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Understand How Dementia Progresses Differently Based on the Type of Dementia One of the primary questions in most people’s minds when a loved one is diagnosed with dementia is how dementia progresses, and what to expect in the weeks, months, and years to come. We understand that the unmistakable sign of dementia is the increasing decline in cognitive abilities as well as the skills required to take care of daily life. However, each person progresses through these changes in a different way. There are a variety of factors that may impact how dementia progresses, such as:…

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…

Sandwich Generation: Strike a Healthier Life Balance with These Tips Ask any individual included in the sandwich generation if he or she has obtained a healthy life balance between providing care for an older loved one, kids at home, a job, self-care, household management, etc., and you are more than likely to receive a similar reply: perhaps a sigh of longing, a snort of frustration, or a rolling of the eyes. And if you are actually a sandwicher yourself, you might be struggling to set aside the time to even read this article completely! Nonetheless, allow yourself…

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…

The Difficult Emotions Every Family Caregiver Battles – and How to Let Them Go If you are feeling a bit discouraged in your role as caregiver, take heart; you’re in good company. Providing care help for a loved one is perhaps the most complex role we can hold: highly rewarding on the one hand, while simultaneously frustrating and ever-evolving, frequently resulting in feelings of doubt about whether we are up to the challenge and providing the most effective care.  It’s why a number of family caregivers struggle with some or all of these types of feelings:  Guilt: It…

How to Best Manage Dysphagia: A Guide for Care There’s nothing better than a tall, cold drink on a hot summer day, but for a person with dysphagia, this simple pleasure could be dangerous. Dysphagia – or trouble with swallowing – impacts millions of seniors because of weakened mouth and/or throat muscles. Cancer, Alzheimer's, MS and stroke are all root causes as well. Learn more about how to best manage dysphagia in our informative guide. Symptoms of dysphagia include: Drooling Coughing, choking or gagging when drinking, eating, or…

Polypharmacy for Seniors: Is Your Loved One Over-Prescribed? With more than a third of all 60-year-olds taking five or more prescription medications, it’s no surprise that problems are resulting from polypharmacy for seniors. Polypharmacy, defined as “…when an adverse drug effect is misinterpreted as a new medical problem – leading to the prescribing of more medication to treat the initial drug-induced symptom,” can result in a variety of additional health risks or worsening of existing conditions. So how can you determine if medications for seniors…