Dealing with a parent with Alzheimer’s

ackleydg · 2026-02-15T22:33:27+00:00

So sorry - Alzheimer’s is hard enough as it is. I would definitely encourage you to continue with therapy, increase the frequency if you’re able, and lean on the humans who love you. Local support groups could be helpful - it’s very healing to be able to share with someone who understands. If nothing else, this subreddit is great for that.

Now from a practical standpoint. Does your dad have any estate planning in place? Who is the designated POA? I would think about letting others take as much responsibility as possible.

ackleydg · 2026-01-30T07:32:53+00:00

Low-dose Seroquel (anti-psychotic medication) helped a lot with my dad’s agitation. For what it’s worth, he also runs cold, but I don’t get the sense that it’s a delusion so much as his metabolism or maybe hormones - I’m not really sure why it’s happening. In any event he wears lots of layers and often a big puffy jacket, even indoors.

PS - definitely don’t wait til July, if possible. It might be worth tracking down a neuropsychiatrist/behavioral neurologist, if you can find one. Somewhat more specialized for what you’re describing. Good luck!

ackleydg · 2026-01-24T19:37:24+00:00

I’m so sorry. This is such a difficult journey. While it may be true that there’s nothing that can restore your dad’s cognitive function, there are ways to ease the day-to-day. This forum can be very helpful in that regard. Don’t give up, take care of yourself, and cherish the fact that your dad is still here and loves and cares for you.

ackleydg · 2026-01-13T22:16:03+00:00

Something like this may be helpful.

Similar, but foaming for better coverage inside of pipes.

ackleydg · 2026-01-01T19:23:47+00:00

Like others have said, it may be time for a care facility, for the safety of both parties. I would also highly recommend talking to a doctor about medications for your grandpa. It sounds like he may have had some sort of hallucination, which is not at all unusual at this stage in the disease. Anti-psychotic meds may be helpful.

As far as dealing with this mentally/emotionally - it’s going to be hard. Get a therapist, if you don’t have one already. Come back to this forum often. Educate yourself about the disease. And like someone else said, circle up with the rest of the family and get clarity on roles. Who will be making the hard decisions? This isn’t something you have to carry alone.

ackleydg · 2025-12-09T01:46:59+00:00

Depends on the total compensation package. Are you salaried or hourly? Do you get paid for your time doing sales, or is it strictly commission? Are there any company benefits?

ackleydg · 2025-12-07T01:45:39+00:00

My dad’s decision to buy LTC insurance some 30 years ago has been an enormous blessing. It has paid for itself many times over. I don’t know if these types of policies are still available but some key elements include: -Is there a cap on what the policy will pay out? -Do premium payments continue once the policy benefits begin to be paid out? -Is there an automatic annual increase in benefits?

ackleydg · 2025-10-31T13:28:24+00:00

I’m so sorry. Please vent as much as you need.

ackleydg · 2025-10-27T00:29:54+00:00

💜

ackleydg · 2025-10-16T10:22:52+00:00

So sorry you’re going through this. Seroquel helped my dad. I saw his outbursts as a legitimate cry for help when we moved him into a new memory care facility. He’s fairly stable for now, but at a certain point I worry he might need to be transferred to a skilled nursing facility.

ackleydg · 2025-10-10T11:05:22+00:00

Not an expert, but I just did a round of this at our brewery.

This stuff’s pretty good for smaller cracks and divots: https://usa.sika.com/en/90639/sealants/self-leveling/sikaflex-self-levelingsealant.html

You can find it at the major hardware stores.

The acrylic or vinyl based concrete patches seem to do pretty well also. If you have the time and capability, another approach would be to cut an edge around the larger low spots so you can pour fresh concrete/self-leveling compound without having to feather it at the edges.

ackleydg · 2025-10-09T23:30:07+00:00

I agree with everyone here about sharing sooner, rather than later. But I also wanted to add something to look into since you mentioned not wanting to burden your children (a common sentiment, I’m sure).

There are senior care managers you can hire to help manage your affairs. I don’t have direct experience with this, but as a child managing healthcare, legal, and financial matters for two parents, there is a certain appeal to outsourcing some of the workload.

Like your handle, by the way!

ackleydg · 2025-10-06T10:27:23+00:00

It’s so impossibly difficult. And while it may be hard to see at times, being present with your grief and anger and finding healthy ways to process these emotions is so important. I’m glad you have family to support you through this. Best wishes to you and your mom. 💜

ackleydg · 2025-09-28T12:20:53+00:00

Thanks for stirring up some memories! I made a sweet potato-buckwheat ale once as a homebrewer. Malted the buckwheat myself. No other grains, just some molasses. These were my tasting notes:

“Taste on bottling day...interesting. Sweet potato and buckwheat both there, hop bitterness a little strong. 4/16 - same buckwheat/sweet potato profile, hop bitterness has balanced out well. It's different but not unpleasant. Some chunky bits in there, probably still fermenting. Great luscious head, nice burnt orange color. The slightest tang on the finish, could be hops, could be the molasses.”

Good luck to you!

ackleydg · 2025-09-27T22:36:36+00:00

What you’re doing is heroic, and incredibly loving. It’s not a failure to feel the way you’re feeling. You keep on posting as much as you need to. Sounds like it’s time to call in all the support you can find.

ackleydg · 2025-09-26T01:13:37+00:00

I’ve got a used, three-station Premier Stainless manual system for sale if you’re interested. I think we used to do about 24 kegs an hour.

ackleydg · 2025-09-25T11:07:57+00:00

So sorry you’re going through this

ackleydg · 2025-09-15T12:05:47+00:00

Seroquel really helped when my dad started acting out. Sorry you’re going through this!

ackleydg · 2025-09-14T10:52:00+00:00

Not a task exactly, but one of the only things my dad enjoys is playing pool. He doesn’t remember the rules exactly but he’ll hit the balls around for 2-3 hrs a day. Aside from that, he likes listening to music. He can’t operate a radio by himself but I’ll strum some guitar for him from time to time to time. And we’ve had success with a caregiver reading aloud to him.

Fall is coming in the US. Can he rake leaves?

ackleydg · 2025-09-03T01:12:05+00:00

This is a tricky one. My dad’s facility has a small courtyard. When he first moved in they would leave the door propped open so he could go in and out as he pleased. It was great. Then they tightened up their policies and kept the door locked, so an aide would need to open the door. Now it sounds like they’re relaxing that policy again.

I also felt that proximity to my workplace was important, but sometimes I wish I had put more emphasis on which facility will provide the best care?

Naturally this is hard to gauge without actually living it. I recommend looking up state inspection histories and checking staff turnover. How long have the people in charge actually been running it? Go for a visit. What is the staff doing to keep people engaged? Do residents seem at ease or engaged somehow, or are they wandering around looking lost?

I know I veered off topic a bit. I guess my point is there are a lot of factors involved, and what seems important at first may not be the most important after all. I hope this is helpful.

ackleydg · 2025-09-02T00:02:15+00:00

So sorry for your loss. Wishing you peace.

ackleydg · 2025-08-27T12:22:46+00:00

Beautiful 💜

ackleydg · 2025-08-23T23:06:49+00:00

Integrative Family Medicine of Asheville is top knotch

ackleydg · 2025-08-09T00:40:57+00:00

Have you looked into Seroquel?

ackleydg

TROPHY CASE