T:Experiencing long term memory gaps	

Q:I'm not sure if I have a problem or the future possibility of a problem,  but its' been bothering me and I thought that I would post and ask about it. 
 I'm <age> and highly functioning. 
 I live by myself and have a part time online business. 
 I'm a retired contract programmer and have programmed and maintained my site with no problems. 
 I am in the middle of rewriting my site (php5,  mysql,  css,  html and javascript) with no drop in my programming abilities. 
 My problem is I have long term memory gaps. 
 For example,  I can't remember anything from the 4th grade,  from <date> or most other years. 
 I would have to concentrate to remember anything I did <time_period>. 
 I remember pieces of significant events,  but the everyday events are gone. 
 I read quite a lot and am rereading novels I have read before. 
 Most of the reread books are almost new to me. 
 Do I have a problem or is just part of getting older?	

T:Husband has sundowners,  moving to <institution>	
Q:Found this forum today. 
 Guess I just needed to hear other stories and be able to talk at times. 
 My DH was diagnosed in 2009 with Alzheimer's although there were signs before. 
 He has sundowners,  memory is about <time_period> or less and is very OCD about certain things. 
 I've already commented here a couple times about his locking and unlocking doors every day/night. 
 The dead. 
 Lots don't work anymore because they've been jerked on too many times. 
 He obsesses over the doors up to <num> or so times a night. 
 He tries to help by moving things around so that I can't find my toothbrush,  pans,  clothes and other things. 
 I just spend a lot of time searching for things. 
  There are so many things he says does,  I couldn't begin to share them. 
 I spend so much time irritated and angry with him and then I feel horrible because I know he can't help it. 
 We've been married <time_period> and I actually think about him dying and would I be sad about it. 
 I know. 
 that sounds so unloving and selfish. 
 I strive not to be such a hideous wife. 
 But lose it so often and treat him terrible. 
  I just recently got him into a <institution> where he's been three times. 
 He's so sweet and everyone loves him there. 
 It's been a good break but it was heartbreaking to leave him there the first time. 
 I was sick about walking away. 
  My friends and family say I need to put him in a facility or at least plan to in the next <time_period> but I can't imagine leaving him. 
 He's very dependent on me and doesn't want me to be out of his sight. 
 He waits for me outside the bathroom door. 
 He's always been so good to me it seems the best thing is to stay home and make sure he's getting good food and care. 
  I just don't know what is best. 
 He's up till <time> or so every night and we just don't get much rest. 
 Guess I'm tired. 
 Sorry for such long post,  it just came spilling out. 
 Thanks to all of you for being here. 
  	
A:Thoughts of the person dying or getting pushed off a cliff are pretty darn normal and OK as long as you don't actually push. 
 (some of that is intended to be humorous)I bet if you asked him <time_period> ago if he would want you to go through this he would have said no. 
 So maybe let him do the daycare more often so you can get some rest. 
 And it sounds like it's only a matter of time before he'll need a full <institution>. 
  Was he a vet by any chance? If so,  there's a ton of benefits to be gotten. 

A:Thanks <name> for the reply. 
 No,  he is not a vet and I'm thinking I'll need some help from <institution> after a small spend down. 
 I have friends and family who are saying to get a divorce so I can protect our assets which is mainly a home. 
  Not sure this is a wise option. 
  In the meantime,  I remain his caregiver and the new respite has been a god send. 
  



A:You might give coconut oil a try. 
 It helps with some people. 
  



A:Hi <name>,  My father had Alzheimer's and I understand what you're going through. 
 When we had to place my father into the <institution> with an Alzheimer's unit for his own protection,  we wondered just what would happen to his property,  but his needs were more important. 
 My mother had already passed away. 
 When you place a spouse in a <institution> and you're still in your home,  they won't take your home when Medicaid is needed to pay for his care,  and you're allowed to keep one automobile for your use (at least that's how it was when we were going through it). 
 It helps to call and speak to someone,  either from a <professional_practitioner>,  or your <institution>,  to know just what takes place in your state when it comes to what the rules are. 
 We were given all sorts of advice from friends who didn't know what they were talking about. 
  We did spend down my father's savings (meaning we paid for his <institution> care by the month from his savings) and were starting to prepare for him to go into the Medicaid program,  but he passed away before his savings ran out and we never had to deal with selling his home or property. 
  I think it's time,  for both your sakes,  to place him in a facility. 
 You have nothing to feel guilty about; it's just that Alzheimer's is too difficult for a spouse to handle single-handedly. 
 My father's major organs were affected as much as his mind,  but we knew he had to be in a facility when he tried to make coffee in the night and came too close to potentially burning his house down - with him in it. 
  



A:Thanks <name>, My hubby is in excellent physical health and appears happy enough. 
 He does have times of anger when he can't find the things he's hidden the night before. 
 He accuses me or someone breaking into the house of hiding his things. 
 He is able to sit and listen to people talk,  he can even engage in the conversation for a bit. 
 He watches TV and can understand fairly well but can't follow a movie or anything much longer than a few minutes. 
  My days are spent explaining common things,  like this is our house,  your mother passed away,  she's not in the bedroom,  etc. 
  ! It goes on all day. 
  At night the sundowners starts and the door locking. 
 Even with this,  it doesn't seem like he's ready for a long term place. 
 I have to figure that out. 
  I did check with Medicaid and yes,  I can keep the house as long as I want to live in it. 
 But when I sell it or my kids sell it,  they will put a lien on it and recoup all the money that has been spent on the facility. 
 I'm thinking there is no way around that except,  as some are telling me,  to get a divorce. 
 I'll keep the forum posted in case anyone else is having the same thoughts. 
  
