Alzheimer's
Other
I was going to write a long message about it- but put simply Alzheimer's is a horrific disease stealing people before they're actually gone.
I look at that quote and think 'how true'. My Nana had Alzheimer's fortunately for only about 12 months before she died age 96, I say 'fortunately' because she was happy in her own world, true she had no idea who I was 8 out 10 visits, and she wasn't the Nana I'd grown up with, but she was happy. I found the condition my Mother had much harder to deal with, she had PSP (progressive supranuclear palsy) which leaves the mind as sharp as ever but the signals don't get to the body, so you sit in a chair unable to do ANYTHING and get fed and changed like a baby, this lasts for about 5 years until you are no longer able to swallow. I may have lost Nana 12 months before but I watched Mam 'leave' for 7 years.
That sounds like a horrendous disease and I am so sorry you've had to go through both experiences. My nan has alzheimers and im really struggling watching her disappear
jamiepownall It's very hard, but be there with your Nan and be who ever she thinks you are, don't try and correct, it causes more confusion. I could start the visit as myself and finish as her mother and visa versa with all other family members in-between but she did enjoy talking about her early years, listen and write them down, the stories make lovely memories. Unfortunately Mum lost her speech, so no stories 
jamiepownall Shucks, I keep forgetting we are under house arrest, I should know my uncle (83) has been lost, his wife had to go into hospital urgently and have open heart surgery, no visits for 15 weeks, first time they'd been apart in 58 years. All is well now.
lilyflower it is so ****. my nan has four children and 8 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild on the way and none of us are able to visit. i think this has impacted her mental health more- she was always surrounded by family and now just has carers (who do their best) but I think she misses her family
jamiepownall Thank you. Are you allowed to send items to your Nan? I've been making 'pairs of hearts' for my daughter at the hospital, a thought you could all make a heart for Nan and join them together she would then have something from you to hold and you had the matching heart. My daughter made me this one 
lilyflower that is a lovely idea and i love that heart! i love anything with bees on. we have been sending her things in. we've sent flowers, favourite food, i sent pictures in and then at xmas we bought her an electronic picture frame with photos of us all. i think its just part of her disease now- yesterday she was unable to talk, just muttering and then saying the odd word. we were all on camera trying to wave at her but she just wants there at all.
i can crochet (as she taught me) i might make her something like what youve sent.
jamiepownall sending you this after reading your other comments. There's always someone on here to talk to 
My nanna died nearly 2 years ago to Alzheimer's and Dementia and it is absolutely awful. I'm glad she went when she did as the state some people can get into its hard to even imagine.
Sorry for your loss but I now what you mean. Watching my nan deteriorate now is awful
jamiepownall Thanks, it was horrible to see but i have to say i felt relief when she did pass as I didn't want her to get into a worse state
My grandad died a long time ago. Just thinking about it makes me feel sad. All the memories we had together and he couldn't recognize me at the end.
I am having a really tough day today after seeing her deterioration on a videocall yesterday. it is horrible.
Alzheimer's is horrific, my hubbys nana had it for around 8 years before she died, I'll never forget the day of his grandads funeral (her husband) - we were all stood outside the house and the hearse pulled up with coffin and she kept asking who'd died and where her husband was cos he'd been ages at the pub! She didnt know it was her husband of 61 years who we were burying. It absolutely broke my heart, and hit really hard. Its such a cruel disease.
that is so upsetting my nan has completely forgotten my grandad (i am glad he passed before she showed symptoms of this disease as it would have destroyed him). it is as you say such a cruel disease
jamiepownall it absolutely broke my heart the fact that she'd spent most of her life with him, raised 5 kids together and not remembered any of it. He was her main carer before he died.
So sorry about your nan. Its truly heartbreaking for families to watch.
It is terrible and wish they could put more money into getting a vaccine for it !!
i think a lot of money goes to it - but i too wish they could find a fix for it
Lost so many to this awful deadly disease, agree with lilyflower you can be a total different person to them. Our nanas wood love a doll who every time we visited was someone else. Even to other patients I would be a member of their family and would go along with them the stories are amazing. One man mind was quiet scary he must have had a run in with someone that looked like my OH and was waving is stick at him. It’s funny now thinking back but scary at time.
Ask if your allowed to make a photo book for them we found google great help finding old photos of streets they grow up in helps them cope.
At the end weren’t nice because it just weren’t the woman we knew she was so small from being a little larger woman to this frail old lady that kept saying I see the light granddad calling but she would not go until seen us all.
Im really finding it tough reading through these comments. We had a video call with my nan yesterday and she wasn't really there. Covid lockdowns have impacted her massively and there's been such a decline. I feel I'm grieving while she's still alive 
We do know a lot more about Alzheimer's now and you can change your lifestyle to help prevent it much more, basically more exercise both for your body and your brain, make sure you sleep well and eat the right foods. Sadly once you get it there doesn't seem like much that can be done, once it starts there is often rapid decline. Frequent physical trauma to the head as seen by footballers, boxers etc is almost a guaranteed way of getting it.
Japan had very low rates of Alzheimers but has since shot up since they adopted a more US/European diet with more meat etc and junk food.
Playing videogames, doing puzzles, stretching your mind's capacity learning something etc could help prevent alzheimers. Don't be set in the same pattern everyday keep trying new things which makes life more interesting and also effects changes in the brain. Interacting with different people also helps the brain to keep modifying itself and learning.
Unfortunately passive activities like reading, watching tv, listening to music etc are not challenging to the brain you need to give the brain problem solving tasks like puzzles, video games etc.
People with learning difficulties, down syndrome etc are more likely to get Alzheimer's, its almost like try to expand your brain to the maximum capacity as there will be a reduction in capacity as you age and you can hopefully create surplus capacity to take you through your final years without dementia issues.
The purest fuel you can give your body is ketones so try to fast regularly i.e. one meal a day to enable your body to be fuelled by ketones some of the time. The body can create perfect energy fuel from its fat reserves so try to fuel yourself from your fat reserves occasionally by fasting regularly. When you fast your body also uses that time to repair itself its a double win. The human body has evolved to fast as 3 square meals a day is not something in you get in the natural world.
i appreciate your points and i make a very conscious effort to lead a healthy lifestyle and to keep my mind active. i have considered fasting also- this may be something i look at starting to do this year
but as you say for those who have it like my nan, there's very little we can do for her
My nan had this awful disease but the only good thing that i got from it was, she thought everybody was still alive.
it is horrible. i am having a rough day today after having a videocall with my nan yesterday and seeing her deterioration. i wish i could just see and hug her.
jamiepownall This is such a terrible time and so hard for people with this disease to fully understand what is happening. I hope very soon you can see and hug her. Has she had the vaccination yet?
eyeballkerry I don't think she has had notification from her GP yet. she obviously is eligible due to her age- its just waiting till they offer it to her
jamiepownall My mum has had both of hers and she is 82. So hopefully soon for your nan.
eyeballkerry oh i really hope so! i know my mum has had her because she works for the NHS but not my nan yet
Join for free to get genuine deals, money saving advice and help from our friendly community
Chief Bargain Hunter
