Articles Index
Medication Safety and Alzheimer's
Helping your loved one with their medications is one of the more important aspects of Alzheimer's caregiving. While proper, prudent use of medications may help your loved one's quality of life and avoid unnecessary hospitalizations and medical problems, they can have the opposite effects when used improperly or unsafely. These strategies and tips for medication use may help avoid problems like worsening confusion and increased unsteadiness.
Eating and Alzheimer's
Helping your loved one with eating and nutrition are extremely important, both in terms of maintaining good heath and avoiding agitation and other difficult behaviors. Practical strategies for helping a person with Alzheimer's eat and enjoy meals will be provided.
Grooming and Alzheimer's
Helping your loved one with grooming is an important way to maximize self-esteem and quality of life. Due to both memory loss and apraxia, abilities often taken for granted such as combing hair and brushing teeth may be lost. Strategies and tips will be presented to ensure that grooming as a pleasurable activity is maintained in Alzheimer's disease as long as possible.
Bathing and Alzheimer's
Helping your loved one with bathing is arguably the most challenging aspects of Alzheimer's caregiving. Not only does it require skill and sensitivity, but it also is commonly associated with fear, anxiety, agitation and even aggression. These strategies and tips may help you and your loved one ensure the bathing process goes smoothly.
Dressing and Alzheimer's
Helping your loved one with dressing is an important way to preserve dignity and feelings of being respected. Due to both memory loss and apraxia, choosing and putting on clothing can be difficult for a person with Alzheimer's disease. Strategies and tips will be presented to help your loved one maintain her appearance and maximize her self-esteem.
What to Do When You Are Diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease
Receiving a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is likely a traumatic situation fraught with panic, denial, fear, and other complicated emotions. Having a plan of action can divert your energies towards helpful and useful activities to maximize your quality of life.
Helping a Child Whose Grandparent Has Alzheimer's
When a grandparent has Alzheimer's disease, this can be very difficult for a child. Even well educated adults have trouble understanding the disease, the behaviors that often accompany it, and the best ways to communicate with their affected loved ones. Learn how to talk with a child whose grandparent has Alzheimer's.
The Cost of Alzheimer's Services
For those over the age of 65, the cost of Alzheimer's services is three times that of normal health care costs in that age bracket.
Exercise Can Quell Agitation in Those With Alzheimer's Disease
Just 30 minutes of exercise 3 times a week can reduce agitation in those with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia.
ARMD and Alzheimer's Disease
It's long been thought that there may be a link between Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD) and Alzheimer's disease.
How an Economic Downturn Affects Family Caregiving
A survey by UnitedHealthcare and the National Alliance for Caregiving indicates that caregivers have been severely affected by the economic downturn from April 2008 - April 2009.
EmFinders™ Offers Community Elder Care Solution for Wandering
I recently learned about EmFinders™, a unique community elder care solution to the very frightening risk of wandering among parents with Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive impairments.
Be a Successful Health Care Advocate for Your Family Member
When caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease, one of the most challenging caregiving roles is that of health care advocate. Adapted from a report by MetLife Mature Market Institute, here are some suggestions for becoming a successful health care advocate for your family member.
Prognosis for People With Alzheimer's Disease
Although there's no cure for Alzheimer's, there's often confusion about whether it's a fatal disease. Learn about the prognosis for someone who's been diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
How to Help Those with Alzheimer’s Enjoy the Holiday Season
While people with Alzheimer's disease often enjoy the holiday season, those with early-stage Alzheimer's might feel a special sense of loss during this time, and those in the middle or later stages could become confused and overwhelmed by the influx of people and boisterous celebrations. Here are three ways to help your loved one enjoy the holiday season.
Gift Ideas for People with Alzheimer's and Their Caregivers
Are you at a loss when people ask for gift ideas for you and your care recipient? Make it easy for people with these simple guidelines.
Exercise and Brain Fitness
We know that exercise is good for physical fitness, but research indicates that it's good for brain fitness, too -- perhaps even when Alzheimer's disease has developed.
Diabetes, Hypertension and Alzheimer's Disease
If you have Alzheimer's disease, you already know that it's important to eat well, exercise regularly and get adequate rest, but did you know that it's also crucial for you to manage your diabetes and hypertension, if you have them?
Caregiver Transitions
Family caregivers go through several caregiver transitions as loved ones become more ill. At the 2008 Rocky Mountain Geriatrics Conference, Richard Schulz, Ph.D. described the most common caregiver transitions, including which one is the most difficult for family caregivers.
Choosing a Long-Term Care Facility
Feeling baffled about how to choose long-term care is normal because many factors must be considered, especially when your loved one needs specialized Alzheimer's care. Here are key questions to ask when choosing a long-term care facility.
Coping With a Financial Crisis
If you're a caregiver for someone with Alzheimer's disease or another dementia, it's natural to be concerned about the current financial crisis. You're not alone in wondering how you'll continue to be able to afford Alzheimer's care and handle other regular expenses. Find out how to keep your cool during difficult financial times with advice from Ellen Rogin, President of Strategic Financial Designs in Chicagoland. She recently spoke with Denise Brown on her radio show, Your Caregiving Journey.
Pack An Alzheimer's Toolkit When Traveling
Traveling can be challenging when your loved one has Alzheimer's. To make the trip go more smoothly, pack this toolkit and keep it with you, whether you travel by plane, train, or motor vehicle.
Providing Comfort During Late-Stage Alzheimer's Disease
When late-stage Alzheimer's reduces the ability to communicate through words, it might seem useless to try to make a connection with your loved one. However, it's crucial to continue providing comfort to those with late-stage Alzheimer's disease by nurturing your personal connection with them. Here are three methods of providing comfort during late-stage Alzheimer's disease.
Caregiver Health and Mortality
Caregiver health is an important issue to address when planning for Alzheimer's care. At the 2008 Rocky Mountain Geriatrics Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, Richard Schulz, Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, reported on the results of his research about caregiver health and mortality.
Who Are Today's Caregivers?
Who are today's caregivers? At the 2008 Rocky Mountain Geriatrics Conference, Richard Schulz, Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine shared important facts about today's family caregivers.