Dementia is unpredictable to say the least. It can transform someone’s mood, personality, and behaviors in the blink of an eye. When you’re at home caring for a loved one with dementia, these changes can be challenging enough to manage. But what happens when you’re at a restaurant, grocery store, or hair salon?
Staying Calm and Compassionate: A Guide to Managing Dementia Outbursts in Public Read More »
The big day has arrived: Dad’s first day with his new caregiver! If your family is like many, you may be experiencing a range of emotions: relief, uncertainty, and anxiety, to name a few. These feelings are common and perfectly normal when welcoming a new caregiver into a loved one’s home. A little advance planning
Smooth Transitions: Welcoming A New Caregiver into a Loved One’s Home Read More »
Perhaps you recall having “the talk” with your parents about those cringeworthy pre-teen topics. If you thought that was uncomfortable, brace yourself for how to talk to parents about aging issues and the need for care at home! This can be extremely difficult, for many reasons:
How to Talk to Parents About Aging Issues Read More »
Wouldn’t it be helpful if there was an Alzheimer’s care manual, with step-by-step information on what to anticipate at each stage of the disease? While there are several general commonalities in the progression of dementia, each person’s experience is different. This makes it hard to know what to expect on any given day.
Sudden Worsening of Dementia: Common Causes Read More »
If you think PTSD only happens to those who have experienced life-threatening danger, think again. PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) can arise after any traumatic experience or event. It might surprise you to learn that caring for a loved one is among the main causes of PTSD. However, the condition frequently goes undetected, and thus untreated.
Caregiver PTSD: Risks and Warning Signs Read More »
Is an older adult you love struggling with socializing, sleeping well or enjoying activities, or experiencing memory problems? Before chalking it up to the common effects of growing older, consider another common culprit: anxiety.
Is it Aging Related Stress or Anxiety? Read More »
After losing a loved one, the last thing you want to do is complete a list of to-dos. The pain and loss alone are overwhelming enough. Taking time to work through your grief is crucial. Yet there are, unfortunately, a number of tasks that need to be taken care of, at different intervals after the
How to Cope After the Death of a Loved One Read More »
You’ve been taking care of Mom since her diagnosis of dementia. You’ve been working through many of the challenging symptoms. Yet one day, she looks at you and calls you by a different name – that of her husband or father or younger brother. Do you correct her, reminding her that you’re her son? Should
What Should You Do When a Senior With Dementia No Longer Recognizes You Read More »
After a hospitalization or surgical procedure, the doctor may recommend rehab in a temporary care home before the person returns home. This is typically a short-term time of intensive therapy to promote healing and recovery. However, the thought of moving into a nursing home or assisted living facility even for a matter of weeks or
Making Your Loved One Comfortable in a Temporary Care Home Read More »
Creativity, adaptability, and a healthy dose of lighthearted fun are some of the top ingredients to healthy and effective dementia care. It stands to reason then that a spontaneous activity like improvisation is a good way to connect and engage with a person struggling with cognitive challenges. Not only does it enable you to pivot
Improv Activities for Dementia Care: Connecting Through Creativity Read More »
