Grandfather has it. Its the saddest thing I have ever witnessed. My grandmother is his caretaker, she is 81, he is 86. She is in pretty good health however a dementia patient is alot to deal with.

Right now helping out is me, my sister, and my older cousin and my dad. My uncle stops by and cuts the grass every two weeks and stays an hour and leaves the other kids and grand kids barely even call but they know hes sick. I stayed with my grandmother last night and stayed up with him. He went to bed at 11pm woke up at 1251am... stayed up until about 4:15am. He sits on the edge of the bed, talking nonsense and just moving his hands. Sometimes yelling, laughing etc. Talking to his mom, dad, brother(s) sister, (all are passed BTW) I left at 7am because I had to go to work. Man this is the hardest thing I have ever done. Watching the strongest person you know you lose their mind so quickly. He sleeps during the day and stays up all night. Several times he would not take his meds. My grandmother is doing the best she can do at 81 but I know this is hard on her as well.

Have any of you ever had to deal with it?

Dealt with this with my Mom and FIL
Both cases were tough to deal with
Both were very defiant at times and wouldnt take meds
Took several caregivers to help with my FIL including my wife and I but my Mom went downhill so fast we had to put her in a nursing home because it was just too much

My Grandfathers Mother had it, and I am pretty sure two of his brothers did as well. We are doing everything we can do to keep him out of the nursing home, but at this point it isn't up to us. It is my grandmothers decision, she is the one dealing with it day in and day out.

My great grandfather had it. He was the best man I’ve ever known, and an incredible man of God too. He started forgetting small things, and it eventually led to not being able to remember who people were or remember much at all. It went on for a year or two, and one day my great grandma calls and says “hey, greatpa has been asking for you to come over for a few days.” So I went on by and we sat and talked like he wasn’t sick at all. Told stories and laughed like old times. A week later, he was on hospice. They say often times they’ll have a couple days of clarity, and then rapidly decline.

My grandmother had Alzheimer’s and lived with it for 12-15 years. I stayed one summer 3 nights a week with her. That ended when she started hitting on me at 3 in the morning. My mom took her in and cared for her for about 10 years even after grandma became bed ridden. I thought mom and dad were gonna get a divorce over it.

Like mentioned moments of clarity came back at the end. Grandma actually recognized her kids momentarily towards the end.

I was very fortunate. Both parents went quick so to speak. Dad was still sharp as a tack until the end.

Witnessed my wife and her siblings care for their Mother thru all the phases of Alzheimers. Final year took a tremendous toll on the entire family. I used to think cancer was the worse death but dementia or Alzheimers is much worse. Praying for all of you.

I remember the day my dad looked at me and didn't know who I was. Take care of your grandmother, she will die before him from the stress of caregiving if she doesn't take care of herself first. As you already know, very few family members will offer any real help. Prayers for your family.

It really does happen fast.. July 20th he knew who we were the day I took my 4 month old over there.

Last night he called my name a time or two, however when you try to talk to him he just blank stares at you.

My grandmother had it. My grandpa tried to take care of her and we ended up putting her in a memory care ward. One night she got out of the house and the next morning she was found butt naked in the neighbors car asleep. She wouldn’t go to the bathroom sometimes in the house. She I guess forgot she had a bathroom inside but would go outside. She grew up with an outhouse.

She lived about 3 hours from us and we would visit twice a year. She got bad quick.

Last time I saw her she had no clue who I was.

She died about 15 years ago

My mother died after a lengthy battle with Alzheimers. As the disease progressed, she became more and more focused on her childhood. It got to the point where she would tell me every day that she was going home and her mom and dad, siblings, and all her aunts, uncles, and cousins were going to be there. She had a brief moment of clarity one evening when I went over to take care of her. She had locked herself out of the house in the middle of an intense thunderstorm. After I got her in and warmed up in her favorite recliner she got real quiet and content. Then she asked me out of the blue what was wrong with her. For that brief moment, my mother was back and aware of her plight. That was the last time I saw her in her home. A UTI emergency resulted in her being put in a skilled nursing facility. It was at the height of the Covid scare and we were not allowed to see her for the next 3 months. By the time I was allowed to see her, she was on her deathbed and unaware of anyone even being there. I have not yet been able to get over the heartbreak and anger of her final months isolated with no family contact. She deserved better than that.

He is similar, he is talking to his momma daddy and brother sisters etc from his child hood I think as well. He had good days and bad days in July, he said one day he had been drunk for 3 days and had not drank a drop he said I can not figure out what is going on. Now it is not like that.. He does not know what is going on. He will know my name every once in a while. I Was trying to get him in the bed and he called my name and said you are going to hurt me. I was being as soft as I could... He just did not want to get in bed. LOL

It's a sad thing, ive dealt with it once and now my grandad is 90 and I think he's got a bit of it, he called me this morning just to read over some stuff he was unsure about and I finally told him that I thought he had it and to go to doctor...

It’s terrible. The early stages are rough on the patient as they are missing pieces of the puzzle and get frustrated and don’t understand. Sometimes even paranoid that someone is taking or moving things etc. The later stages are worse on the family. We’ve been through it with multiple family members and I’m afraid it’s not over.

Terrible for sure.
Went through it for about 5 years with my mother.

She went through it for several years with her mother before that.

BIL and FIL at same time for years. Both passed within weeks of each other. BIL was 56 when it started for him. Very cruel disease and it takes a lot of patience.

My dad has a pretty sharp mind, but he's trapped in a failing body. I think I'd rather not know who I am, than know and be trapped.

Ya'll don't take this the wrong way, but as I get older I'm starting to think Kevorkian was right. I don't know a soul who wants to go out slow. I'd rather have a massive heart attack than a lingering death. Wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, much less those I love and the caregivers.

I think It's worse on those who care for them than it is for the ones who have it. Sounds crazy but it's true. My father died of Alzhiemer's 5 years ago and it was tough. Thankfully he was only in bad shape for about 6 months.

My wife has it now .I retired early 5 years ago to take care of her . It is hard to watch your loved ones live with sure a sad disease but you can and will get through it . Many people will be praying for you and your family so hang in and help as much as you can. You will not regret it . you will be blessed by helping .

My MIL died from it. My wife said she lost her mom twice.......once to the disease because the person faculty-wise is lost and the second loss is death itself. The harder of the two losses is the first one.....watching the person you love fade away and not remember you. Heartbreaking disease.

is he on a sleeping pill. Sundowners he is going through