Information for Alzheimer's Caregivers
If you are caring for someone with Alzheimer's, knowledge is the key to effectively coping with the disease. Learn how to take care of yourself, handle day-to-day challenges, enhance communication with your loved one, manage challenging behaviors, and plan for the future.
Why Caregivers Need Respite
The emotional and physical demands of caregiving make it hard to be a caregiver 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Without respite -- a temporary break from the demands of caregiving -- you may be more susceptible to the effects of caregiver stress. Learn why you need respite and where to find respite care for your loved one.
The emotional and physical demands of caregiving make it hard to be a caregiver 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Without respite -- a temporary break from the demands of caregiving -- you may be more susceptible to the effects of caregiver stress. Learn why you need respite and where to find respite care for your loved one.
I'm an Alzheimer's caregiver. How do I cope with this disease?
Alzheimer's disease changes the lives of those with the disease as well as their caregivers. If you are a caregiver, learn how to cope with your loved one's disease by learning about it, planning ahead, and adjusting your expectations.
Alzheimer's disease changes the lives of those with the disease as well as their caregivers. If you are a caregiver, learn how to cope with your loved one's disease by learning about it, planning ahead, and adjusting your expectations.
I care for my mother, who has Alzheimer's. How can I avoid burnout?
Alzheimer's caregivers are at high risk for burnout due to the demanding tasks of caregiving. Learn how to prevent burnout by caring for oneself and reaching out to others.
Alzheimer's caregivers are at high risk for burnout due to the demanding tasks of caregiving. Learn how to prevent burnout by caring for oneself and reaching out to others.
Anticipatory Grief and Loss - A Normal Aspect of Caregiving During Alzheimer's
Many caregivers state that the hardest part of caregiving is not the practical side -- instead, it's the grief and loss that they feel, even while their loved ones are still alive. Learn how to work through grief and loss while you care for someone with Alzheimer's.
Many caregivers state that the hardest part of caregiving is not the practical side -- instead, it's the grief and loss that they feel, even while their loved ones are still alive. Learn how to work through grief and loss while you care for someone with Alzheimer's.
Understanding the Brain-Behavior Relationship
The key to effective caregiving is understanding the relationship between the brain and behavior. Once we understand this relationship, we can approach caregiving with compassion and courage. Consider these 10 tips your credo for being an Alzheimer's caregiver.
The key to effective caregiving is understanding the relationship between the brain and behavior. Once we understand this relationship, we can approach caregiving with compassion and courage. Consider these 10 tips your credo for being an Alzheimer's caregiver.
Talking to Children About Alzheimer's Disease
When a grandparent or other loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, it can be the children of the family who are most affected. Try these tips and strategies when talking to children about Alzheimer's disease.
When a grandparent or other loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, it can be the children of the family who are most affected. Try these tips and strategies when talking to children about Alzheimer's disease.
How to Have a Family Meeting
Making decisions about Alzheimer's care can be difficult -- especially when several people are involved. Families caring for someone with the disease can reduce conflict and stress by making decisions about Alzheimer's care for their loved one together shortly after the diagnosis.
Making decisions about Alzheimer's care can be difficult -- especially when several people are involved. Families caring for someone with the disease can reduce conflict and stress by making decisions about Alzheimer's care for their loved one together shortly after the diagnosis.
Communication Basics for Alzheimer’s Caregivers
Although we often take it for granted, communication is important to our relationships, goals, and self-worth. Unfortunately, Alzheimer’s disease creates barriers to communication that can strain our relationships with our loved ones. Learn how Alzheimer's affects your loved one's ability to communicate and how you can become a better listener and communicator.
Although we often take it for granted, communication is important to our relationships, goals, and self-worth. Unfortunately, Alzheimer’s disease creates barriers to communication that can strain our relationships with our loved ones. Learn how Alzheimer's affects your loved one's ability to communicate and how you can become a better listener and communicator.
Behavior Management
Alzheimer's disease can create challenging behaviors such as aggression, agitation, apathy, confusion, hallucinations, repetition, sundowning, suspicion, and wandering. Learn how to manage the challenging behaviors associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's disease can create challenging behaviors such as aggression, agitation, apathy, confusion, hallucinations, repetition, sundowning, suspicion, and wandering. Learn how to manage the challenging behaviors associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Late-Stage Alzheimer's Disease -- An Overview
Late-stage Alzheimer's is a time of slowing down compared to earlier stages, when behavioral symptoms are more prominent. Still, it's important to know about late-stage symptoms and how to provide optimal care in regard to late-stage nutrition, bowel and bladder issues, immobility, infections and illnesses, and pain and comfort.
Late-stage Alzheimer's is a time of slowing down compared to earlier stages, when behavioral symptoms are more prominent. Still, it's important to know about late-stage symptoms and how to provide optimal care in regard to late-stage nutrition, bowel and bladder issues, immobility, infections and illnesses, and pain and comfort.
What kinds of activities are appropriate for people with Alzheimer's?
Participating in activities with your loved one is good for both of you, both physically and emotionally. It helps you continue to share enjoyable experiences together, and it can reduce the frequency of difficult behaviors such as agitation and wandering.
Participating in activities with your loved one is good for both of you, both physically and emotionally. It helps you continue to share enjoyable experiences together, and it can reduce the frequency of difficult behaviors such as agitation and wandering.
My dad has Alzheimer's. Is it ever okay to lie to him if it calms him down?
Many caregivers wonder whether it's OK to lie to someone with Alzheimer's disease when they find that trying to convince their relatives of the truth isn't working. Find out whether lying is OK under certain circumstances.
Many caregivers wonder whether it's OK to lie to someone with Alzheimer's disease when they find that trying to convince their relatives of the truth isn't working. Find out whether lying is OK under certain circumstances.
Making Mealtimes Easier for Everyone
Because Alzheimer's affects the brain in multiple ways, a variety of eating problems can result, creating challenges for both you and the person you're providing with care. The key to making mealtimes easier is to understand how Alzheimer's affects eating behaviors and to approach mealtimes with patience, planning, and flexibility.
Because Alzheimer's affects the brain in multiple ways, a variety of eating problems can result, creating challenges for both you and the person you're providing with care. The key to making mealtimes easier is to understand how Alzheimer's affects eating behaviors and to approach mealtimes with patience, planning, and flexibility.
Tips For Coping With Caregiver Stress
Caregiving is a long-term, full-time job that can wear you down, physically and emotionally. About.com's Guide to Senior Living, Sharon O'Brien, offers valuable tips for coping with caregiver stress.
Caregiving is a long-term, full-time job that can wear you down, physically and emotionally. About.com's Guide to Senior Living, Sharon O'Brien, offers valuable tips for coping with caregiver stress.
"Caring For Your Parents" Caregiver's Handbook
This online handbook was created in conjunction with the PBS program, "Caring for Your Parents." It includes topics such as how to talk to parents about their increasing needs, how to find and access services, and the importance of caring for the caregiver.
This online handbook was created in conjunction with the PBS program, "Caring for Your Parents." It includes topics such as how to talk to parents about their increasing needs, how to find and access services, and the importance of caring for the caregiver.
Your Caregiving Journey -- Free Internet Talk Radio Show
Denise Brown started her own free internet talk show on BlogTalkRadio called Your Caregiving Journey. Each week she focuses on a different caregiving topic; listeners can participate during the shows or tune in later and listen to archives.
Denise Brown started her own free internet talk show on BlogTalkRadio called Your Caregiving Journey. Each week she focuses on a different caregiving topic; listeners can participate during the shows or tune in later and listen to archives.
Caregiver Self-Advocacy: Four Messages to Live By
The National Family Caregivers Association provides four messages to inspire caregivers to take care of themselves and ask for the help they need.
The National Family Caregivers Association provides four messages to inspire caregivers to take care of themselves and ask for the help they need.
So Far Away: Twenty Questions for Long-Distance Caregivers
Are you caring for a loved one who lives far away? Take a look at So Far Away: Twenty Questions for Long-Distance Caregivers, a publication by the National Institute on Aging that provides helpful guidelines for those providing care across the miles.
Are you caring for a loved one who lives far away? Take a look at So Far Away: Twenty Questions for Long-Distance Caregivers, a publication by the National Institute on Aging that provides helpful guidelines for those providing care across the miles.
Today's Caregiver Magazine
Today's Caregiver Magazine offers articles on general caregiving practices and concerns. The bi-monthly publication also features stories from readers and has special editions for Philadelphia and South Florida caregivers.
Today's Caregiver Magazine offers articles on general caregiving practices and concerns. The bi-monthly publication also features stories from readers and has special editions for Philadelphia and South Florida caregivers.
ClinicalTrials.gov - The Best Place to Find Research Studies
A service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, this database of clinical studies -- including studies about Alzheimer's causes and treatments -- is searchable by disease and geographic location.
A service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, this database of clinical studies -- including studies about Alzheimer's causes and treatments -- is searchable by disease and geographic location.