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[...]
Really … we drink this stuff? Caregivers, take time to read Kevin Ashton’s article, What Coke contains, for an eye-popping journey through the production of aluminum cans, the coating of paint that goes on the outside and inside of each can, and the ingredients. I grew up on Coke. During[...]
From their days enjoying Daytona Beach to the present, Robert Benson, the eldest child of Peggy Jean Siler Benson, admits his mother knows a storm is coming, but there’s little she can do about it in Moving Miss Peggy. The storm will wash away Miss Peggy’s life history. After pulling tog[...]
Alzheimer’s news from around the world SWEDEN Robert Preidt reports in HealthDay News on WebMD that Alzheimer’s drugs may benefit the heart. After studying more than 7,000 Alzheimer’s patients in Sweden for more than three years, researchers found those taking “cholinesterase[...]
My heart broke when I learned the elder abuse story of Flo and Jo (identifying details and names changed). I’ve heard many stories since becoming a caregiver 17 years ago for my father diagnosed with dementia. All too often stories like this remain hidden. Estimates range from 14 to 23 UNrepor[...]
Stress remains a constant companion in our lives. Stress is what keeps life adventuresome. Yet, caregivers are especially vulnerable to the damaging health-effects of ongoing stress. Life today moves at a fast pace for many of us. We’re racing from one thing to the next while churning t[...]
