Is it dementia? Or is it war on dementia? The words we use to talk about dementia are responsible for creating and maintaining the stigma of dementia. It’s time we change how we talk about dementia. I joined thirty-plus concerned attendees–some with dementia–in an online panel disc[...]
Choosing Your Attorney-in-fact Guest article by LawDepot When choosing someone for any kind of Power of Attorney, trust is the most important factor. You need an individual who you believe can make the tough decisions you’ll need him/her to make. Trust, however, is not the only thing that you [...]
Really? Are these cures or a bunch of old-wives’ tales? Caregiver, you decide. Did you know that drinking two glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain almost immediately–without the unpleasant side effects caused by traditional pain relievers? Really, for all types of headaches? Did[...]
What’s it like living with dementia? Fortunately, for caregivers, more people with dementia are speaking out about what it’s like on the “other side.” Last week, we featured Norman Mc Namara’s call for dementia awareness with, “Please Don’t…” Thi[...]
Caregiver, take a Five-Minute Respite Professionals often remind caregivers to take a respite. I agree. Caregivers should take a respite. BUT… how reasonable is it to ask a busy caregiver trying to juggle life’s responsibilities to take an afternoon off let alone a weekend? Forget about [...]
Norman Mc Namara has lived with dementia for almost seven years. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at age fifty. A few years later, he was diagnosed instead with Lewy body dementia. He is a vocal advocate for, and author and poet on dementia awareness. Based in the UK, he was recently awarded [...]
Thorlos socks for caregivers’ sore feet. I’ve run two marathons and have the distinction of running, hiking, climbing in sandals. I wear a thin pair of toe socks under a heavy pair of padded socks. In between, I position gel pads under the balls of my feet during day-long hikes. No more! As a [...]
The Guilty Caregiver Guest post by Leslie Vandever My caregiving career with my mother started when she developed sciatica and was barely able to care for herself. At the time, I expected that she’d need me for a few weeks. Maybe a month, at the most. I packed a small suitcase and settled into her g[...]
Things you and I take for granted are sometimes hard to grasp for a person with dementia. Take this story, “Making sense of time” shared in Finding the JOY in Alzheimer’s. A month before my father, Martin’s, ninetieth birthday, my husband David and I had the following convers[...]
Five tools help medical professionals diagnose dementia. If you’re wondering if dementia is the cause of your loved one’s changed behaviors, the only way to know for sure is to get a diagnosis at a geriatric assessment center. Professionals from diverse specialties representing neurology[...]
What a good fortune I had to share a message of connecting with others (for support) in order to move from surviving to Finding the JOY in Alzheimer’s on HuffPost Live – Stories of Caregivers Dealing With Alzheimer’s. I also shared the Diamond TIP for Caregivers, which goes beyond[...]
Guest article by caregiver, Lynette Wilson Juul. Working as a caregiver, I’ve been privileged to travel with some of the people I serve. There is one particular journey; however, that is etched forever in my mind as the most joyous vacation. It happened ten years ago. My traveling companions w[...]
