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Posted
20 minutes ago, galenkia said:

My brain has been frazzled by so much drugs, booze and mental health problems I doubt I would notice.😀

I actually think you won't know yourself. One of my best mates died of it and I picked up on it early because of the things he was forgetting. Talking to his wife, she passed it off as depression.

Very sad, he died within two years.

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Posted (edited)

Yes Alzheimers or dementia I don't think the sufferers are aware of it.

Dementia is a general term (an umbrella term) for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life, while Alzheimer's disease is a specific, progressive brain disease and the most common cause of dementia. Dementia describes symptoms like memory loss, whereas Alzheimer's is the physical, underlying cause. 

Edited by coxyhog
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Posted

Having seen my Dad decline with it, although it was cancer that took him ultimately, it's something I've discussed at length with the wife should it ever happen to me.

It's arguably one of the most heartbreaking conditions to see a person you love decline from. Very often, towards the end they don't resemble the person they were in any way at all, apart from the physical similarities, but that's where it ends.

That's why I'd never put my wife or daughter through that should I ever succumb. I told her in no explicit terms, a 9mm aspirin will do nicely, failing that, stick me in a wheelchair and dump me next to a stage in a GoGo Bar (preferably one that's open) with a bottle of JD and a load of valium already inside me, and let nature take its course.

If she became ill with it, then I' drop everything to care for her and retain her dignity.

We've got a dark humour joke at work:

Alzheimers or Parkinsons?

- Parkinsons, I'd rather half just half a pint than forget I had one in the first place.

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Posted

Both my parents had dementia but succumbed from other causes before it became pronounced. Both were in a hospice when they passed away.

I did care for both my mother and father prior to them going into a hospice and it was a very difficult time.

My main memories were that they could not remember what they had done or said in the previous hour but could remember what they had done during the war. My father was the most difficult to deal with and there were times that he did things that were so not him but required great understanding and patience. There were many times that proved difficult where I thought I would not cope.

I am very happy to the hospice for their care, and I respect anybody who takes on that vocation for support for the elderly, especially those elder residents with dementia.

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Posted
1 hour ago, Khun Ling said:

No first hand experience but with both parents in their eighties I’m sure I will soon. Will be watching this thread 

If I could offer any advice it would be to try and get on a "dementia course". Some are free, some are paid but if you're in Suffolk / Essex I might be able to get you on a free one with the NHS through the wife if you PM me. Being pro active now will pay dividends in the future for care, navigating the process and steps to take, including avoiding care home costs etc.

They (the courses) are worth their weight in gold, as it gives a better understanding of everything as a whole, and will really pay dividends to stop you getting frustrated initially with forgetfulness, right through to understanding the moods, what to expect and when to take action, and what you can do to help along the way.

I pray that both your parents are healthy and don't suffer from it, nor will they ever. PM me if you want any details, information or guidance within the NHS, although Mrs Butch has retired from the Medical profession after 25 years, she's in a different role now but still has many contacts within the NHS.

Anything I can help you with I will, and this extends to all BM's regardless if we've fallen out in the past or whatever, just send me a PM and I'll let you know if I can.

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Posted

My mother was basically a vegetable for the last four years of her life because of severe dementia whereas my father kept his marbles pretty well to the end; but I can recall him telling me several years before Mom went into care that he was getting concerned about her because she was getting so forgetful. After Dad passed away Mom only made it a couple of years on her own, getting progressively worse until we managed to get her into care. 

So I would say a key initial indicator would be loss of short-term memory - we all seem to get a little forgetful as we grow old but there comes a time when others start noticing it and that's when the troubles start. 

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Posted

My mother died of cancer. 

The plan was to try and take care of her the best we could in her home. It was stress city with elderly dad always throwing a wrench into things.

I was able to convince a quality nursing home to accept her. There was a bit of resistance initially, but once she adjusted she was much better cared for than if we tried to do it at home.

On 1/30/2026 at 5:27 AM, Butch said:

If I could offer any advice it would be to try and get on a "dementia course". Some are free, some are paid but if you're in Suffolk / Essex I might be able to get you on a free one with the NHS through the wife if you PM me. Being pro active now will pay dividends in the future for care, navigating the process and steps to take, including avoiding care home costs etc.

They (the courses) are worth their weight in gold, as it gives a better understanding of everything as a whole, and will really pay dividends to stop you getting frustrated initially with forgetfulness, right through to understanding the moods, what to expect and when to take action, and what you can do to help along the way.

I pray that both your parents are healthy and don't suffer from it, nor will they ever. PM me if you want any details, information or guidance within the NHS, although Mrs Butch has retired from the Medical profession after 25 years, she's in a different role now but still has many contacts within the NHS.

Anything I can help you with I will, and this extends to all BM's regardless if we've fallen out in the past or whatever, just send me a PM and I'll let you know if I can.

The only bed (room) available was on an Alzheimer's unit. During those months she was there I received a close, regular view of serious dementia. 

 

*** someone mentioned a 9mm aspirin. I will opt for a plastic bag and a tank of helium.

 

**** Butch - tremendous info. regarding the course.   🙏

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Posted
4 minutes ago, Glasseye said:

*** someone mentioned a 9mm aspirin. I will opt for a plastic bag and a tank of helium.

You want to enter the afterlife sounding like a chipmunk?

 

Posted

...you completely forget that Eratosthenes of Cyrene measured the circumference and diameter of the world 

in about 240 BC and end up believing that it's flat. 🤣

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