You all are so much help to me and I am trying to gather as much info as possible. Your opinions are invaluable to me! My mom is somewhere between a stage 4 and 5 at this point. Her decline is shocking since we (my dad) cut her Aricept in half (we suspected the running sores she was getting to be caused by the Aricept), in spite of my earlier comments about her apparent 'turnaround'! Not happening. ANYWAY, my question is this: Are there any advantages at this point, of having her formally evaluated?? Her GP is not known for his discretion with feelings and long ago gave her a cursory, quick 'cognitive' test and announced that she had Alzheimer's. But should we be taking her to a neurologist for 'care'? I mean those 2 drugs (Namenda and Aricept) are all that's out there for them, right? (Dad is doing well ...he's very sharp but can't stay that way forever and some days the stress of being with her all day everyday SHOWS) KWIM? I'd love just any comments any of you might have about this. (I help as much as he'll let me and see them almost daily during the summer (I'm a teacher)...... Librarygal59

As ar as drugs are concerned, I never found anything that helped Mom. Drugs for AD currently available are Namenda and Aricept; neither did a thing for my Mom and we stopped them because of digestive side effects.

Other drugs are often used in treatment but they are sleeping pills or tranquilizers to work against night wandering (sundowning), anti anxiety drugs to help reduce violent attacks of fear, anxiety, endless screaming and crying.

After 5 years of at home care for Mom, she did wind up in an excellent nursing home for the final 2.5 years of her life. She was cared for very well there. My brother and I were amazed. After all our guilt feelings about not being able to care for her at home any longer, she was happier there. Group activities, around the clock care, no decisions to make (even trying to figure out how to take a shower, and what clothes to put on, became frustrating obstacles to her normally happy life!), her hair was combed, her teeth brushed, she was sppon fed when she didn't seem interested in her dinner, a doctor examined her weekly, nurses watched for any signs of trouble. It was an amazing relief to the family and an improvement in her quality of life (this contradicted everything I had ever believed about nursing homes!)

Good luck in your decision making.

Love,

Martha

Librarygal-
I think you need to establish that she does have AZ or a form of dementia that there is only palliaitive care available. Aricept is, at best, only a short term answer. If she has not been already, she needs to be seen by a neurologist to rule out the other possible causes of dementia (a few of which are reversible).
If a neurologist has already seen her and feels she has AZ there really would be no gain in further testing.
Your time now could be spent setting up an extensive home care system since that seems to be what your parents want. Be aware though that there will come a time when your Mother has no awareness of place, maybe then a placement might be in order. Your top priority at this time will be to assure your father's well-being, that he is not consumed by his wife's care.
I wish you well.
Raffeer