Yesterday began like most other days. The sending my feet hit the floor he's yelling at me again. For something he thinks our son in law has done. Except, for the first time he raised his fist less than an inch from my face, he was shaking and he called me a f**n "c" . He's so mad all the time and mostly at me, well no always at me bc he is convince 100% that our daughters husband is stealing from him. Every day all day he is going through stuff. Rummaging through every drawer, every closet. His shop. From the second he gets up until late into the night. He says our kids aren't his. That they are all shit that take after me. We were supposed to celebrate father's day today he told me to cancel it. He says that I don't care about him and never have and that I'm mean and abusive. He's accused me of drugging him and refused to eat what I fix. He accused me of looking for men. This is all day every day. I'm under all out attack. Everytime I see him coming I feel sick anxious and actually hold my breath. I'll be the first to admit I don't always handle this well or react in the best way or even a good way. I have yelled at him ignored him avoided him pretty much everything but leave even though he tells me to leave all the time. My kids are scared to death to help out. The animals in our house all hide. I can't hardly even get out of bed anymore. And just cry all the time. Our marriage was never perfect and many trying times but id trade that guy for this guy any day.
You have to take care of yourself and keep yourself safe.
2. Call his doctors office tomorrow first thing and keep calling until you get hold of someone or someone calls you back. Tell them that you are afraid for your safety and that his outbursts are getting out of control.
There are medications that can help. The problem you might have though if he is paranoid is getting him to take medication.
3. This needs to get under control if he has to be placed in Memory Care, and it sounds like that might be the best option for you and your household, most facilities will not accept a resident that has a history of violence in the past 90 days. (some facilities the time might be more or less)
4. If your husband is a Veteran check with the VA there may be programs that might help and if some of his outbursts are related to his Service there may be more help for both of you. (a friends husband had PTSD and he had outbursts like this, although they were more verbal than physical)
Someone in fact this out of control and abusive belongs--sorry--in care and on medication. His life is a misery to him and to everyone around him.
You are an adult. You are responsible as the next of kin now for managing his care in a manner best for him and everyone involved. Sorry, but that means you will need APS, Social Services, MDs and everyone else involved in considering placement for this poor gentleman. Then they can work on medications that may be of some help to him.
I don't know how old your children are. You are responsible for them if they are not of age. So if all else fails you must flee this home with kids and animals. Report to APS a "senior at risk " on you way out the door.
Please don't ever hesitate to call 911 if you ever feel unsafe in your home because of him.
This phase will more than likely pass, but with a broken brain there is always something to contend with.
I would definitely speak with his doctor ASAP about getting him on some kind of medication to help with his agitation, and then you probably need to start looking into placing him in the appropriate facility.
I hate to tell you but early onset Alzheimer's can go on for 20+ years, and you will not last that long at the rate you're going.
40% of caregivers caring for someone with dementia will die before the one they're caring for from stress related issues. Please don't be one of them.
You must now do what is best for not only your husband but also what is best for you, as you matter too in this equation.
I'm sorry you're having such a hard time. Please seek out a local caregiver support group that you can share with weekly as being able to share with others that are going through similar things as you is priceless.
And don't ever hesitate to come here to vent as you take this very difficult and trying journey with your husband.
God bless you.
Since your so young, you may want to see an Elder Lawyer about your options. Medicaid is usually 65 and up for Longterm care.
If you are not his PoA (and no one is) then you might need to allow social services to handle it and get a court-assigned legal guardian.
Did he ever play contact sports or have concussions? He can have CTE, but there's no way to diagnose it currently. CTE produces very violent behavior in people. If your kids live close you may need to secretly pack up and leave, even just for some respite. Yours is a very tricky and stressful situation. Please protect yourself!
Criminal Behavior in Frontotemporal Dementia and Alzheimer Disease
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4432918/
The crimes committed by people with dementia range from theft, traffic violations with or without the influence of alcohol, violence, and hypersexuality to homicide.
"These behaviors, which are sometimes the first manifestation of a dementing condition, pose great personal, social, and legal burdens on the patients, their families, nursing homes, and society. Despite this knowledge, there have been few attempts to study criminality and antisocial behavior in the setting of dementia in a systematic way."
Euthanasia would be kinder for those afflicted with this disease than the slow and vicious decline you and your kids will be forced to witness as you try to help him and your family.
Another resource for help and support is the National Domestic VIolence Hotline. They are very busy these days and may have long the whole times but you will get help, support and they can direct you to local resources. Your husband's brain is broken and you must get medical support but reach out to all resources for help.
1.800.799.7233
https://www.thehotline.org/
https://www.thehotline.org/get-help/domestic-violence-local-resources/
Is your husband on any meds to help with the anger ?
It is time to get your husband placed in a facility .
It’s not safe for you to live with him .
I’m so sorry .
Call 911 in an emergency when you don’t feel safe .
Also call your local Agency of Aging and have a social worker help you get your husband placed.
I have a dear friend who just recently lost her husband to this same disease. And he also had to be placed in a NH because he became violent and abusive. I have known this man for more than 50 years and to hear about the complete 180 in personality and emotional instability was awful.
His wife, a friend of mine from Kindergarten--had to make the difficult choice to place him in care. She was no longer safe with him, and he was unable to speak coherently, so his anger would ramp up when she didn't understand him.
He died 4 weeks ago from pneumonia--I don't know his overall health when he was placed, but he was only 67.
It sounds as if this is what you're facing. My friend died a thousand deaths in the process of moving him, but she was safe--and she did admit, when he died, that she was 'grateful' in a way that he didn't live out 20 more years in care, not knowing who she was.
Don't take this personally. He truly has a broken brain and there is nothing you can do about it but accept that he is not the man you married and to look at him as a person you now must keep safe, and keep safe 'from'.
You have had enough heartache in the last few years to last a lifetime. I am so sorry for you, life is so unfair.
You've gotten some great advice, I hope you can follow some of it and find a place to place your DH so you can still see him--and where he will be safe.
DO NOT take the angry, mean words he throws at you to heart. He does not mean them. He does not know what he's saying.
Prayers for you as you navigate this rocky road.
Your husband would not get the treatment he needs, if he ends up at the local jail. A judge may let him go, after 24 hours or so. Then, you would be facing the same issue, instead of your hubby being treated.
I'm so sorry that this is happening to you and your family.
Preaching to the choir here.
My husband has no self control and will do things that put himself and others in danger. He still believes that he is the "fix-it" guy but with the extent of brain damage and cognitive decline he cannot do those things any more. He became very aggressive - yelling, throwing things, pushing me, raising a hand to me, punching a hole in the wall, walking out of the house. After speaking with his doctor he prescribed Risperidone which did help a lot although we still have our bad days. I also have issues with my husband questioning me about medication so I have his doctor tell him what he needs to take. If all else fails perhaps it can be administered another way but always ask your doctor about that.
As far as placing him in care, if you can afford to, you need to do it for your own self preservation. I cannot afford it. The cost of memory care per month in California is about 5-6K a month (my husband is only 59). There is no way I can do that and take care of myself financial. Depending on your financial situation you may qualify for Medicaid in your state. Medicare does not pay for long term assisted living.
If you feel threatened I would call 911 or your local police station (as others have previously written) They can only put him on a psyche hold but it will stop the escalating situation. I think meds are your best bet.
I hope some of this information helps and wish you the best.