Question:
To be honest I haven't much experience with Alzheimers...exceptthat my friend's husband developed it before he died.Her experience was horrific, he became violent as well as forgetful...Ithink he had mutilple problems so the violence may not have been entirelythe Alzheimers.He would wander down the street naked... forget which house was his and justmake himself at home wherever he was...One day he threw all their daughter's clothes onto the front lawn and toldher he didn't want strangers in his house, she was to leave.My friend used the CADE unit for respite, knowing he was safe - he wasunaware of his surroundings. She spent most of everyday with him but hedidn't know who she was.I know he was medicated but not sure for what...He was an age pensioner so his medics were on PBS.Will check and get my facts straight about the drugs Jean...thanks for theprod... Do you have someone close with Alzheimers?

Answer: I took care of my demented dad for about five years until he died. Hewas diagnosed with alcoholic dementia, but I believe he probably hadAlzheimer's, because I have since learned that alcoholic dementia isnot progressive. (The problem with that diagnosis is that it robbedhim of the medications that might have slowed down his disease.) Atsome point, I found a terrific list on Alzheimer's (and otherdementias, since generally there are no specific sources for anythingbut Alzheimer's), and I am still active in it and learning.

People with Alzheimer's frequently go through a violent period,sometimes requiring hospitalization to find the right medications.Sometimes, though, the violence is a sign that it is something otherthan Alzheimer's. A few years after the initial diagnosis, it willbecome apparent that the diagnosis is wrong. There is no definitivediagnosis, other than by autopsy.