How are my kids dealing with their Dad's dementia?

Amy Kyle This isn’t easy writing about how my 2 kids are dealing with their Dad’s dementia because I am not sure.  The bond between them is extremely close; they share their deepest thoughts and tears with each other–not me. I can only tell you my impressions and a couple of comments they made. My daughter, Amy, 25, has had an easier time accepting her Dad’s condition than our son, Kyle, 27. She saw the signs a year before he was officially diagnosed with Frontotemporal dementia-she... 

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The Tipping Point–the moment I knew that I couldn’t ignore the signs of dementia

I was sitting in our den this morning thinking about the warning signs or red flags that told me something was wrong with Dave’s brain. The very first sign happened about 6 years ago with Tabasco sauce. I wanted Dave to pick up some Tabasco sauce at the grocery store and he looked at me like he had never heard of it. Even describing the little bottle-with the red cap and hot, spicy flavor used in our favourite chicken wing recipe, didn’t fire any memories.  I quickly let it go, and said I would... 

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Weaving Nature into Our Life with Dementia

Since my husband, Dave, was diagnosed with Frontotemporal dementia a couple of years ago, it seems that every day my life is filling with lessons and stories. I honestly believe that when we are facing painful, dark experiences, there are good reasons for them, often taking some time to surface. This morning, I was having writer’s block, wondering which story to share with you today, so I laced up my running shoes, and went for a run to clear my mind. It isn’t long before I am feeling my body... 

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Running is my Saving Grace for Living with Dementia

Since my husband, Dave, 59, was diagnosed with Frontotemporal dementia 2 years ago, our lives have changed dramatically. I never imagined that my life would become this rich, and that I wouldn’t change my life now, for the one I had before Dave’s diagnosis. It surprises me how this latest challenge, and the pain of gradually losing my husband of 31 years, is transforming my life.   This morning, I laced up my running shoes and headed out the front door, going for my ‘usual’ Sunday... 

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The Loss of Freedom With Dementia

My husband, Dave, who has Frontotemporal Dementia knows that his driver’s license will be taken away, but we aren’t certain when. We have a friend who was recently diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s and when he went for his initial visit to the neurologist, his license was taken away that day. If someone has a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or related dementia, the rules for driving are very strict. If the doctor doesn’t think that you have enough ‘reasoning’... 

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Awakening to the Riches of Dementia-nugget#1

Have you ever been on the phone when someone in your household is trying to tell you something very important and you can’t focus on either conversation? I don’t know about you, but I get flustered and confused-either I turn my back or put my hand up for the family member to stop talking. Well, that is how I felt in the neurologist’s office in March, 2007, when he was giving us the results of  my husband’s CT scan and memory tests. I wanted to put my hand up for him to... 

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What is Frontotemporal Dementia?

  In my last post I told you about my husband, Dave, being diagnosed 2 years ago with Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD)at age 57. This form of dementia is the 2nd most common one under the age of 65, yet there is little written about it. In fact it was difficult to find many people blogging about it. In FTD, the frontal and temporal (side) lobes of the brain are affected initially. The frontal lobe is responsible for our personality, judgment and emotions. In Dave’s case, he has become withdrawn... 

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