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A couple of days ago I noticed something my grandmother does often and I thought I'd share it with you all to gain a better understanding of this whole situation. After all, the more you know, the more helpful you'll be.

When my grandmother has to get dressed or undressed, put her winter boots on or off, or simply fold clothes (something I've suggested my mother have her do to keep her busy), she doesn't quite seem to know what she's doing while she's doing it. For instance, she'll come inside and start removing her winter boots (unzipping the side zipper) but only a couple of seconds later, she'll zip them back on and put her jacket back on. It's as if she's completely lost. Another example is when she is trying to sit down on our sofa. She supports her weight with her arms on the couch and makes believe she will slowly sit down but then she just pauses in the motion in a very awkward stance.

I asked my mom what her diagnosis is and she told me 'she has Alzheimer's'. Do those look like symptoms of Alzheimer's?

My dad is EXACTLY the same as your grandmother, in a pretty late stage of Alzheimer, can't form a sentence because either forgets what he was going to say, doesn't know what he was going to say or just walks off. When there is something on tv like a nature show or something with a shark, he starts yelling SHARKSHARKSHARK, he gets pissed at the ads where people are yelling to sell crap, he starts yelling back.

(12-21-2010, 07:28 PM)Guest Wrote: [ -> ]My dad is EXACTLY the same as your grandmother, in a pretty late stage of Alzheimer, can't form a sentence because either forgets what he was going to say, doesn't know what he was going to say or just walks off. When there is something on tv like a nature show or something with a shark, he starts yelling SHARKSHARKSHARK, he gets pissed at the ads where people are yelling to sell crap, he starts yelling back.

My dearest sympathies for your father's illness but I don't find that I can use that to relate both situations.

Isnt this what happens to some soldiers when they come back from war?

(12-12-2010, 11:00 PM)Solidify Wrote: [ -> ]I'll try to be as nice as I can here because you made the effort to read my posts but plain and simple; if you don't have anything intelligent to say, don't say anything at all. Jail?

I'm sorry if this comes of as blunt but you need to check to see if your conscience is still intact bud.

It doesn't sound like you have many options. Would that give her a place to sleep and food to eat?

Well I honestly don't know what to say other than be strong for your mother and try to help as much as possible.

(12-21-2010, 10:08 PM)Logan Wrote: [ -> ]Well I honestly don't know what to say other than be strong for your mother and try to help as much as possible.

That's what I've been doing up to this point but the stress is building up for my mother. Also, it's starting to get to both my sisters and I as well.

Updated December 22nd, 2010;

My mother says that my grandmother has schizophrenia but I wasn't convinced so I decided to take a look at my grandmother's prescriptions and dosages. Here is what I found.

Spoiler (Click to View)

Well, I read your entire OP and I gotta say something. How are you dealing with all this? How do you feel? Also if you think that your grand mother is completely un-bearable, then I think you should work out something about putting her in a home. I know you said you could not afford it, but try talking to the owner or something if you and your family really can not handle her.

One more thing. I think this idea is stupid but I am putting it out there. Could your grandma be classified as "Insane"? You could maybe put her in an insane asylum. I really do not want this statement to offend you in any way, so please do not be offended. I watched the video and all I can say is I feel really sorry for her, and your entire family dealing with all of this.

I think to benefit your mother a LOT, maybe you should suggest to her, to go on a vacation for like 2 or 3 days and in that time maybe you can take care of her? That way if your mother does ever "blow it", it will be much longer and that might reduce her stress.

I dont know if you have a job, or if you are a student, your age, or anything like that, so please take all these suggestions as if I know nothing about your family. These thoughts just popped into my head and I felt like sharing it. If you ever want to talk or ANYTHING of that sort, you can PM me here and I will give you my MSN or something..

Take care.

(09-22-2010, 07:12 AM)Solidify Wrote: [ -> ]I appreciate the suggestions on how to handle the situations but as I stated, at the time being, that's just not an option. The money cannot be rounded up, even if we tried. When my uncle passed, she took my uncle's share of savings, as my grandmother would have wanted, and spent the money on a new car as it was a necessity. We have nothing left to pay for the retirement home.

I just read that, Sorry I did not read the comments.

(12-22-2010, 12:05 AM)Dont Worry Wrote: [ -> ]Well, I read your entire OP and I gotta say something. How are you dealing with all this? How do you feel? Also if you think that your grand mother is completely un-bearable, then I think you should work out something about putting her in a home. I know you said you could not afford it, but try talking to the owner or something if you and your family really can not handle her.

One more thing. I think this idea is stupid but I am putting it out there. Could your grandma be classified as "Insane"? You could maybe put her in an insane asylum. I really do not want this statement to offend you in any way, so please do not be offended. I watched the video and all I can say is I feel really sorry for her, and your entire family dealing with all of this.

I think to benefit your mother a LOT, maybe you should suggest to her, to go on a vacation for like 2 or 3 days and in that time maybe you can take care of her? That way if your mother does ever "blow it", it will be much longer and that might reduce her stress.

I dont know if you have a job, or if you are a student, your age, or anything like that, so please take all these suggestions as if I know nothing about your family. These thoughts just popped into my head and I felt like sharing it. If you ever want to talk or ANYTHING of that sort, you can PM me here and I will give you my MSN or something..

My grandmother's case is not one of exceptional behavior. After doing my research, I found out that it's a common situation among distressed patients. However, what's unusual is the situational circumstances we're all in, as in, the background support we can provide her. Most patients that suffer from such illnesses are hospitalized or treated accordingly to their needs. The only difference here as well as the sole reason I'm reporting this exceptional instance is because my family and I have exhausted our resources and options.

As for your second inquiry; I'm an 18-year-old student with a part-time job. My income is nowhere near being capable of supporting such a drastic implementation. Lastly, I wouldn't mind having you as a reference. I've PM'd you my MSN.

While I'd like to admit that everything worked out for the best, it hasn't. Although we had a great Christmas, everything always returns to what is was before. But I realized something on Christmas eve that I really made me feel thankful inside. As we were all seated, enjoying our eve's dinner, my grandmother was incorporated in our family's dinner conversations. While she was slow to respond at time, she was catching on; answering question and formulating sentences that we could not usually understand as opposed to fragmented phrases.

I now understand that human interaction is what needs the most. Sure she needs rehabilitating medication to stabilize her neurotransmitters but above all, if she has the pleasure of discussing things with others, I found that she'll live a healthier life.

That night, as I watched my grandmother answer questions and formulated sentences that she hadn't done so since my uncle's passing, I was amazed and truthfully heartfelt. Maybe there is some hope for my grandmother and companionship is a fine place to start looking.

Solidify

Guest

Solidify

Toxhicide

H0p.e

Logan

Solidify

Dont Worry

Solidify

Solidify