Alzheimer's
Alzheimer's Articles for Caregivers
Scam Susceptibility May Signal Cognitive Decline
Older adults who are less likely to detect scams may be at an increased risk for developing dementia, finds a new study from researchers supported by the National Institute on Aging. Read more
Some ABCs for Every Alzheimer's Caregiver
A: Accept that some of the hardest decisions you will ever have to make lie ahead. For example, when does nursing home care become the best or, perhaps, the only option? Read more
We are Not in Kansas Any More
“There is no place like home; there is no place like home.” We can all relate to Dorothy’s sentiments. She was surrounded with enchantment—talking animals and vivid colors—yet she still longed for black and white Kansas. Read more
Tips for a Healthy and Active Lifestyle for People With Dementia
Eating healthy and staying active is good for everyone and is especially important for people with Alzheimer’s and related dementias. i Read more
Simple DIY Modifications for a Dementia-Friendly Home
Are you caregiving for a loved one with dementia? Does your loved one share a residence with you? If you answered yes to both of these questions, you most likely worry about your loved one’s safety, especially when he or she is alone at home. Read more
Cataract Removal Linked to a Reduction in Dementia Risk
Undergoing cataract removal was associated with a lower risk of developing dementia among older adults. The study suggests that the improvement in the quality of life for the affected individual and family is likely considerable ... Read more
Leaving your Loved One Home Alone
You will no doubt have many questions to ponder as you decide upon the prospects of leaving a loved one in the early stages of dementia home alone Read more
Finding Adult Day Care Options
Caregivers who are just beginning their journey may feel adult day care services are for later stages of their loved one’s situation. The sooner caregivers locate and enroll their family member in a program Read more
A Family Affair
“Doctor, are you sure?” I questioned. “We’re never sure, but all indications point to Alzheimer’s as your mom’s diagnosis. Mary, this disease is not something your 88 year old dad can take on alone. It is going to be a family affair.” Read more
Parkinson's Disease with Dementia - Special Challenges
In the U.S. today there are more than one million people with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Approximately 50,000 new cases are diagnosed annually. PD is a progressive movement disorder that affects the central nervous system. Read more
Caregiver Tips for Traveling
Traveling long distances with a person in the early stage of dementia may still be quite enjoyable. As dementia advances, however, traveling becomes unpredictable as the person becomes more confusing. Read more
4 Home Safety Tips for Families Affected by Dementia
As part of National Safety Month this June, the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) is offering 4 home safety tips for families caring for loved ones living with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia-related illness. Read more
Dementia-Friendly 4th of July
Fireworks and gatherings are staples of the 4th of July holiday, but these can create unique challenges for families affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia-related illnesses. Read more
Hospitalization and Dementia: The Role of the Caregiver
Inevitable as the progression of the disease itself, hospitalization will happen to a person with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia. Read more
What Is Mild Cognitive Impairment?
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a condition in which people have more memory or thinking problems than other people their age. The symptoms of MCI are not as severe as those of Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. Read more
Prevalence of Dementia Is Declining Among Older Americans
The prevalence of dementia in the U.S. is declining among people over age 65, dropping 3.7 percentage points from 2000 to 2016, according to a new RAND Corporation study. Read more
Linking the Past to the Present - The Benefits of Reminiscing
Older people often lose what has defined them: family, spouses, friends, careers, and their homes. Reminiscence is a free-flowing process of thinking or talking about one’s experiences to reflect on and recapture significant events of a lifetime. Read more
A Different Vow
"Do you know where my husband is? Because he's a good one and I'd hate to lose him." This is her third husband, so Holly, my 80-something-year-old patient, has room to judge. Read more
Coots and the Christmas Gulls
That’s my dad with his beautiful snow-white curls framed by the lake. He still knows me, but the last stroke left him in a wheelchair, in an adult family home, and with dementia. His love of 65 years has been gone for almost two years now. Read more
Color Therapy for Dementia Care
Do you remember the Irish legend about the leprechaun with a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? Even if we don’t find a pot of gold, rainbows can remind us to celebrate the mysteries and beauties of colors. Read more