How are you feeling about life in general, and in particular about continuing to care for your mother at home?
I'm sure the GP was doing the right thing for his patient, but as a layman I'm guessing the specialist would rather have seen your mother before she started the Aricept. Still! - can't be helped; and in any case the impression I have, from memory clinics and similar, is that diagnosing very precisely what is going on tends to be more art than science.
Also - aside from some salient features of particular types of dementia that you really do need to be ready for, and they tend to make themselves known without assistance whether you go looking for them or not - it doesn't make that much difference in terms of care or treatment.
Is anything worrying you that has prompted you to contact the forum today?
Your poor mother. It does sound as though she misses who she used to be, too. I would be very worried about depression setting in; though it's so hard to know, isn't it? - did she decide to give up work because her mind was letting her down, or is she withdrawing into herself because she's given up a job she loved doing...? Such a chicken-and-egg situation.
If you haven't already, I would do your best to get her checked over physically - heart function and renal function, bloods, thyroid, the usual suspects in the medical Rogues' Gallery - and while you're at it get her mental state assessed. I know it can seem too easy an answer, but anti-depressants do *work*, is the thing. Well worth a try if it gets her out of this awful downward spiral.
Best of luck, anyway, and please do come back and let us know how you're getting on.
Thank you countrymouse. She went to the emergency room last year. Had many tests. They were all good. I took her to the ER because she was very warm and almost passed out at a funeral. She wasn't that close to the person that died. She seems fairly content . We have 2 small dogs who she adores. She is active with them . My daughter , 21 , comes home every weekend from college . She s very happy to see her. I'm the one that needs to learn how to cope with the situation. The change in her life that directly affects mine. It sounds selfish. But she is here 24 hours a day. I find this site extremely helpfull. Thank you for your concern and suggestions
Erin, when my mom was diagnosed with MCI, the neurologist who ran the tests emphasized to my mom that one of the most important things she needed to do we to say engaged with people, to be social.
He was quite relieved when mom told him that she'd moved to an Independent Living facility and was giving the activities a try after a couple of months of keeping to herself. Have you considered something like a senior center or AL for your mom?
Another thing that makes a difference is what sort of assessment led to the diagnosis. If it's the quick shufti that GPs use to see if there's anything to worry about, it doesn't cover a multitude of signs that, in retrospect, one recognises as the beginnings of what later becomes florid dementia. Still worth doing, though, because it can highlight problems that really do warrant closer investigation.
Do you mind if I ask why you ask?
There are dozens of different types of dementia, with Alzheimers and vascular dementia being the commonest and Alzheimers ahead by some lengths. If the person you're asking about has other medical conditions, that can be a useful starting point for distinguishing which sorts of impairment may go on to become a problem.
Thank you for your posts. I asked this because my 79 year old mother was diagnosed with MCI with amnesiac features in August 2016. She was seen by a Neuropsychologist who specializes in aging. Prior to seeing him, her GP prescribed aricept. Her memory has been failing for a few years. Her GP gave her a quick test which she did quite poorly on. I think it is called a mini mental status. So after she was prescribed aricept , I made the appointment with the neuropsychologist. She has lived with me for over 20 years. Thanks for replying.
Countrymouse thank you. How I feel about caring for my mother , I can only describe as being in the deep water with no end in sight. If her diagnosis was an end stage life disease, At least I would have some time frame. I would have realistic facts. This is being in a storm not knowing if a tornado is next
Um. If I may say so, twenty years is a long time to sit out in the rain isn't it?
Um, this is even harder to ask nicely, but here goes. How does it come about that you are waiting for a time frame to know when you can lead your own life instead of living your mother's life? Is that roughly what's been happening?
Erin, What were the doctor's classes like? Did your mother take them?
The Mayo clinic has developed a intensive program for people with MCI, called HABIT. You can read about it here: http://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-professionals/clinical-updates/psychiatry-psychology/mci-interventions-aid-patients-and-caregivers
I know someone who went through the HABIT program several years ago. He still uses the tools and techniques he learned there. His MCI symptoms have not increased. In fact, there has been some improvements. When I first met him he could only write in short bursts of words. Now he is back to writing sentences. He still drives.
I don't know what your mother's doctor's classes are like, but I do want to endorse the notion that unlike dementia MCI has some possibility for improvement or at least stability. Would you mother be willing to take the classes?
MCI does not go away. It may or may not progress into dementia, sooner or later. Not much help, huh?
About the television watching: Could you at least encourage a broader variety in the programming? Try something familiar and funny. A DVD of old I Love Lucy episodes, for example. Try something uplifting. Maybe an animal movie if animals appeal to her. Music? Lawrence Welk or even Liberace? Or maybe Joan Baez is more her style. If she is just going to sit there at least encourage a variety of stimulation.
How are you feeling about life in general, and in particular about continuing to care for your mother at home?
I'm sure the GP was doing the right thing for his patient, but as a layman I'm guessing the specialist would rather have seen your mother before she started the Aricept. Still! - can't be helped; and in any case the impression I have, from memory clinics and similar, is that diagnosing very precisely what is going on tends to be more art than science.
Also - aside from some salient features of particular types of dementia that you really do need to be ready for, and they tend to make themselves known without assistance whether you go looking for them or not - it doesn't make that much difference in terms of care or treatment.
Is anything worrying you that has prompted you to contact the forum today?
If you haven't already, I would do your best to get her checked over physically - heart function and renal function, bloods, thyroid, the usual suspects in the medical Rogues' Gallery - and while you're at it get her mental state assessed. I know it can seem too easy an answer, but anti-depressants do *work*, is the thing. Well worth a try if it gets her out of this awful downward spiral.
Best of luck, anyway, and please do come back and let us know how you're getting on.
He was quite relieved when mom told him that she'd moved to an Independent Living facility and was giving the activities a try after a couple of months of keeping to herself. Have you considered something like a senior center or AL for your mom?
Do you mind if I ask why you ask?
There are dozens of different types of dementia, with Alzheimers and vascular dementia being the commonest and Alzheimers ahead by some lengths. If the person you're asking about has other medical conditions, that can be a useful starting point for distinguishing which sorts of impairment may go on to become a problem.
Um, this is even harder to ask nicely, but here goes. How does it come about that you are waiting for a time frame to know when you can lead your own life instead of living your mother's life? Is that roughly what's been happening?
The Mayo clinic has developed a intensive program for people with MCI, called HABIT. You can read about it here: http://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-professionals/clinical-updates/psychiatry-psychology/mci-interventions-aid-patients-and-caregivers
I know someone who went through the HABIT program several years ago. He still uses the tools and techniques he learned there. His MCI symptoms have not increased. In fact, there has been some improvements. When I first met him he could only write in short bursts of words. Now he is back to writing sentences. He still drives.
I don't know what your mother's doctor's classes are like, but I do want to endorse the notion that unlike dementia MCI has some possibility for improvement or at least stability. Would you mother be willing to take the classes?
MCI does not go away. It may or may not progress into dementia, sooner or later. Not much help, huh?
About the television watching: Could you at least encourage a broader variety in the programming? Try something familiar and funny. A DVD of old I Love Lucy episodes, for example. Try something uplifting. Maybe an animal movie if animals appeal to her. Music? Lawrence Welk or even Liberace? Or maybe Joan Baez is more her style. If she is just going to sit there at least encourage a variety of stimulation.
Good luck!
Your mom sounds as though she is still very independent and has good skills. Does the facility in question have an Independent Living part?
For my mom, for a good chunk of time, she simply needed to be in a place that provided meals and the opportunity to go to activities.
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