Norman (Norrms) Mc Namara, who lives with dementia wrote “TODAY” to help us better understand what it’s like. (Unedited. TCV Ed.) TODAY Today I put both Coffee and tea in the same cup! Today I put toothpaste on my face instead of shaving foam! Today I thought my hanki[...]
Caregivers give so much of themselves, of their time and their energy, to those for whom they care. Many go into the field because of their desire to help someone and make a significant difference in lives. The rewards are certainly not monetary–nobody gets rich giving care. But aging isn̵[...]
Help Build Dementia Caregiver Care Planning Tool Two researchers from the University of Minnesota’s Center on Aging and School of Nursing need your help in creating a dementia caregiver care planning tool. Doctors Gaugler and Kane have written this letter (slightly edited and reformatted). Ple[...]
Claire Abel, The Caregiver’s Voice Caregiver of the Month, has been caring for her 103-year old mother for the past 16 years. What makes Claire (seated at left with one of her doggies); an inspiring caregiver is her ability to find the joy each day. (Click on photos to see an enlarged pop-up.)[...]
This eye-opening story from Berrie Holtzhausen of Dementia Namibia, (Namibia is a country in the southwestern region of Africa) had me reflecting on what it means to be a more “advanced nation” dealing with dementia. Berrie recounts stopping in a village to speak to the “headman&#[...]
A Call to Action for Dementia Awareness Michael Ellenbogen, diagnosed with young onset Alzheimer’s disease, was featured on The Caregiver’s Voice last month. Ellenbogen sent a Call to Action for worldwide dementia awareness. This Call to Action invites us to publicly post the Purple Ange[...]
Happy 4th of July! Independence Day is one of my favorite holidays. I remember starting the day by participating in a parade which ended with ice cream, afternoons fearfully performing classical violin in front of a crowd who’d rather hear rock music, and popcorn and Coke while watching the fi[...]
Longer days in the Northern Hemisphere mean the sun shines light on those cluttered areas we need to clear out of our lives. But how do we take time to clear out the clutter when we have so many other important things to do during our 24 hours — like caregiving, working, eating, and occasional[...]
Decision-making abilities and rights of people with dementia As a caregiver I often wondered how much leeway to give my father in decision-making. In hindsight, I gave him a lot. Even after I became his conservator, I still involved him in decisions. Plus, I’d have him sign his name on legal d[...]
Continuous Chest Compression – the new CPR that saves lives Watch this video of the new way to perform CPR that’s just as effective as the old way while offering a greater chance that a life will be saved–whether a loved one’s or YOURS! Continuous Chest Compression–the [...]
Here’s a useful infographic on bipolar disorder. Since the demands of caregiving can cause depression and even aggravate more severe symptoms, this infographic helps shed light on a related disorder. The Ups and Downs of Bipolar Disorder offers a brief history the numbers bipolar warnin[...]
