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java2012 Asked January 2015

How bad will it get with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's?

My roommate has Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, she is a very smart woman but she has times I don't feel she is here but then she comes back and she can be very aggressive she accuses people of doing wrong things but she is the one who is doing things such as taking things, and at time not sure if she is lying or really does not know but again she can be very condescending

java2012 Jan 2015
Thanks so much, I am working on myself and praying for my roommate that she does get the help she needs and I now know her actions were not deliberate and you hit on the head very disturbing experience I did not know anything for a month except she showed bizarre behavior and since I had no experience in dealing with this illness.
Thanks again for your advise all of you have enlighten me I am very grateful.

jeannegibbs Jan 2015
Poor lady. Poor you!

I can imagine you were very upset to discover these things AFTER you moved in.

This entire situation is very unfortunate. What you describe is very typical dementia behavior. Claims of theft are extremely common. This is not a deliberate attempt to get someone in trouble. The person with dementia really believes she has been robbed. The disease has robbed her of her right mind. She does need assisted living or maybe memory care or possibly even a nursing home. None of that is your problem.

I hope you can recover from this disturbing experience without any lasting effects.

Good luck with your next roommate!

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java2012 Jan 2015
Unfortunately no one is with her, I moved in per a 6 month lease due to her aggression once I learned her condition I advised in the 3rd month I was moving out and would live off my security dept. I did feel sorry for her but it was very difficult to deal with this issue if you don't know what it is, while I was there I helped out she also has a dog so it got to point she was having difficulty walking the dog.

Because she is financially broke she had to have a roommate, for which I had no idea she was this ill. When I did move in, I saw the different behavior issues up all night, aggressive when I would point this out to her but denying her actions until she started falling that's when I learned she has this disease this was a month after living there.
I was very upset to find this out and it was never disclosed to me especially when I had to fill out an application and have a background check I felt helpless and scared after when I moved in I did not know what to make of this.
Any way, I put most of my things in storage only kept my day to day because she would go through my stuff some things are missing or she started to damage my things, I advised her I could not live under these conditions this is while she was in the hospital, and she appeared to be lucid and calm she seemed to understand but once released she became worst.
She has called in a complaint to DCF against me and 13 days after moving out she called the police stating I took 1000.00 plus 124.00. I also learned that she has a history of calling the police accusing others of either stealing / threatening / all the behaviors she does. I am not sure of how this will unfold, but they have her condo up for sale, she will not be able to get another roommate I was the 3rd in 1 year and once her money runs out from the sale of the condo she will be able to get Medicaid and go into assisted living. I told the DCF and the police she needs as soon as possible.

jeannegibbs Jan 2015
How bad will it get? Each case proceeds on its own schedule and in its own way. Were you specifically told that she has Alzheimer's or just that she has dementia? The dementia typically associated with Parkinson's is Lewy Body Dementia. That is considered to have one of the highest caregiver burdens because the behavioral symptoms come early and can be quite severe. This is not true for every individual who has Parkinson's with Dementia, but it is not surprising when it occurs. Also the physical symptoms of Parkinson's complicate everything. Most people with dementia cannot live alone, and usually reach a point where they cannot be left alone even for short lengths of time.

Whatever kind of dementia your friend has, know this: She is not "lying." She really and truly has damage in her brain and she cannot help these odd behaviors. She is not being manipulative or deceitful. This is a disease, not a character flaw.

On a more positive note, Lewy Body (LBD) or Parkinson's Disease with Dementia (PDD) often respond better to medications that some other types of dementia. It is important that she be seen and treated by an expert in her disease. Many doctors have no clue and no interest and this kind of disease.

Does your roommate have someone who is taking care of her? Is that your role?

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