Alzeheimers and Rving

Don, We just began RVing again after a 7 year absence. My wife was diagnosed with AZ in 2003, 11 years ago. We bought our Class "C", 31' at the end of March, this year. We made our first trip in April from Dallas, TX to Heavener, OK, then we almost made it home but for the loss of the transmission near Paris, TX. We have never been a GS chapter member but we are considering joining. Our first GS DFW chapter campout was last weekend. Everyone was beyond great & took Marj under their wing. It was a blast. She is able to take care of herself & only memory is affected. She is excited about the chapter's next campout in OK, about 75 miles away. You might check out a Good Sam's Chapter in your area.

My late husband had Lewy Body Dementia. Our last trip to Arizona in 2008, which he wanted and I had promised him, was a total disaster. He would leave the RV to go to the rest room (he refused to use the one in the RV) and get lost. I'd be out looking for him--sometimes with a flashlight--at all hours. He was also prone to hallucinations and delusions, sometimes believing me to be an impostor. He sometimes became violent. Compounding the matter were several other serious medical conditions and hospitalizations, where he had to have constant supervision because he would pull out IVs, catheters, etc. I don't think I got more than 3-4 hours of sleep on any night the whole winter so the experience was bad for both of us. Your mileage may vary. I wish you well. God bless!

I appreciate the applies. She requires a walker to get around so some mods will have to be done to the 5th wheel. I guess what I worry about is if she will get a little confused by changing locations since she is so comfortable with our home surroundings.
Don

My parents had to stop when my mother could not find her way back to the trailer when she went out.
My father would think she was safely sitting near him and while he took a minute to do something she would be gone.

Go now before she gets any worse and make all the memories you can. She may not remember the next day what you did the previous day, but in your heart, you will know she had a good time. With her using a walker, it will be a little easier for you to keep tabs on her, as she can't wander off in a split second like someone who is physically fit to walk off.

Each person progresses differently and reacts differently to the meds used. So it's an individual thing. When my MIL started wandering off, we moved her in with us. If your wife isn't wandering off yet, that's in your favor for now.

My MIL never had hallucinations. One thing she did was take events from back in her past, and she thought it just happened. Just mixed up in relationship to time - which is easier to deal with than hallucinations. MIL also never got violent.

Different surroundings may confuse her, but you will be with her. Plan a short weekend trip, and see how it goes before you go too far from home. Good luck. Alzheimer's is a terrible disease.

LO..? hmm. The only definition I can find is 'little one.'

2oldman wrote:
LO..? hmm. The only definition I can find is 'little one.'

Prolly LO = Loved One

-RF

Wanda, thank you for the post.
Don