I lost my dad 8 years ago to Alzheimer's. Horrific disease. Lots of good info above.

Get his passwords now.

God bless you and stay strong.

Anonymous wrote:I'd recommend a move to a facility with stepped up care, especially if they can stay in the independent unit and just add assisted living services as needed rather than move to another apartment. When we were ready for my mom to move to assisted living, she couldn't pass the cognitive test and they would only take her in the memory care unit. We weren't ready for that - and in our opinion, neither was she - so we just had to keep her at home and hire private caregivers, which is easier said then done.

THIS!! It's a nightmare trying to move them when it's dire. It can destroy sibling relationships. Better to have those conversations now and do the move now before things are exploding.

I'd recommend a move to a facility with stepped up care, especially if they can stay in the independent unit and just add assisted living services as needed rather than move to another apartment. When we were ready for my mom to move to assisted living, she couldn't pass the cognitive test and they would only take her in the memory care unit. We weren't ready for that - and in our opinion, neither was she - so we just had to keep her at home and hire private caregivers, which is easier said then done.

One more thing-people will say blame the disease when someone is abusive, paranoid and even violent. Sure. I could argue anyone abusive, paranoid and violent has brain dysfunction even without dementia. So, you either get the person proper medication and services or you don't. People complain about some being medicated into zombies at residential facilities. My grandmother needed that to keep from being violent, racist and abusive. She could not be humane without it. Do people working at these facilities deserve physical, verbal and emotional abuse just so someone ill can go without medication? Some people need A LOT of medication to keep everyone safe. It is hard to accept and too easy to blame when you have not experienced someone like this unmedicated.