Barb,

is it just you looking after her? have you started to look at putting her in
care? Everyone has the point at which they can no longer cope.

Barb, if you give the medication a chance to work a little better and she
doesn't improve, don't wait as long as we did to consider placing her.   I
was determined to care for her at home as long as possible.   It is like the
weight of the world is lifted off our shoulders!  I definitely should have
done it sooner.   It takes a little nursing home shopping, but there are
good facilities out there.  Luckily Ida is in one.

There are some other options;

Getting in-home care just for a night shift.   We have an agency near us
that provides home care nurses and aides.   The person sits up in the room
with them all night, placating them, toileting them, keeping them quiet etc.
so you can sleep and get some rest.

Putting her in a facility for respite care for a week or so....just to see
how she handles it and also to give you a break for a few days.

The medication is important.   If the Zyprexa isn't doing the job well
enough, she may require some other drug.   Ida was on Zoloft and Risperdol
as well as Aricept.   That combination helped enormously to settle her down.
At a certain point she was very agitated like your mom.   It was an awful
stage and nearly impossible to deal with.

A Tylenol PM every night at bedtime was VERY helpful for a while when she
was at her most restless at night.  We ultimately didn't need it after a
while.

Meanwhile......after placing Ida on Monday;

It is as thought the weight of the world is off our shoulders.   I am only a
few minutes away, I can visit her anytime from 8 in the morning till 8 at
night, unannounced.   But best of all is that we can sleep at night and we
are no longer continually watchful 24/7 wondering what she is up to or in
to.   She is safe and cared for by someone else now, and it is a good place.

They have so many amenities like a hotel.....It is also a rehab facility,
not just a nursing home, (but the Alzheimer patients obviously don't take
full advantage of all of those amenities).

They have a monthly birthday party for all the residents whose birthday
falls in that month.   There was a guy playing piano and conducting a sing
along in the main room yesterday.

Ida was welcomed with a big bunch of balloons by the activity director.
Lots of bright young friendly employees, all smiling and making a point of
speaking to them and greeting everyone.

I am more confident than ever that we chose the right place and that Ida is
getting good care.