David, I wish I could help, but afraid I don't have anything to offer.  Did
want you to know your post has been seen.  Maybe someone else will answer.
Gwen

David, you have to get some help.  Caregiver stress and depression is
very common.

It sounds like your dad's drugs may be affecting his demeanor.  Often
weaning off an antidepressant can cause withdrawal symptoms, which
might include confusion, agitation or hallucinations.

Is it possible to call the local AAA (Area Agency on Aging)?  They
might have suggestions for community care (i.e. maybe a social worker
who would assess your dad's situation and perhaps suggest some
additional services).  There may be traveling care workers who come to
your area periodically.  Before my mom moved to my city, she lived in
a rural area and they did have a helpful AAA there.

If you had the option of an adult day care, or other respite which
would get your dad out of the house in a productive "fun" activity,
I'm assuming you would take it.

My other suggestion is to visit his primary care physician to discuss
community care.  Is there a university around that may have social
work interns or gerontology students?

There's a helpful website put together by the Family Caregiver
Alliance (www.caregiver.org) that has fact sheets that will be helpful
to you, I think.  If nothing else check it out.
CathyM

Hi David,

Something sounds vaguely familiar to me in your letter, and somewhere I
recall having heard (probably here) that there are certain kinds of dementia
which are NOTICEABLY worsened with antidepressants.   Not sure if it is
Picks disease or Dementia with Lewy Bodies, or which one, but not all forms
of dementia are helped with antidepressants.    It might make sense for your
Dad to go on an antipsychotic instead, but that is of course, a decision for
your psychiatrist to help with.   My mother in law was on both Zoloft and
Risperdol, and with both of those drugs it did manage to keep her in a more
calm state of mind.

In the meantime, PLEASE take good care of yourself.  Caregiving can take a
tremendous toll on a person, and it is absolutely imperative that you find
ways to get some relief or respite now and then.   Be careful and get some
regular time away, if it is at all possible.

You say your dad won't consider going in-patient, but I can tell you from
personal experience, that sometimes you have to do what you have to do, to
help them, even if you cannot get their permission or approval.

Is it possible to find a different psych doc, one that has
experience with dementias?

You might want to check the FAQ for this group at
http://www.muggsmulcher.com/kstuff/a.s.a/intro.htm
for information about frontal lobe dementias, which can cause
very unusual reactions to various psych meds.

If he has Parkinson's, he could also have Pick's Disease a
frontal lobe dementia.  If he was falling and had a strange gait
when he was beginning to develop the dementia but did not have
Parkinson's, he could have Lewy Body Dementia.  

See http://www.emedicine.com/neuro/topic91.htm, a continuing
education website for doctors which was one of the links in the
FAQ which notes

"Consultations: Spouses, family members, and caregivers of
patients with DLB frequently realize that the patient with DLB
behaves differently than typical patients with AD. Primary
caregivers (or neurologists not specializing in dementia)
frequently are unable to adequately explain these differences. In
such situations, referral to a dementia specialist can be
helpful."

As for your own depression, ask your doctor for a referral.  I
have found that I have a lower tendency to get depressed if I am
getting enough exercise --- I think that the endorphins from
getting aerobic must help with mood.  After a 10 mile bike ride,
I might be tired, but I'll also be in a more positive mood, even
if it was rainy or windy.  

If you don't have time to exercise, or time for yourself, you
need to make the time, whether it's by having him go to day care
or having someone come in while you leave.  You have to take care
of yourself first in order to take care of others.

Another thing that helps is to find a support group, which you
can locate through the local Alzheimer's Association chapter.
There's a listing of them and other resources at www.alz.org

David,
I am new to this too and I am constantly asking questions. My brother-in-law
has Alzheimer's and suffers from depression, agitation, anxiety.  He is on
Seroquel and the doctor increased his medication recently.  He is doing so
much better with the increase in medication.  The agitation just comes and
goes but we are learning more and more about the disease.  Some of these
people on this support group are a great help, so please continue to write in.

Bri