I always emphasize that it’s the disease that’s causing the problem. I don’t pretend that there isn’t a problem, but I do emphasize that it’s caused by the disease.

My mother had FTD and would alternate between being agitated and angry, and just scared and aware that something was wrong. I know it’s just a little slice of time in the disease? But she would come to me with her arms out, crying, and she would say what’s wrong with me? I would just hug her and say mommy, it’s the disease it’s not you. I love you and it’s OK. So basically I guess I’m saying that I met her in the place. She was in the disease at the time. At that moment. I’m not gonna lie to anybody? She progressed to where she couldn’t differentiate that and it got bad. Which is when I knew I had to put her into a memory care facility because the CNA and I could not manage the behaviors of this particular dementia disease. FTD absolutely has violent tendencies. And we just couldn’t handle it so I needed a higher level of care to make sure she was safe. I know I’ve said this before on other posts? But please please please please please find your loved one a geriatric psychiatric caregiver and try to find the right medication for your loved ones behaviors early in the disease. To get ahead of any negative tendencies because of the disease. I ended up having to commit my mom to a geriatric psychiatric ward an hour away from my house because as I’ve said before?! There’s not enough of them in the United States, which is freaking disgusting in my opinion! This is not the case in other countries and I’m gonna leave it at that. But if we get ahead of the behaviors and we are engaged with a geriatric psych person? We can better manage the negative behaviors and help our loved ones. So I hope this helps everybody going through this if it gives you the tools to ask the questions of your medical professionals for your particular situation. The only thing I know for sure is what we are all going through whether we are an individual with a Neuro degenerative disease? Or caregiver of someone with a neuron degenerative disease? We need to be proactive and I love these support groups because we can help each other Share what we’ve gone through.

Speaking from my own perspective: I've always preferred the truth. Right now, I'm aware of stranger's body language when I've repeated myself multiple times. I'm aware that there will come a time that I will no longer know there is anything wrong with me... at least, I hope that there will come a time that I'm no longer self aware of others confusion about my foibles. I'm hoping people will gently remind me that I have an illness and that I can't help that I don't remember it that I get unnecessarily upset. When I start crying now because of these things, If my housemate isn't fed up with me, he's kind and reminds me that I can't help it. I still cry, but i appreciate his understanding. When I'm a full on raging witch, he tells me to go to my room. If don't, he will then leave the area. When he comes back, he asks if I'm better. Sometimes I scream at him. Sometimes I ask what he's talking about. I remember these verbal transactions because I tend to remember emotions a LOT more than I remember what caused the emotions!

My man was very sensitive to the words dementia or Alzheimer’s.. He had Anosagnosia and in his mind there was NOTHING wrong with him . He never asked that question .. When he got frustrated because he was having a bad day , I would just make excuses for his inability to do there things he used to be able to do .