8. Alzheimer's - Moving Mom Out of Her House

07/15/20 • 33 min

In Episode 8 of Alz In The Fam, listen as we decide that it’s time to intervene in Mom’s living situation. In this episode, the four Fair siblings discuss the next step in Mom’s journey with Alzheimer’s – moving out of her own home and in with one of her kids.

This step in Mom’s Alzheimer’s journey was a difficult one to take. Mom was extremely stubborn, and it was difficult to figure out a living situation that worked for both her and us siblings. While the first option included sharing her time between Poli’s house and Trissi’s house, this set up quickly became too difficult and confusing for the whole family.

The decision to move Mom out of her own house was difficult to make. We realized this step was necessary once we felt that our Mom’s safety was at risk living alone. Not only was she becoming less able to take care of herself, but there were outside factors and weird events that made us increasingly alarmed.

Ultimately, moving Mom out of her house and into one of our homes was a decision we made to keep her safe. While it was hard logistically and emotionally, it was the best decision for us all. Listen to hear more about this transitional period for our family and why we made this change.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcast/iTunes?

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcast/iTunes?

Previous Episode

7. Alzheimer's - Hiring A Caregiver for Mom

Episode 7 of Alz In The Fam features all four siblings as they discuss another step in their Mom’s journey: hiring her a caregiver. Hiring a caregiver was a tedious process, as it took several tries to find one who met the sibling’s needs and their Mom’s needs.

At this time, their Mom was still stubbornly set on living alone. However, Allan, Poli, Trissi, and Boni realized that the level of care and attention she needed was increasing. The sisters’ constant visits were not enough anymore, so the family decided it was time for some outside help.

Finding the right caregiver was a trial and error process. The siblings were looking for someone to keep their Mom company for a few hours each day that would help her with some basic tasks like driving and cooking.

The family went through the process of finding a caregiver a few times before finding one who fit their needs and wants well. Importantly, the siblings were looking for someone who their mom would enjoy spending time with.

Hiring outside caregiving help was a big step in their Mom’s Alzheimer’s journey. While it was nerve-wracking to embark on, it was an important step that helped keep their mom safe and healthy.

If you or a loved one are at this point in your own journey, don’t hesitate to look for outside help! The process can be daunting, but the support they provide is necessary.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcast/iTunes?

Next Episode

9. Alzheimer's - Chat w/ Brigid Reynolds, Neurology Provider, Georgetown University Pt 1

Episode 9 of Alz In The Fam features Brigid Reynolds – our Mom’s neurology provider at Georgetown University’s Memory Disorders Program. All four Fair siblings sit down with Brigid, our first ever guest, to discuss Mom’s journey with Alzheimer’s!

Brigid is a research investigator conducting different clinical trials to develop new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. She specializes in evaluating and treating patients with memory problems, like our Mom.

In this episode, Brigid gives us insight into how she evaluates and treats her patients, and the types of tests she administers to diagnose and create a treatment plan. She explains the different types of memory disorders, including various types of dementia.

Brigid emphasizes the importance of family members’ involvement in the process of diagnosing and treating loved ones with Alzheimer’s. She tells us why it is important that family members encourage their loved ones to seek treatment early.

She discusses some current research opportunities and studies being done in the Alzheimer’s and dementia field. Check out this information on an Alzheimer’s Blood Test, as mentioned by Brigid in the episode: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/28/health/alzheimers-blood-test.html

We are so grateful to Brigid for sitting down to speak with us. Brigid has been a blessing in our Mom’s journey with Alzheimer’s. Stay tuned next week, too, to hear more from her.

Check out Brigid Reynold’s bio here: https://memory.georgetown.edu/about_us/team/

Check out Georgetown University’s Memory Disorders Program here: https://memory.georgetown.edu/

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcast/iTunes?