This article was sooo much help. My husband's dementia is progressing and exams of all kinds are a huge stress for both of us. Thank you!!

My stepfather would lose his glasses and get so upset. He would cry when we found them. Lately, he's stopped wearing them. He'll put them away in a "safe" place. I don't know if they are too uncomfortable or what but I know he needs them. I'm going to try the lighter weight frames and she if that helps. Thanks for the article!

This is the sad but true state of elderly care. As much as we'd like to comfort our seniors, sometimes we just have to accept the practical difficulties that come with age. However, when it comes to eye care, you can always have a word with your Ophthalmologist. There are certain objective tests and examination of the eyes that can be performed even if the senior citizen is not in a state to subjectively let the doctor know how well he can see.

i agree with some advices given,but for the advantage of all members visiting this site,if any one needs more

My wife passed away not long after I madse my initial comments. I am sure she is now in a better place although overall her nursing home did a good job.
Returning to dental concerns, I still believe that family members/caretakers are the best monitors of a AD patients dental care. Look for things like the reddening and bleeding of gums and report this to staff. Do not assume that these things will be addressed without your advocating for the patient. My only regret is that I did not do this sooner. I also believer that when nursing home inspectors visit they pay particular attention to the dental health of the AD population.

Do not forget the fingernails and toenails. My mom lives in an assisted housing, and while visting one day she had just gotten out of the shower and dressing. She was putting on her socks when I got a shock; her toenails had grown into her skin. I immediately took care of the situation but it did remind me of those things we take for granted, elderly patient do not.

Ahh Eye, Ear, & Teeth check-ups are difficult on me too!

It's good to be reminded that we care givers can only do so much. While it is difficult to accept, the author is right in advising us to let go of issues we can't change and concentrate on what we have some control over. A good life lesson. Thanks.

Try "Cushion Grip" on those old ones. 4-day temp reliner that starts out gooey and molds to current mouth shape (however loose skin on roof of mouth makes whatever denture solution too loose to stick). Hope the new solution, think it's called Secure, will work better for Mom (just ordered it online). Read about Cushion grip on Amazon. Lots of testimonials and tips. It sort of worked for Mom, but she really can't feel if it's in the right place.

dad spent 1,800 for a new upper teeth , he won t wear them , always askin for his old ones . i kept takin him back to dentist to get the new one fitted right , dentist says that it fits and he just has to get use to it ,
well its sittin in the bowl and he wears his old ones which is too big and falls down all the time . glob of glue plz .

winkpc: I don't know the protocols for dental work and such, but seems with dementia patients, some system could be developed to knock the patient out and then do as many procedures as possible while the patient is unconscious: dental, burning off suspicious warts, cleaning ears of wax. Why not do "the works" if the patient needs surgery (or sedating for whatever reason) for something else?

Yep, going through that with Mom's dentures right now. Trying various temp reliners and now just ordered an adhesive that is nondissolving. Mom is literally choking on all denture adhesives we've tried as they melt and dissolve down her throat. The heartbreaking and annoying repeated discussions and explanations about her teeth are wearing me out. Just today I put down my foot about glues and relining, until the new product comes in. After that I can try a few permanent self-reliners. If I had a million bucks and conservatorship of the person on her, I'd get implants, perhaps, to anchor the dentures. It's really her whole life now, and even though she has progressing Alzheimer's ... well, I don't have the money nor authority, so she has to suffer...and me too.

It is interesting that this topic came up as dental care for my wife has been a concern lately. She has her own teeth and she has been in a nursing home and assisted living for a total of 9 years. She has dementia and she has been resistant to people who want to mess around with her teeth. As a result, during the few times she has had "dental care", very little was done. At this point her teeth are in very bad shape, but since she is in late stages I don't know what care is appropriate. However, there is no doubt in my mind that her dental care has been neglected during the 8 years she has spent in the nursing home. I am sure that the problems she has are common among nursing home patients who are long-terrmers. I thiunk a big part of the answer would be the development of regulations at the federal and state levels to address this issue. Dentists need to be consulted regarding minimum standards and these need to be implemented. My wife has had many episodes of calling out over the years at the nursing home. Is this because of dental pain? We really don't know and the only thing that is done is to mask the symptoms by administering pain medication, etc.
People like my wife cannot speak out for themselves, so we need to speak out for them.