Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care

Understanding Delirium: Protecting Seniors and Preserving Well-Being Dementia and Alzheime’s disease garner significant attention when it comes to senior health and well-being.  However, there’s another condition that often affects older adults and can lead to further complications: delirium.  Delirium presents with a sudden onset of confusion, disorientation, and changes in behavior that can be distressing for both seniors and their loved ones. What is Delirium and How does it Differ from Dementia? Delirium is a serious medical condition characterized by a rapid decline in mental function. Unlike dementia, which develops gradually over time, delirium comes on quickly- within hours or days. Here is how to tell them apart: Dementia: A chronic, progressive decline and memory, thinking and behavioral skills. Delirium: A sudden, acute state of confusion, often reversible with treatment of the underlying cause. Causes of Delirium in Seniors Many Factors can trigger delirium in older adults including: Infections: Urinary tract infections, pneumonia, or…

3 Ideas for Creative Alzheimer’s Activities Utilizing Food Our food has a unique ability to bring families and friends together and create lasting memories. From special occasions like birthdays and holidays to everyday routines, food can play a central role in our lives. Alzheimer’s activities that involve food can be both effective and creative, tapping into the power of this universal connection. By doing food-related activities, they can be a wonderful way to connect with someone with dementia. These activities will help to engage all of the senses and may help spark memories or create new ones.  Here are some activities that you may want to try: cooking together, baking cookies, making a salad, going for a picnic in the park. Always try to remember to pick an activity that is safe and enjoyable for a loved one with dementia. Decorating. By frosting cupcakes and remembering the treats Mom made for school events or birthday parties. By rolling out cookie dough and using cookie cutters and sprinkles to make them festive for an upcoming holiday,…

Did You Know There Are 4 Different Types of Alzheimer’s? For decades, experts have focused on one basic idea to understand Alzheimer’s, even though the disease can vary in symptoms and progression from one person to another.  New research has suggested that Alzheirmer’s can be categorized into four different types. This new perspective can provide valuable insights into the disease and that can potentially lead to more personalized treatments for patients In a recent collaboration study involving the US, Sweden, Canada and Korea have revealed intriguing findings about Alzheimer’s disease. Contrary to the belief of a single universal diagnosis. The research has identified 4 distinct variants that can occur in a significant  percentage of cases, ranging from 18% to 30%. This shift in understanding is helping researchers in comprehending the diverse manifestations of the disease among our loved ones. With these findings, specialists are now able to customize treatment plans based on the particular subgroup diagnosed. In this research, data…

Living Alone with Dementia: Could It Be Possible? Contrary to popular belief, having a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or another type of progressive dementia does not automatically mean that going to a nursing home is the only option. Living alone with dementia is possible with the right support and accommodations. It is important for everyone to consider the implications of the statistics for our loved ones and potentially ourselves in the future.  In Canada there are around 61% of our seniors who have been diagnosed with dementia and are not residing in long term care or nursing homes. What is even more worrisome is that a large percentage are living alone without a designated caregiver. There are many key areas of concern for a loved one living alone with dementia: Do they have the ability to manage daily activities independently, such as bathing, preparing a meal, light house duties, laundry and problem solving Are they able to take the proper steps to help protect themselves from falling victim to those who scam Isolation and…

The Growing Trend of Elder Orphans and How to Best Prepare for the Future When our loved ones grow older, it brings a range of new challenges, including chronic health conditions, the loss of family members, and increased vulnerability. As we make our way through the changes, many of us rely on our adult children to provide care and support in later years. At times when aging adults find themselves without family assistance. These individuals, known as “elder orphans” face unique concerns due to the absence of built-in support. It can be difficult to determine the exact number of aging adults without family support, but according to the 2016 Canadian census, 33% of seniors aged 65 or older are women who live alone, and 17.5% of men who live alone. While many of your loved ones have family support, there are some who are considered “elder orphans”.  With the increasing number of aging baby boomers, it is important to find a solution to this crisis. Seniors in this category should consider taking the following steps to prepare for their care: Find the…

Connect More Effectively with This Engaging Activity for Dementia Having a loved one with dementia can be incredibly challenging. The people you once knew can now seem unfamiliar, and words that you used to say with ease are now elusive.  It can be as the world you once knew has been completely upended, leaving you wanting something familiar to hold onto.  Now virtual reality is proving to be a remarkable activity for seniors with dementia. By connecting them to the past through music, photos, movies allowing seniors to reminisce and engage in their long-term memories that often remain intact. This new approach is showing remarkable results in engaging seniors with dementia. Skip Rizzo, a director for medical virtual reality at the USC Institute for Creative Technologies, has been using the technology to help veterans with PTSD. Mr Rizzo is not extending his efforts to seniors starting with his own 89-year-old mother. During  a virtual trip to Rome, she was showing reactions of delight and demonstrated the profound impact this technology can have…