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My husband, with early onset Alzheimer's, gets agitated when I remind him to take his pills. He later may or may not take them When I ask if he took them, he becomes agitated again and does not answerAny suggestions on how to approach this topic?

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Stop expecting anything helpful from husband. As mentioned, take over pill administration. Watch for signs that he's having trouble swallowing. If so, report to doctor.

You may be advised to crush all meds and put them in applesauce, pudding, whipped cream, or something else that's palatable. Even if you are not advised to do that, you may wish to start giving his meds that way. But you need to be sure that you only crush meds that it's okay to administer crushed. Another alternative is to get a liquid version of meds and use that - Tylenol, for instance, comes in liquid form, and it was easier to administer to my husband that way.

I'm not sure what you mean by early onset Alzheimers. "Early onset" is when the patient is younger than usual - say, 35 (like my high school friend who died of dementia around the age of 40). Alzheimers is considered to have afflicted them early. On the other hand, if patient is of an age where it's not unusual to show signs of Alzheimers, that's called "the early stage of Alzheimers" or "mild cognitive impairment" or similar. Two different things.

Your husband seems to be past mild cognitive impairment. I'm so sorry.
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Reply to Fawnby
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I think, to be honest, that it's time you take over the pill situation completely.
And it's time for a talk with hubby in Doc's office to say so. And to let him know together, with the MD at his side, that if he cannot help you manage his illness at home, then he won't be in an in-home situation, but in an in-facility manage. It is either that or remove medications all together and move into a palliative situation in which the goal is not to prolong life.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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Thank you. I will try that
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Reply to Lou1142
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Your asking him to think. He may get agitated because he does not remember where his pills are. If your there, you give them to him and watch him take them. If you work, there are pill despensers that tell them when its time for pills, he would then push a button and the pills are dispensed in a little container. You are called if meds are not taken.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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Lou1142 Aug 6, 2025
Thanks. The pill dispenser is in front of him. Instead of telling him it's time for pills I will give them to him
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Don't remind him, just hand then to him with a glass of liquid (or food) and say, "Time for your meds" and stand there until he takes them. You cannot expect a person with diminishing cognitive and memory issues to continue functioning like a "normal" person. Unfortunately, there are no other solutions to this problem except for human management.
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Reply to Geaton777
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