My wife is 79 and is probably in stage 6-7. I'm 80 and her only caregiver.She sleeps part of the day, and I can't take her to the doctor any more so I don't know if he will still prescribe her meds. Also she will not eat solid food so I try to give her liquid nutrition. Any advice please.
Wally.

Wally-a care consultant will respond, probably tomorrow. They are great. Call the Alz hotline listed at the bottom of the page--800-272-3900--they can get you info on what to do.
And call the Dr and let him know what is going on.

Hello Wally,

I really love the rhyme you placed at the bottom of your post "My heart is like a cabbage broken in two - the leaves I give to others, the heart I give to you." I can tell that you love your wife very much and I am sorry that she is reaching the later stages of Alzheimers.

I would encourage you to call her doctor to talk about her medications. Some Alzheimer's medications reach a limit in their effectiveness in the later stages. Caregivers and doctors sometimes choose to stop the medications because of this. I am not sure which or how many medications your wife is taking but if there are some that the doctor feels will still benefit her, I would think he/she would find a way to get the medications prescribed.

Since it can be hard to reach doctors on the phone sometimes and when you do - they might not have a lot of time, I would suggest that you write down your questions before you call.

Regarding giving her liquid nutrition - you are doing exactly the right thing. Here is a brochure about the issues that come up in Late Stage Care. Please call our helpline anytime if you need advice or just need someone to talk to. We're here 24-hours a day at 1-800-272-3900.

Sincerely,

Dear Wally: I am so sorry for what is happening. Your wife is blessed to have such a loving husband and advocate.

I have another suggestion which may be of great assistance to you.

Depending on where your wife is physically, she will undoubtedly quality for Medicare or HMO fully-paid Hospice or Palliative Care.

In Hospice, it must be evident that the decline is such, it is likely to compromise life. Palliative Care is a pre-Hospice with the same benefits.

Once in their service, (at no charge), they will send out a Registered Nurse one to three times a week. They will have a Social Worker come out and do an informational intake to get you services and supplies, etc. They will give a bath aide to bathe your wife three times a week.

They will usually pay for any medications to do with her primary Alzheimer's diagnosis. They also have doctor's who will make a home call as necessary at no charge.

The RN becomes your case manager. She monitors all care and treatment and is the go-between for you and your wife with her MD.

They are marvelous support and can take much of the burden from your shoulders.

While not 24 hours, they also have volunteers who will stay for a few hours with your wife to allow you to rest or run errands of your own.

They can provide liquid supplements like Ensure and inconinence products, etc., at no cost.

If you need a longer break, they can provide respite care for a week or two in a facility to allow you to regroup and regain energy. This also is at no cost.

These services are available whether the patient is at home, in Assisted Living or in a Nursing Home. So they are there right to the end. As a matter of fact, when death does occur, they will stick with you for a year if you desire and they offer bereavement counseling and support, also free of charge.

You can find Hospices listed in the yellow pages, and you can also call your local medical center and ask for the social worker or discharge planner. They will give you the telephone number of the Hospices they use for their patients.

I wish you the very best. You are to be commended for your deep caring and your care giving.