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raeanna74 · 03-30-2005, 09:54 AM

I have mentioned my Uncle before on here. His Alzheimers has worsened until he is now in the last stages.

He repeated attempts to eat items that are not food and will continue to try to eat them despite a bad flavor. He gets combatative when he becomes fixated on doing something. He will pick at sores on himself, he will put his coat on to go to church at 2 am. When his 5', 95lb wife attempts to stop him he will grab her and sometimes leave bruises on her. She is grieved that she can't safely care for him any longer but she has realized the need for long term full time care.

Here's the saddening part. EVERY last nursing home and long term care facility that she's contacted either is not equipped to handle Stage 7 Alzheimers patients or routinely "handles" them by medicating them beyond any ability to function at all. I wasn't aware that this was common practice for Alzheimers patients. I can see the risks to the patient are great if they are still walking (which they commonly are able up to the last days) and if they aren't supervised 24/7.

She is now making the heartbreaking decision of sending her husband of over 55 years to a room in a nursing home where they will drug him to the point of being able to even stand. Which is one of the few things he is able to do yet. He has completely lost the ability to speak. He doesn't recognize his wife anymore. He is lost to his love ones now.

I was shocked that this was the only care offered to Alzheimer's patients.

Please keep her in your thoughts.

03-30-2005, 09:54 AM	#1 (permalink)
raeanna74 I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot! Location: Upper Michigan	No care for Alzheimer's patient? I have mentioned my Uncle before on here. His Alzheimers has worsened until he is now in the last stages. He repeated attempts to eat items that are not food and will continue to try to eat them despite a bad flavor. He gets combatative when he becomes fixated on doing something. He will pick at sores on himself, he will put his coat on to go to church at 2 am. When his 5', 95lb wife attempts to stop him he will grab her and sometimes leave bruises on her. She is grieved that she can't safely care for him any longer but she has realized the need for long term full time care. Here's the saddening part. EVERY last nursing home and long term care facility that she's contacted either is not equipped to handle Stage 7 Alzheimers patients or routinely "handles" them by medicating them beyond any ability to function at all. I wasn't aware that this was common practice for Alzheimers patients. I can see the risks to the patient are great if they are still walking (which they commonly are able up to the last days) and if they aren't supervised 24/7. She is now making the heartbreaking decision of sending her husband of over 55 years to a room in a nursing home where they will drug him to the point of being able to even stand. Which is one of the few things he is able to do yet. He has completely lost the ability to speak. He doesn't recognize his wife anymore. He is lost to his love ones now. I was shocked that this was the only care offered to Alzheimer's patients. Please keep her in your thoughts. __________________ "Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama My Karma just ran over your Dogma.