A Caregiver's Journal provides information, insight, enlightenment and shared experiences for new caregivers and encouragement for long time caregivers. The focus of this blog is our transition from empty nesters to caregivers for my god-sister, Gladys, a stroke survivor. RSS Subscribe to RSS

Entering a New Phase in Dementia

I think Gladys is entering into another phase of dementia.  For the past two weeks she has been regressing fairly rapidly.  Her movement is much slower, she doesn’t understand some things that she understood just a few weeks ago.  Her memory is shorter and she may ask me the same question three or four times within five minutes.  During the night she used to have accidents once in a while.  Now it’s every night.  This wasn’t a gradual change it was an overnight change.

When I became Gladys’ caregiver I expected some gradual cognitive and dexterity related change.  I know that dementia doesn’t get better, it gets worse over time.  But I expected to see gradual changes, not sudden change.  These changes seem too sudden.  Maybe her medicine needs to be adjusted, maybe that’s wishful thinking.  I don’t know.  We have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow.  Hopefully he can explain what’s going on.

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Posted on : Apr 19 2009
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Posted under Caregiving, Dementia |

2 People have left comments on this post

Apr 19, 2009 - 11:04:57
KWiz said:

Hi Valerie,

I’m so sorry to hear about this change. You have done such a terrific job, and it must be incredibly difficult for you to see her regress this way. I pray that it is only her meds. I will be looking for your update.

Kay

Apr 20, 2009 - 10:04:41
Judy said:

Valerie – I’m sorry to hear about Gladys’s sudden decline. Being a caregiver can be so difficult and exhausting. I’ll be sure to check back and see what the doctor thinks is going on.

Judy.

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