TiHabanero

My sister let me know that her husband had a stroke, the second one in 15 years. 68 years old. They went in to open up the artery, which was the same one that blocked last time, and the stress of the surgery and the stroke has set off Lewy Body Dementia. First time I heard of this. There is no recovery. He is to be placed in a home with full time care once she figures out how to finance it. 7k to 12k a month cost. Ouch.
Moral of the story, take every day you have your faculties as a serious blessing. Don't squander them away.

OldTryGuy

A very good friend was diagnosed with LBD. Gentleman was very active, intelligent with his decline producing actions 180° from his normal self. His kids provided 24/7/365 home care until it was time for facility care closer to his death. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Moral of my story, FORGET ABOUT BLESSINGS and simply get the duckies in a row if you are fortunate enough to afford them. AFM, can't afford lined up duckies so alternative actions have been chosen.

canklecat

My mom recently died about a decade after the visible onset of dementia. For most of that decade it was described as vascular, affecting primarily the frontal lobe, probably exacerbated by mini-strokes. Until the end the neurologists could offer no specific diagnosis, but finally described it as Alzheimer's.

However during the many medical appointments I attended with my mom, including with four or five different neurologists, they all admitted it's educated guesswork. They don't know for certain until after death, if an autopsy is performed to specifically identify the cause for dementia. There are tests that can help narrow down the diagnosis but it's still not definitive.

To a layman like myself, knowing just enough to be dangerous, your sister's husband's condition sounds more like vascular dementia than Lewy Body. It's possible one exacerbated the other. But, as my mom's neurologists suggested, it's educated guesswork until after the patient dies and an autopsy is performed.

I wouldn't worry too much about a specific diagnosis. The main challenge is caring for the afflicted person. Before the onset of her dementia my mom was already covered by Social Security disability and Medicare. I was her in-home caregiver for 11 years and increasingly managed most of her medical and financial affairs. As her condition worsened after her mid-70s we transitioned her to a Medicare replacement program with Aetna, which covered most of her expenses -- including her final year in a nursing home. By December last year it was no longer feasible to care for her at home and Medicare/Medicaid wouldn't pay for daily in-home nursing care.

Best wishes to your family. Encourage your sister to get any available assistance, including looking after her own physical and emotional/mental well being. It's very common for caregivers to neglect their own needs and become secondary casualties. My own health worsened drastically this year after my mom was in long term physical rehab and then nursing home care. I had neglected to see a doctor for my own routine needs for more than 10 years and it all caught up with me this year. So stay in touch with your sister and remind her to be sure to take care of herself as well, including support groups for caregivers.

donheff

Robbin Williams, an avid 55+ cyclist, was suffering Lewy Body disease when he committed suicide. It is a scary disease.

Biker395 

That whole episode was sooo tragic. Such an easy man to love.