Dementia
How to Handle a Dementia Outburst in Public
If you’re unsure how to effectively defuse a dementia outburst in public, these strategies are for you!
Dementia is anything but predictable. A loved one’s mood, personality, and behaviors can shift without warning, making daily life feel like a constant balancing act. Managing these changes at home is one thing—but what about when you’re in a restaurant, grocery store, or waiting in line at the pharmacy; how should you handle a dementia outburst in public?
Why You May Be Noticing an Accelerated Progression of Alzheimer’s
If you’re noticing a more rapid progression of Alzheimer’s lately in someone you love, there are several reasons you’ll want to explore.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there were a detailed Alzheimer’s care manual, complete with step-by-step instructions and insights into what to expect at every stage? While there are general patterns in the progression of Alzheimer’s, the disease unfolds uniquely for each person. This unpredictability can make caregiving especially challenging, as you never quite know what the next day—or even the next hour—might bring.
Six Rs to Improve Dementia Care
Use these six essential tips to improve dementia care for someone you love.
Caring for someone with dementia is one of the most meaningful yet challenging roles you can take on. It’s important to remind yourself regularly: You are doing your best. You are making a difference. A little self-affirmation goes a long way, but there’s more to consider when caregiving gets tough. Enter the Six Rs of dementia care—a framework designed to help improve dementia care and better manage the complexities of the disease.
What Are the Six Rs of Dementia Care?
The Six Rs offer a practical, compassionate approach to navigating difficult dementia-related behaviors. By following these steps, you can create a more peaceful, supportive environment:
Reassure
Dementia can make familiar routines and environments suddenly feel intimidating or strange. Loud noises, changes in lighting, unfamiliar visitors, or even … Read More »
How to Handle Loss of Recognition in Dementia
Loss of recognition in dementia is never easy to accept, but these tips will help.
You’ve been caring for your mom since her dementia diagnosis, doing your best to manage the ups and downs of the disease. One day, she looks at you with a blank stare or calls you by the name of someone else—a sibling, her spouse, or even her own parent. The sting of the loss of recognition in dementia is overwhelming. Should you correct her? Ignore it? Or embrace the new role she’s assigned you?
Recognition loss is one of dementia’s most heartbreaking effects. Watching someone you love struggle to connect the dots of who you are is never easy. However, how you respond in these moments can shape the interaction and bring peace to the person you love.
How to Respond to Recognition … Read More »
The Creative Dementia Care Strategy You Need to Try
Improv is one creative dementia care strategy that can be both effective and fun.
Creativity, adaptability, and a healthy dose of lighthearted fun are some of the top ingredients to healthy and effective dementia care. It stands to reason then that a spontaneous activity like improvisation is a great way to connect and engage with someone struggling with cognitive challenges. Not only does it allow you to pivot and embrace unexpected plot twists, but this creative dementia care tactic helps you to learn more about the person in your care.
What You Need to Know About End-of-Life Dementia Care
Caring for a loved one as they near the end of life is an incredibly personal journey. When Alzheimer’s disease is part of this experience, the path can become even more intricate. Unlike many other terminal illnesses, dementia progresses in unpredictable ways, requiring us to adjust our approach to end-of-life dementia care.
Identifying End-of-Life Signs in Dementia
In many diseases, the end-of-life stage is marked by noticeable changes in areas such as eating, sleeping, and socializing, often appearing two to four months before death. However, with Alzheimer’s disease, these indicators can emerge much earlier, sometimes even years in advance. These are the key signs to watch for:
Extended Sleep Patterns: Long periods of sleep can occur well before the final stages of life in someone with dementia. While this may be an early sign, it can also continue over a … Read More »
The Importance of a Daily Routine for Someone With Dementia
Have you ever woken up from a dream feeling completely disoriented? The dream seemed so real, and it takes a moment to regain your bearings. For someone with dementia, this disorientation is a part of everyday life. One highly effective way to help is to provide as much stability as possible, and one of the best ways to accomplish this is by sticking to a daily routine for someone with dementia.
How Can a Routine Help Someone With Dementia?
Short-term memory loss makes it challenging for someone with Alzheimer’s to learn and remember new things. A familiar routine helps build self-confidence, reinforce a sense of independence, and reduce anxiety.
To establish the most comfortable routine for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, try the following:
Follow their lead. Retain any routines the person already has built: a morning shower before … Read More »
Marin Senior Fair
Join us for the 36th Annual Marin Senior Fair
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Marin Center Exhibit Hall
Wow, it has been quite an honor to have participated in THIRTY of the Thirty Six Senior Fairs! We’re not too sure if anyone can say that?!?
This year’s theme is Flower Power, Where Peace and Wisdom Flourish.
The Fair will have 140 Exhibit Booths presenting valuable information and resources for seniors and those caring for seniors. The Fair will feature Food, Live Music and Dancing, along with costumes and booth decorations. As always, you can enjoy beautiful quilts, have your photo taken, and pick up some free books.
Attendance and parking are free. Free transportation to and from downtown San Rafael.
Enter our free raffle to win prizes. More information can be found at https://2024.marinseniorfair.org/
Come visit us at Booth 200 – We’ll see you at the Fair!
~Your … Read More »
Getting to the Root of Restlessness in Dementia
Uncover the reason behind restlessness in dementia in someone you love by answering these key questions.
Pacing. Fidgeting. Wandering. When you begin to notice these signs in someone you love with dementia, it’s time to take action before they escalate to agitation, aggression, or leaving the home. But figuring out why the person is feeling restless in dementia is sometimes half the battle.
Noticing Changes in a Senior’s Eating Behaviors? Here’s Why.
There are a number of reasons that could be causing changes in a senior’s eating behaviors.
Following the indulgence of the holiday season, many of us decide to cut back on consumption of calories. But when an older adult does not want to eat altogether, or is making unbalanced or unhealthy dietary choices, it’s important to look for the reason behind changes in a senior’s eating behaviors. This is a first and crucial step in promoting healthier eating habits.
