Category Archives: Alzheimer’s

Celebrating the Holidays with Alzheimer’s or other Dementia

holidays with dementia

The holidays can often be a time filled with high expectations, requiring lots of energy and engagement in non-stop activities. For the individuals and families living with Alzheimer’s or other dementia, it can be challenging and a time of high anxiety. Festivities can agitate, confuse, and overstimulate persons living with Alzheimer’s or other dementia. Meanwhile, … Continue reading Celebrating the Holidays with Alzheimer’s or other Dementia

Dementia and the Holidays: Tips for a Comfortable Celebration

holidays with dementia

The holidays can often be filled with high expectations, requiring lots of energy and engagement in non-stop activities. For the individuals living with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia and their families, holidays can be challenging and a time of high anxiety. Festivities can agitate, confuse, and overstimulate persons living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. … Continue reading Dementia and the Holidays: Tips for a Comfortable Celebration

Six Steps to Better Brain Health

While the COVID-19 pandemic has presented us with challenges, it has also taught us lessons. Likely, you have tapped into your emotional reserves and discovered how resilient you are during this time. Brain health, of which mental health is an essential component, has been at the forefront of many conversations with family, friends, and colleagues … Continue reading Six Steps to Better Brain Health

A Preventable Disaster Saddened and Frustrated Me

“Living with a Visionary” is a beautifully written essay by John Matthias, Professor Emeritus and writer, published in the New Yorker on February 1, 2021. It starts out as one of the most touching descriptions of living with a person with dementia that I have ever read. His wife, Diana, had Lewy Body Dementia and … Continue reading A Preventable Disaster Saddened and Frustrated Me

Racial Bias in Requesting Caregivers: How to rise above this problem!

“My father will not tolerate a ____________ (fill-in-the-blank) caregiver.  Can you promise me a ____________ one?” Having run a home care business for over 30 years I have heard this request many times over to my disbelief and sadness that an adult would not just want the best trained, most experienced, and kind caregiver for … Continue reading Racial Bias in Requesting Caregivers: How to rise above this problem!

Tips on Mask-wearing for People With Dementia

Although the temptation is strong now that vaccines are gaining distribution to become more relaxed about COVID-19 prevention, we cannot afford to let down our guards and stop masking up. In the United States, the CDC recommends anyone older than age 2 wear a mask, but there are many who are resistant to wearing one, … Continue reading Tips on Mask-wearing for People With Dementia

On Dementia: Care, Community and Creativity

Conversations of hope, joy, and better ways to care for and support individuals living with dementia and their care partners More than 5 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s disease and over 15 million family members, friends and volunteers serve as care partners, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Individuals with Alzheimer’s and other dementias do not … Continue reading On Dementia: Care, Community and Creativity

Alzheimer’s and the Family Caregiver

November is National Family Caregivers Month and National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. These observances help raise awareness about the challenges of caregiving for families, especially Alzheimer’s caregiving, as well as increase support for and educate caregivers and their communities. The current COVID-19 pandemic has also presented new realities and stresses. According to the Centers for … Continue reading Alzheimer’s and the Family Caregiver

The Latest Discoveries in Alzheimer’s and Dementia Research

In the U.S., more than 5.8 million people age 65+ are living with Alzheimer’s disease and over 16 million provide unpaid care for people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Aging Life Care Professionals regularly work with clients living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, and, as part of their membership with the Aging Life Care Association, … Continue reading The Latest Discoveries in Alzheimer’s and Dementia Research

“Dad resists every suggestion I make! Help!”

Susan is getting burnt out trying to care for her 91 year old father.  She has a part-time job teaching and takes care of her two school-age grandchildren in the afternoons.  Her mother has been gone for three years and Dad is truly struggling to stay independent, and failing at that.  His neighbors and church … Continue reading “Dad resists every suggestion I make! Help!”