Alzheimer's
Alzheimer's Articles for Caregivers
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
Photographer: James Gathany
Caregiving through a Doctor’s Eyes
Caregiving is universal. It knows no boundaries of age, race, religion, profession or economic status. Caregiving will touch all of our lives at some point along the way. Read more
Hydration and Delirium
Did you know that: Delirium is different from dementia? Dehydration is a cause of delirium? Older adults can avoid delirium by staying hydrated? Read more
Alzheimer's: Dealing with Difficult Behavior
As if it weren’t enough to deal with forgetfulness and confusion while caring for your loved-one with Alzheimer’s, but aggressiveness, wandering and paranoia can really put you over the edge. Read more
Remember the Studebaker? Reminiscing as Therapy
Not again? You’ve heard that story about Sunday trips in the big black Studebaker at least 100 times. Read more
Convincing a Loved One to Go to a Nursing Home
Virtually no one wants to either live in a nursing home or place a loved one in such a facility. Read more
Trouble with Simple Financial Tasks May be Early Sign of Alzheimer's
Aging adults often show signs of slowing when it comes to managing their finances, such as calculating their change when paying cash or balancing an account ledger. Read more
When Person with Alzheimer's Rummages and Hides Things
Someone with Alzheimer’s disease may start rummaging or searching through cabinets, drawers, closets, the refrigerator, and other places where things are stored. He or she also may hide items around the house. Read more
The Ultimate Caregiver
When I think of the ideal caregiver, I immediately think of my grandmother. Read more
Does Approach Matter?
If you are providing care for a loved one living with Alzheimer’s, it might seem that the word “no” has become a natural response to any question. “Ready for your shower?” “No.” “Are you hungry?” “No.” Read more
Nine Ways to Get Someone to Eat
A common nutritional problem that can affect someone in poor health is wasting or loss of body mass called cachexia-anorexia. It often is seen in advanced stages of Alzheimer’s and cancer. Read more
The Uninvited “Guest”
So help me heaven, if I don’t find humor in what is now happening in our lives, I don’t think I’ll ever get through it. It started out so subtly—my husband asking me what day it was. Read more
After the Support Group: Notes to Remember
At last night's meeting there was a lot of talk about guilt...guilt about getting angry, not wanting to spend time with a family member with dementia... Read more
The Art of Caring: Finding Our Way Through Ambiguity
When I began caring for my mother with Alzheimer’s disease, I knew nothing about memory loss, Alzheimer’s behaviors or the intensity of need that caring demands. 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
Scott Griessel/Creatista
Understanding Challenging Behavior
While being a caregiver to unusual or so-called “difficult” behaviors, it is quite common for persons with dementia to display these types of behaviors... Read more
Life Lessons Are Not Always Easy
This week has taken me on a journey I never wanted to take. For the first time, my mother does not know me. Read more
Talking Through Schizophrenia
Psychosis or psychotic episodes can be very difficult for caregivers to know how to handle. Read more
Managing Incontinence with Frontotemporal Dementia
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) refers to a group of disorders caused by progressive nerve cell loss in the brain's frontal lobes. Read more
Alzheimer's: Stepping Into The Leadership Role
Since the person with AD no longer possesses the mental skills to be completely independent, a special brand of leadership is called for. At least one person must assume overall authority for ensuring the well-being of the person with AD Read more
