Rob's Dementia Journey with FTD

We had a ton of logs and kindling piled up over the years that Rob had cut up, from fallen branches and dead trees. I decided to offer it for free on a FB Free Stuff site and told Rob that my son and I had moved the logs and kindling out to the driveaway to make it easier for people to pick up. It took 4 people with cars, and another with a pickup truck to haul it all away! Rob was convinced someone was going to walk up our driveway with a match and set it all on fire.

  You asked me to let you know what you need to watch for with Rob. I really do not like to talk about him, when he is listening. He gets upset, and then I have to deal with his anger. I prefer to keep him happy as much as possible, That can be a full-time job in itself. Since he will be in a familiar place, he will probably be just fine. Changes in his routine can get him agitated, but most of the time he is pretty good. Most of the time he is quite jolly, can be the "life of the party", which is not who he used to be! LOL If he does get agitated, he might simply refuse to talk to anyone. I have learned to ignore him when he gets like that, and he usually gets over it. Other times, he has suddenly stormed out of the house and taken off. Fortunately I have a Life360 app on my phone, that I can track him, and know where he is. I usually just let him come home when he is ready. Sometimes, if he gets frustrated about being unable to figure out how to do something he used to be a

He has been confusing days lately, saying it's Monday when it's Friday, and saying that he just went to the memory clinic yesterday, when it was days ago. While taking a MOCA test for an Alzheimer's Music Study, Rob was asked what month it was. First, he said May, then he corrected himself, and said June (which it was). But then he corrected himself again and said confidently - no, it is July. He scratched up his glasses while working in the garden, but I told him he had coverage in his work benefits to get a new pair of glasses. But he insisted that no one knows how much coverage he has except Sunlife Insurance, and they aren't telling. I told him it was in his benefit's book, and on their website, we could just look it up, but he got really agitated so I gave up. We finally sold his car. When the people came to look at it, he was removing his license plate, and it wasn't coming off easily. He completely ignored them, and their questions and offers to hel

We went grocery shopping yesterday, and first we went to Shoppers Drug Mart to buy pop on sale. We picked up a few more items on sale. We had brought in a cloth shopping bag, so he put our purchases in there. Then we went to the Superstore for the rest of our groceries, and he carried in the plastic bins we use when grocery shopping, and put them into the shopping cart. When I went to put something into the bin while we shopped, I realized he had moved some of the Shopper's purchases (bacon, hotdogs, eggs) into the bins, and brought them in with us! No idea why?? So I am feeling a bit panicky, thinking how will I get them out of the store without having to pay for them again!? I tried to explain the problem to him, so he grabs them and starts heading for the door, saying he will take them back to the car. No! You can't just walk out with them! Visions of him being arrested for shoplifting! So he gives them back to me and takes off to look for the receipt in the car. Back

  I think Rob was having a bad week when he was acting out. He is back to his old self now, no more outbursts. When we talked to the cognitive neurologist, she told us to watch out for ALS symptoms. So that is why I was reporting his muscle cramping, slurring words, and difficulty with saliva and swallowing. The saliva symptoms have progressed. He has been slurring his words more frequently lately and started slurping back his saliva often. We had fried chicken the other night for dinner, and I looked up to discover water was pouring off of Rob's chicken.  My son noticed that Rob's hands were wet.  I was so confused, wondering where this water was coming from?? Turns out it was saliva, there were two streams of it coming off the chicken at his mouth, his hands were soaked, and he didn't see anything wrong with that.  He was confused when I asked him about it, as if he didn't know what I was talking about.  I feel like this is suddenly happening so fast, and it scares me

Tip #4: Keep a “To Go” kit ready and easy to grab Your To Go kit should include two main groups of things. Photo courtesy of Pexels. One group will include paperwork, such as: Advance health-care directives such as a Living Will and copies of the medical order forms Common medical orders forms such as the DNR (Do-Not-Resuscitate) and POLST (Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment) A medication list A copy of your medical power of attorney form It’s never a bad idea to have a copy of their ID card and insurance card as well The other main group of things to put inside of your To Go bag are items that will make the ER visit less boring for you and for your person — things that might make you both more comfortable. For you, items like a phone charger, book, snacks and water — maybe a small travel blanket or neck pillow. Also pack a pen or pencil and pad of paper to take notes and document important things. For your person, take something that makes them comfortable or reminds t