My mother with dementia is "my shadow." How do I get her to stop following me all day long?
Dr. Jamie Huysman, LCSW answered:
If your parent is following you around the house all day, the dementia could be progressing, or they need more social interaction with other people.
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My mother who has dementia talks to relatives who have died. What should I do?
Dr. Jamie Huysman, LCSW answered:
When a person with dementia or Alzheimer's talks to or dead family members or relatives, they are recalling happier times...but it might be time to bring in some expert help.
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What are the most common side affects of bladder-control medications?
Lynn Harrelson answered:
Bladder control and incontinence medications have various side affects depending on the person taking them. Some side affects of Over-Active Bladder (OAB) and Incontinence medications are dry mouth, blurry vision, heartburn and constipation.
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My elderly mother is showing signs of dementia. She is often confused and forgetful, but she doesn't recognize it. Do I tell her?
Dr. Jamie Huysman, LCSW answered:
If your elderly mother is showing signs of dementia, getting her doctor involved is the best way to tell an elderly parent they have dementia.
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My elderly father has Alzheimer’s and I am new to caregiving. Help! Where do I start?
Gail M. Samaha answered:
New to caregiving? The first thing you should start by doing, is to keep your elderly father with Alzheimer's safe in his environment.
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My elderly mom has been very depressed, saying that she just wanted to die. I try to help her, but she lashes out and can be so mean. How do I handle this?
Dr. Mikol Davis answered:
Elderly people who are depressed have lost purpose in their lives, become mean and often lash out at others. When anyone expresses their desire to die, it is important to not take this comment lightly.
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My 81-year-old father is in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s and needs to be moved to a nursing home. Will Medicaid pay?
K. Gabriel Heiser answered:
Medicare will only pay for 100 days in a nursing home, even if the elder has Alzheimer's disease. Medicaid does not have a time limit.
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How long does Alzheimer's disease last on average?
Dr. Maurizio Grimaldi answered:
The average, calculated by the Alzheimer' Association is around 8 to 12 years. Read Dr. Grimaldi's full answer.
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If Alzheimer’s is a disease of the memory, how do people die from it?
Dr. Maurizio Grimaldi answered:
The disease is not only a memory disease. It initially manifests with a marked memory failure. However, learning and higher brain functions are also affected. Read Dr. Grimaldi's full answer.
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What are the diagnostic tests used for Alzheimer's disease?
Dr. Maurizio Grimaldi answered:
There are no specific laboratory tests that can unequivocally tell that you have Alzheimer's disease. Read Dr. Grimaldi's full answer.
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What kind of information should I bring to my first visit to the doctor?
Dr. Maurizio Grimaldi answered:
All background blood work and tests that assess brain function and brain imaging studies that might have been performed recently are helpful. Read Dr. Grimaldi's full answer.
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Who should I go to if I suspect Alzheimer's disease?
Dr. Maurizio Grimaldi answered:
Your family doctor can suspect the disease, but they may not be qualified to diagnosis the disease. Read Dr. Grimaldi's full answer.
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Is Alzheimer’s disease hereditary?
Dr. Maurizio Grimaldi answered:
Sometimes Alzheimer's Disease can be hereditary. If a member of the family has the disease, the siblings show a higher risk. However, 99.9% of Alzheimer's cases are not hereditary.
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I have been so busy and stressed out lately and am often misplacing things. Is that a warning sign of Alzheimer’s?
Jacqueline Marcell answered:
Misplacing things is not a sign of Alzheimer's in-and-of-itself. Losing your keys doesn't mean you have Alzheimer's. But there are 10 warning signs from the Alzheimer's Association that you should look out for.
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The doctor told me that my elderly father was having hallucinations and delusions while in the hospital. What’s the difference?
Jacqueline Marcell answered:
Hallucinations in the elderly may be experienced through one of the five senses; a delusion is something a person believes to be true.
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My grandmother developed Alzheimer’s at 84. My mother got it at 70. I am 40 and worried I am going to get it. Is there a test to know if I will develop it or not?
Jacqueline Marcell answered:
There is a test, but even if you have inherited the gene, it doesn't mean you will definitely develop Alzheimer's Disease.
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What is "off-time" and “wearing off” in Parkinson's disease? What should a patient do when it occurs?
Dr. Aleksandar Videnovic answered:
"Off-Time" for a Parkinson's Disease is a period of the day when medication isn't working well or "wearing off", and "on-time" are periods where PD symptoms are controlled.
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Are there any lifestyle adjustments my 68-year-old mother with Parkinson's can make to help improve her tremors and shakes?
Dr. Aleksandar Videnovic answered:
Tremors and shakes are very common complaints related to Parkinson's disease. Treatment is often challening, since tremors may not respond optimally to various medications. Read the full answer.
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My mother is afraid of everyone who comes to our house. She sits in the dark most of the time and does not talk to anyone except the dog. I don't know what to do. Should I contact her doctor about how she chooses complete isolation?
Jacqueline Marcell answered:
Absolutely! Better yet, make an appointment and take your mom to the doctor, so you can discuss this in-depth with the doctor, because unless you have a durable power of attorney, they will not be able to discuss your mother's health with you over the phone.
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Are there any alternatives to heart bypass surgery?
Dr. Allen Raczkowski answered:
Coronary artery bypass is the gold standard for coronary artery disease. However, there are many other ways to treat it.
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