I haven't been on here for awhile, but need some input on an issue. My father went to an assisted living 9 days ago for a trial period. He was doing well staying with us(his daughters) He has been having a lot of ups and downs. This morning he told me he had been up all night looking for something (but couldn't remember what). I went to see him he was very confused and still trying to find what he was looking for. I was concerned his medications were not correct. I talked to med nurse and found out Namenda that he had been taking was not on physicians admission orders. My question to you is do you think this could be causing any of the confusion or is this just wishful thinking on my part?

Personally, I would be afraid to take away any alz medications. Haven't tried Namenda but my husband, Ken does real well on Aricept. Before he tood Aricept he was lost and in a fog big time. I feel like it buys him extra time for his mind. I would insist on using something for him. Sandra22

Mary l--it could be the Namedia--I would call the Dr.s office and get him restarted right away. However, a change of place for anyone would cause confusion, so it is doubly hard for him. It may take a while for him to settle in, everything is new and different. Restart the Namenda, and give the home some time. You may want to repost on the caregivers forum for more responses--.

On a similar subject, my wife has been in a facility for a little over a year. lately she is depressed and crying far more often than she is not. I was told by a couple of folks that sometimes Aricept can cause this and she should be taken off of it for a period of time ( in months). Anyone familar with this theory?

When I asked our doctor about stopping the Razidine and Namenda, he said he would not.He has had bad results from stopping them.Have them to put him back on it.He should not have so many changes at one time.(In my opinion)We have stopped Lipitor and everything else but not the meds for Alzheimer's and behavior problems.Good luck. "Me"

My mom was recently placed in a nursing home by my father against the pleas of my sister and I. He has basically taken away all her asset and is using her social security and Medicaid to keep her in the home. I am devastated and want my mom home. My father stopped all her medications for namendia and razidine the day she went in the nursing home. She was able to ask for the bathroom and pull her pants up and down, plus feed herself with encouragement before. I cannot believe this is happening. I think he thinks this will speed up the process of her death and her not knowing her surroundings. I know it is only going to decrease her quality of life and make her situation worse. Only God knows her time and she is in the later 2nd stage but could have a good year or more like she was. I am heartbroken and enraged. Please any comments would be greatly appreciated.

I'm so sorry for what you're going through. My mother-in-law was put in an assisted living facility @ 8 months ago. Initially, her SS and pension was to pay for it... but, it got increasingly more expensive ($5000/mo). Also, they suggested only bathing her once weekly! We were appalled. I offered to lend assistance to my husband and sister-in-law by having her move in with us. Now, I'm her primary caretaker. Like your mom, she can still eat, makes her bed, knows when she has to potty, etc. But, she definitely needs an eye on her 24/7. She sleeps well (12hrs); or at least, she's in bed and not roaming. So that's a good thing. She too is on Namenda. I guess what I'm saying is that it broke my heart to see her at the NH; knowing we could do a better job. I hope your situation resovles.

Our Mom was in an ALF also and we took her out and brought her and Dad to our house. Between the lack of care and the expense I could not see them waste their life savings on someplace that did not make them Happy.

Dad is happy here - slightly senile- but Mom often wants to go "home". Mostly wants her Mom and Dad. If we can be of help at all to them and make their final days a bit better I am happy to have them here.

Exactly... I find that the AL patient frequently thinks of "HOME". My MIL thinks she needs to pack so I can take her back to her house. We've been frank with her, when needed.
"MOM, this is your home now. You're living with us, your family." Regardless of how she feels, we're at ease knowing she's cared for and safe.

I am sole caregiver for my 81 year old Mom with Alzheimer's...I have so many mixed emotions. First of all once your parent is on an Alzheimer's medicine it is imperative that you not change that especially if it is working...my Mom is on Risperdal, Namenda and Razadyne and recently I ran out of Razadyne for a day and evening was a real nightmare. Actually I didn't realize until the next day why she had had such a terrible night. I won't do that again! My Mom continually asks for her Mom and Dad and wants to go home...she drags clothes out of her room to put in a bag to go home ...she gets very upset if you try to convince her that they are in heaven, etc. I find it more acceptable to her to just let her think they will come by later. Nighttime is hard because I really have no medication to keep her in bed even though she takes Alz meds at night also. Any ideas? My children all are trying to convince me to put her in an Alzheimer's Home but I just find it hard to do..she is so dependent on me. Mom cannot change herself, clean herself, go to the bathroom herself but she does feed herself and does have a wonderful appetite for which I am thankful. Caring for her is truly a 24/7 job and I daily ask God to give me the tenderness, sweetness and love to deal with all of the daily tasks in caring for her. Some days it all seems so overwhelming. Some days I feel so alone and wonder how I can continue. Her disease has pretty much locked me in our home and it is a rare experience when I can get out. I have a precious husband who helps me whenever he can...he is amazing with her and always makes her laugh. To her I am Mom and she keeps asking where Donnalee went.....reading the posts are really encouraging and uplifting. I am grateful that she is here and I feel privileged to care for her even in the hardest moments....but I sometimes wonder what she is thinking about her life!! She loves hugs and kisses and when I tuck her in she always wants to kiss me and make me promise to wake her up when she can get up....

this is for drvalentine1995 . one thing that may divert her from wanting to go home is to let her pack and put the case in a corner for "when she would leave" then change the subject or divert her in some way, does she do crafts. Does she go to a day care to give you a break. You may try a respite trial for her in a alzheimers unit. or have a care giver come in 2 or 3 times a week to give you a break before you burn out. do you have a support group available to you. It is good that you are caring for her but you need a break from her and don't feel guilty taking it. Do not tell her "this is your home" or "your mom and dad are dead" the first confuses her even more and the second will bring back the sadness of losing her parents. just tell her that she is visiting you for a while and you are glad she is there then change the subject. about her parents tell her that they are on a trip and she will see them soon. alz patients are usually easily directed. usually they have no idea of day or night. I have been diagnosed with it and am in the early stages. I also was a nurse on a dementia unit, worked nights and some of my residents were up 2 or 3 night is a row then would sleep for 2 days. I had tea parties at 3 am for some of the ladies. I found the old melmack cups that were popular when they were younger and they liked that. Books for them to look at and sometimes read to me if they could. Some of the stuff they came up with was really amusing. I always took cookies in for all the residents. sugar free for the diabetics - and they most always knew me as the cookie lady.