Alzheimer’s
The Health Concerns That Could Be Causing Chronic Negativity in an Older Loved One
If you’re noticing chronic negativity in an older loved one, there may be a medical condition to blame.
We all have good days and bad days, and we are all entitled to a bit of crankiness or negative thinking every now and then. If you are noticing a pattern of chronic negativity in an older loved one, however, it is worthwhile to explore whether a health problem might be the culprit.
Listed below are several reasons for persistent negativity, and how you can help.
Pain. A recent study revealed that participants who were enduring chronic pain reported a rise in negative moods, including fatigue, anger, tension, depression, anxiety, and more. It is essential to discuss any of these mood changes with the physician, as these kinds of mood changes actually impact the effectiveness of pain management treatments.
Urinary tract infections. … Read More »
Improve Memory With These Simple Strategies
Help improve memory for someone you love with dementia with these proven tactics.
Remember memorizing the order of the colors of the rainbow in elementary school? A lot of us were introduced to Roy G. Biv to learn this feat – one of the many mnemonics we learn that, interestingly, often stay with us for a lifetime and help us improve memory.
As we get older, some degree of memory impairment is to be anticipated; and naturally it is even more pronounced when Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia is a factor. Researchers are continually aiming to find effective methods to enhance memory and cognitive functioning, and have discovered some interesting findings on “old school” strategies such as mnemonics. Here’s what they have most recently identified:
Mnemonics
Mnemonics provides a link to a memory through a song, … Read More »
Do You Know When and How to Downsize for Seniors with Dementia?
Seniors with dementia can benefit from downsizing.
It’s clear that the family home is just too overwhelming for Mom and Dad to care for. A small home is for sale just around the corner from you that’s ideal: a beautiful flower garden in the front yard, a sunny, cheerful kitchen, and no stairs to navigate. Now it is time to begin the downsizing process. The only problem? Mom has dementia.
Any level of change can be very challenging for a senior with dementia. Leaving the familiarity of home and moving into a brand new one can enhance feelings of anxiety and agitation, but there are strategies to ease the transition.
Take your time. It can be your natural thought to make this process as quick as possible – like ripping off a band-aid. However, a much better approach in … Read More »
How to Be a Partner and Not a Parent as a Spousal Caregiver
We have tips to help you maintain your relationship while being a spousal caregiver.
Healthy, long-term relationships take commitment, sacrifice, and compromise. The happiest relationships are those where both parties selflessly take care of each other. This balance shifts, however, if the person you love experiences a significant health concern. And this shift can have a devastating effect on the dynamics of your relationship if you’re not vigilant, as you find yourself in the role of a spousal caregiver.
It’s natural to want to help your spouse in whatever way you can as their health needs change. However, it’s vital that you ensure you are not sacrificing your romantic connection in the process. Attempting to parent your partner can result in resentment – for both of you. To promote healthy boundaries, keep the following in mind:
• Find … Read More »
What People With Alzheimer’s Want You to Know
Improve communication with someone you love by learning what people with Alzheimer’s want you to know.
If you’ve ever wished you could look a senior with dementia in the eye and understand exactly what they’re thinking, we just might be able to help you with that! Communicating effectively with someone with dementia isn’t easy, especially as the disease progresses. Following are several statements provided by people with Alzheimer’s to give you some insight into what it feels like to live with the disease.
You haven’t lost me. A diagnosis of dementia does impact a person in many ways, but it doesn’t change the essence of who they are. “I love the same people and doing the same things I did before my diagnosis,” explains Dale Rivard. It’s essential to recognize that while memory and cognitive abilities may decline, the … Read More »
The Link Between Hearing Loss and Dementia You Need to Know About
Understanding the link between hearing loss and dementia is crucial to know the steps you can take to reduce the risk of cognitive decline.
Are you finding the need to turn the TV up louder for someone you love? Speaking more loudly? Repeating things the person missed hearing the first time? Hearing loss in older adults is not uncommon. But new scientific studies are pointing to a startling link between hearing loss and dementia.
How Hearing and Cognitive Functioning Are Linked
There are a number of hypotheses scientists are exploring to explain the connection between hearing loss and an increased risk of dementia:
The brain’s memory and thinking ability are affected when it has to work harder to strain to hear and to fill in the gaps when communication is missed.
An older brain shrinks more rapidly because of hearing … Read More »
Feeling Overloaded With Caring for a Loved One? These Tips Can Help!
If you’re feeling overloaded with caring for a loved one, we have three simple steps you can take to ease the strain.
If today’s to-dos seem like a lot more than you are able to possibly squeeze into 24 short hours, you are not alone! Family caregivers frequently are feeling overloaded with caring for a loved one and the daily required tasks: Personal care and hygiene. Planning and preparing meals. Medical appointments. Planning activities that are purposeful and enjoyable for the older adult. Shopping and other errands. Housework and laundry. And all of this is on top of meeting the requirements of your own spouse, children, household, and if there is any time left over, yourself!
We invite you to hit the pause button for just a minute, take a deep breath, and put into action these tried-and-true … Read More »
Take These Steps to Avoid Overmedication and Adverse Medication Reactions in Seniors
Taking too much or too little of a medication or taking it the wrong way can lead to adverse medication reactions in seniors.
The days of “take two aspirin and call me in the morning” have morphed into “take two of these…and two of these…and maybe one of those, too!” Nearly forty percent of seniors are taking at least five different prescription medications each day – not to mention vitamins, supplements, and OTC meds. It is easy to understand why overmedication and adverse medication reactions in seniors are extremely common.
Take these actions to avoid medication problems for someone you love:
Make a list, and check it twice. Create a list of every one of the medications – both over-the-counter and prescription – that the person is currently taking. Share the list with all of their healthcare providers, and … Read More »
Watch for These Early Signs of Mobility Problems in Older Adults
All family caregivers need to know the early signs of mobility problems in older adults in order to prevent falls or other serious injuries.
Benjamin Franklin certainly had it right: An ounce of prevention is really worth a pound of cure. When it comes to noticing and addressing the early signs of mobility problems in older adults, prevention is a must. Falls in seniors lead to 3 million emergency room visits, 300,000 hip fractures, and 32,000 deaths every year, according to research by the CDC.
Preempt a tragedy by keeping an eye out for these warning signs of increasing mobility issues in older loved ones:
Experiencing dizziness. Dizziness and issues with balance can develop from a variety of contributing factors that ultimately cause problems with mobility. It’s important to discover why these issues are taking place and address them … Read More »
The Final Stage of Alzheimer’s: What to Expect
Being prepared for the final stage of Alzheimer’s is key to continuing to help make life as meaningful as possible for someone you love.
The journey through Alzheimer’s disease can be compared to navigating a winding road that spans years, riddled with intermittent stops, starts, unexpected twists, and a plethora of unknowns. As the dedicated caregiver for an individual grappling with dementia, having foresight about what to expect around the next bend is paramount. This knowledge empowers you to not only be well-prepared but also to administer the most fitting and compassionate level of care in the final stage of Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s, being a highly individualized experience, manifests uniquely in each person. Yet there are certain commonalities at every stage of the disease. When an individual transitions into the last stage, discernible challenges emerge, including struggles with eating … Read More »
