5 Things That Can Worsen Alzheimer’s Symptoms While there are particular commonalities, Alzheimer’s disease affects every person uniquely. Our highly trained dementia caregivers know, for instance, that even though one person may find pleasure in being outdoors, another could possibly be overwhelmed by so much sensory input and prefer a quieter indoor environment. One may prefer a morning bath routine, while a dose of resourcefulness is important to help another maintain good hygiene.  We also understand that there are particular triggers…

Caring for elders can overwhelm us Nicole Johnson, a memory therapy coach, works with a patient at Amy’s Helping Hands   For caregivers, worrying about an aging relative is stressful enough. Taking care of two loved ones kicks up that stress level rise significantly. This is the daily reality for Denise and her sister who are responsible for the care of two aging relatives. For them, caregiving took a difficult turn when both relatives needed additional help over a few days. With one having hip surgery and the other being transferred…

Senior Caregiving Tips: How to Avoid Crossing the Line From Motivation to Bullying As a family caregiver, you likely encounter a range of feelings throughout the day: shared laughter over a joke with a senior loved one; anxiety over a health concern; and certainly, at times, irritations. We would like only the best for those we love, so when an older adult is resistant to doing something we know is best, it may be challenging to identify the best reply.  The key is to try to supply motivation and support, while remaining vigilant not to cross the line into bullying the senior.…

Create Your All-Star Care Team in 5 Steps What family caregivers often need most is sound advice, regular respite and an extra set of hands. Friends may scatter when one becomes the primary caregiver for a spouse or parent, and not everyone has siblings or other family members they can depend on to share the load. A carefully selected care team is a necessary complement to a loved one’s detailed care plan. Step 1: Draft a list of prospective team members Write down the name of each family member, friend or neighbor with whom you regularly…

Creating a Legacy for Your Parent A common regret of adult children who have lost their parents is the wish that they had asked and understood more about their own family history. This is particularly true for family caregivers, whose focus on the present is necessitated by the practical concerns of getting through the day. Making time to learn more about the past seems like a luxury for many caregivers. But taking that time may be beneficial to those we love and care for and provide an important opportunity to redefine and enhance…

Accepting a Chronic Illness Diagnosis Is Not Giving Up In Isaac Asimov’s opinion, “The easiest way to solve a problem is to deny it exists.” It is a common belief for lots of family caregivers when their loved one is diagnosed with a chronic condition, such as dementia. Even though this might instill some level of comfort in assuming that life can go forward as it always has, if only we refuse to acknowledge this new reality, the truth, needless to say, is that acknowledgement is essential to obtaining necessary support.   It’s understandable…

Windsor-Essex Home Care Provider Recommends the Best Technology Solutions for Aging in Place It doesn't matter if you are trying to tune a guitar, learn a new language, or just add cats’ ears to a selfie, there is an app for that! And for seniors who prefer to age in place, technology may be an essential element in improving safety, comfort, and overall wellbeing.  Take Amazon’s Alexa, as an example. Whereas its current benefits for seniors are many, like the ability to track sugar levels, make medical appointments, and research information related to a certain health issue, it…