia (unconfirmed diagnosis) and paranoia disorder.
Last year, we suspected she had dementia but couldn’t really confirm. She always misplaced her stuff and we thought it was just old age issues. Sometimes her mind seemed very clear, sometimes she seemed very confused.
It was after her repeated accusations that our ex-helper was stealing her stuff, wearing her bedroom slippers and drinking water from her personal cup that we were alerted to her condition. Earlier, we thought she was trying to be difficult and scolded her till a relative pointed out that those could be her actual thoughts and that she could really be upset about her stuff missing. That prompted us to bring her see a psychiatrist and she was diagnosed as having Paranoia Disorder and mild cognitive impairment but her condition could not be confirmed as dementia unless we were to send her for a MRI brain. However, the psychiatrist advised not to as nothing could be done even for a positive diagnosis due to MIL’s age.
MIL was then prescribed Lexapro, a medicine to lift her mood as we found her hard to handle due to her being very paranoid. We were upset after we caught her throwing the Lexapro away which my MIL denied. Till now, we couldn’t tell whether MIL knew what she had done as she appeared very sure she did take her medication when confronted.
A close friend had earlier suggested that we put MIL at Day Care Centre where she would get to make new friends and the activities would keep her occupied. Unfortunately, when we wrote in to a handful of centres, all replied they were full. One thing we found amazing is, after the psychiatrist wrote in, immediately MIL managed to secure a place a Day Care Centre. I remembered on the first day to Day Care Centre, MIL was very upset and kept scolding hubby and refused to go but after the 1st session, she looked forward to go to Day Care Centre! Day Care Centre is a way to slow down the old folks’ deteriorating mental state as well as providing care givers some peace at home. I strongly recommend going for Day Care.
But the nightmare came during and post Circuit Breaker period. Think my MIL’s condition worsened, the effect of Lexapro didn’t seem to work as well and we had to increase her doasage to calm her down as MIL she was easily agitated and very paranoid (kept on thinking we wanted to harm her or someone stole her stuff). MIL would also kept asking the same question and often hear voices of relatives calling out for her downstairs. We were not aware how to handle dementia patients so we always ended up arguing with her. Within a month, her condition deteriorated so fast that she couldn’t remember whether she had taken her meals or not, couldn’t recall her age, and once she even asked my hubby if it was morning or night.
As I wasn’t trained in handling dementia patient, I think I did a really bad job taking care of MIL. Worse of all, due to personal reasons, SIL wasn’t able to help and hubby was not keen to send his beloved mum to Respite Care/old folks home. To put it simply, I was burnt out! I was her primary caregiver and was badly affected by her sudden death to the extent that l am now seeing a psychologist.
The purpose of my post is to share my own experience and raise awareness about dementia. With a rapidly aging population, we are expected to have more cases of dementia and it is high time we are more aware of the symptoms and mitigation measures. For caregivers who need someone to talk to, I have tried calling the local dementia hotline and I must say that the counselor did a good job. -
Take care lee_yl, dementia is not easy for anyone to handle. Medical science has no answers. You have been a fillial daughter-in-law, given the many years you have lived with your mil. I am sure both she and your hub appreciate that, even if they have not articulated it frequently.
Take care of your mental and emotional health. -
It isn’t easy being the primary caregiver, don’t be too hard on yourself.
Take care, lee_yl. -
St Andrew Senior Care Centre in The Tampines Hub takes in dementia seniors.
-
lee_yl\" post_id=\"2000981\" time=\"1604218468\" user_id=\"17023:
lee,
A few weeks back, my MIL passed on suddenly due to brain hemorrhage. Prior to that, MIL had dementia (unconfirmed diagnosis) and paranoia disorder.
Last year, we suspected she had dementia but couldn’t really confirm. She always misplaced her stuff and we thought it was just old age issues. Sometimes her mind seemed very clear, sometimes she seemed very confused.
It was after her repeated accusations that our ex-helper was stealing her stuff, wearing her bedroom slippers and drinking water from her personal cup that we were alerted to her condition. Earlier, we thought she was trying to be difficult and scolded her till a relative pointed out that those could be her actual thoughts and that she could really be upset about her stuff missing. That prompted us to bring her see a psychiatrist and she was diagnosed as having Paranoia Disorder and mild cognitive impairment but her condition could not be confirmed as dementia unless we were to send her for a MRI brain. However, the psychiatrist advised not to as nothing could be done even for a positive diagnosis due to MIL’s age.
MIL was then prescribed Lexapro, a medicine to lift her mood as we found her hard to handle due to her being very paranoid. We were upset after we caught her throwing the Lexapro away which my MIL denied. Till now, we couldn’t tell whether MIL knew what she had done as she appeared very sure she did take her medication when confronted.
A close friend had earlier suggested that we put MIL at Day Care Centre where she would get to make new friends and the activities would keep her occupied. Unfortunately, when we wrote in to a handful of centres, all replied they were full. One thing we found amazing is, after the psychiatrist wrote in, immediately MIL managed to secure a place a Day Care Centre. I remembered on the first day to Day Care Centre, MIL was very upset and kept scolding hubby and refused to go but after the 1st session, she looked forward to go to Day Care Centre! Day Care Centre is a way to slow down the old folks’ deteriorating mental state as well as providing care givers some peace at home. I strongly recommend going for Day Care.
But the nightmare came during and post Circuit Breaker period. Think my MIL’s condition worsened, the effect of Lexapro didn’t seem to work as well and we had to increase her doasage to calm her down as MIL she was easily agitated and very paranoid (kept on thinking we wanted to harm her or someone stole her stuff). MIL would also kept asking the same question and often hear voices of relatives calling out for her downstairs. We were not aware how to handle dementia patients so we always ended up arguing with her. Within a month, her condition deteriorated so fast that she couldn’t remember whether she had taken her meals or not, couldn’t recall her age, and once she even asked my hubby if it was morning or night.
As I wasn’t trained in handling dementia patient, I think I did a really bad job taking care of MIL. Worse of all, due to personal reasons, SIL wasn’t able to help and hubby was not keen to send his beloved mum to Respite Care/old folks home. To put it simply, I was burnt out! I was her primary caregiver and was badly affected by her sudden death to the extent that l am now seeing a psychologist.
The purpose of my post is to share my own experience and raise awareness about dementia. With a rapidly aging population, we are expected to have more cases of dementia and it is high time we are more aware of the symptoms and mitigation measures. For caregivers who need someone to talk to, I have tried calling the local dementia hotline and I must say that the counselor did a good job.
My condolences to you & your hubby. It’s good you share to alert others of your experience in handling the elderly with dementia. It’s not easy & can be so trying. I’ve went through it in my twenties, not knowing this condition with my own mum and anxious days when she didn’t come home for 2 days & police sent her home. I went thro exactly those u described (my sister kept accusing the long-time helper for stealing & putting poison into her food or not giving her meals) and she was sent by her 7 adult kids fr M’sia to us in SG. My own mum often accused me of abandoning her & without food when she’s staying with me & my bro is the one who then nvr visited whilst I was bearing all the burden of care for her in the 80s when little is known abt dementia.
Didn’t know you’ve been stressed & suffered so much in the last couple of years, but it’s time for you to regain your health & take good care of yourself. You’ve done your best the way you know best. Forgive yourselves for areas u’ve not known as those were your learning process to benefit your younger family members & now u’re benefiting the greater community who wld hv elderly to care for. In fact, you shld pat yourself for being a caring DIL & caring for your hubby’s mum as your own.
Spore still need to develop more elderly care facilities esp programmes for early dementia. It’s impt to keep them mentally agile & emotionally strong. There’s no cure for it but we can help them reach out to other elderlies thro day-care like those run by St Luke’s. My cell frd’s mum health deteriorated after the father passed but think they got her into St Luke early enuf, I rmbr a trip to pick her up, she cld recognize me & happily talked abt me & my family with other elderly participants exercising next to her. So, help them with gaining new frds & hv more meaningful activities.
Hubby has less stress coz having gone thro with caring for my mum, it’s precious for me to treat his parents as mine with some u’stand’g how trying it can be if nobody helps them. Now actually hv some time, sitting waiting for MIL’s eye op to complete & bring her home in an hour’s time. Read yr post yday but was busy with her as she’s anxious for today’s op.
During CB, we cld only help replenish food for her whilst everyone was staying home. Right into Phase 2, we started getting her out (with careful measure of mask-wearing & brought sanitizers etc) whenever out. We can do all we can, but cldn’t help much if she can’t adjust herself mentally & she dare not take confident strikes, every step is shaking & took a few more seconds before she lifted or put her foot on the ground. We decided to bring her out more often & almost daily to parks, off skirt farms & friends’ private garden of edibles that delights her most. Now, she not only walks confidently, but she claims she’s more savvy using TraceTogether than her younger sister-in-laws. Ano frd’s mum early dementia, quickly spiral into total confusion state not knowing day or night & kept asking to go home whilst sitting in her usual room.
Agree with you, we need to look out more for our growing elderlies in our Spore community and learn to recognize each stage of their mental & emotional needs and I’ve learnt most importantly, not to take it personally coz they know not what they’re doing to us. Our parents/parents-in-law are not heavy burden, they’re our precious jewels to keep loving & shining them. Some tasks are not easy, but they’re testing our sense of humanity & how much touch of love we extend beyond ourselves & our busy schedule or interests. Leave our lives without regrets. You wld hv given your daughters sight & memories of a legacy of love & care for yr MIL long before her dementia. So, u must see it as a blessing to yr girls. Love them coz they’ll be your carers in your golden years. Take care. -
Happen to come across this today, in the Straits Times online.
5 tips to manage stress: https://str.sg/Ju7U -
Estéema\" post_id=\"2001061\" time=\"1604294779\" user_id=\"66413:
It's been tough for most of us. Thanks for sharing this.
Happen to come across this today, in the Straits Times online.
5 tips to manage stress: https://str.sg/Ju7U
Hello! It looks like you're interested in this conversation, but you don't have an account yet.
Getting fed up of having to scroll through the same posts each visit? When you register for an account, you'll always come back to exactly where you were before, and choose to be notified of new replies (either via email, or push notification). You'll also be able to save bookmarks and upvote posts to show your appreciation to other community members.
With your input, this post could be even better 💗
Register Login