Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care

What You Can Expect in the Last Stage of Alzheimer’s The journey through Alzheimer’s can take years, with stops and starts, twists and turns, and plenty of unknowns. As the caregiver for someone with dementia, it’s important to know what may be coming around the next bend so that you can be prepared and provide the most appropriate level of care. While each person experiences Alzheimer’s uniquely, there are some commonalities to each stage. Here's what you may find in a senior who enters the last stage of Alzheimer’s disease: Challenges…

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…

5 Ways to Overcome Caregiver Isolation Who would imagine that spending so much time taking care of another person could also cause you to feel incredibly alone? The hard facts are that caregiver isolation is extremely common, for a number of reasons: Mental or physical exhaustion: you’re simply too depleted to want to socialize Guilt over enjoying time apart from the loved one in your care Resentment toward those whose lives seem so much easier And much more Whatever the cause for the isolation you might be feeling as a caregiver,…

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…

Tips to Incorporate More Fruits and Veggies for a Healthier Senior Diet If you are preparing meals for a senior who prefers carbs to carrots (and honestly – who doesn’t?), you might find it challenging to guarantee that their nutritional needs are being met. And you are not alone. Canada’s Heart and Stroke Foundation shares that slightly more than half of Canadian adults eat less than the recommended five servings of fruit and vegetables each day. Multiple studies have revealed that seniors who do follow a healthier senior diet that meets these guidelines reduce…

Senior Medications: Could Someone You Love Be Overmedicated? The days of “take two aspirin and call me in the morning” have transformed into “take two of these…and two of these…and maybe one of those, too!” Nearly forty percent of older adults are taking at least five different prescription medications each day – not to mention vitamins, supplements, and OTC meds. It is easy to see why problems are so prevalent when it comes to senior medications. Take these actions to prevent medication complications for a senior you love: Make a list, and…