> For Caregivers

Behavior Management (11) Communication (5)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Recognizing Pain in Late-Stage Alzheimer's Disease
While it's important to keep your loved one comfortable during late-stage Alzheimer's, this can be challenging because the disease affects your relative's ability to tell you when he or she is uncomfortable. Here are three ways to recognize pain in late-stage Alzheimer's disease.

Reducing the Risk for Infection and Illness in Late-Stage Alzheimer’s
When people in late-stage Alzheimer's disease become chair-bound or bed-bound, their immune systems weaken, making them more vulnerable to illness. Learn how to reduce your loved one's risk for infections and other illnesses in late-stage Alzheimers by taking a few simple precautions.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.