Caregiver Challenges of General Hospital Care for Dementia Patients

Simple procedures by first responders and hospital personnel, like having their blood pressure taken or getting a shot in the arm, can be confusing or scary for anyone with dementia.  Many first responders and hospital healthcare providers have little experience with people with dementia.  Yet over 40% of people over the age of 85 have some type of dementia.1 Dementia …

Creating Fun and Meaningful Moments for Elders with Dementia

Fun, meaningful activities are as important to the well-being of an individual living with dementia as they are for anyone. Bringing children and elders together can provide endless opportunities for creating moments of joy and mutual engagement. With a little planning, you can set the stage for fun, meaningful activities that support the strengths and abilities of individuals with dementia …

Silver Alerts – Physician Documentation Required

Did you know that Texas Silver Alert legislation requires documentation of the missing person’s mental condition, prior to issuing an alert?  If the family/legal guardian of the missing person is unable to provide documentation to law enforcement during a wandering incident, the physician could receive an emergency phone call. As a physician, it is important to be aware of the …

Forming Your Support Team

Caregiving often causes stress, which can result in increased health problems, disrupted social relationships, burnout, depression and decreased quality of care for their loved one.  Too often caregivers don’t recognize their own needs or simply don’t know where to turn for help.  It is essential for caregivers to seek the support of family, friends and community resources.  Learning to ask …

TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY

Falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury for all ages. Those aged 75 and older have the highest rates of traumatic brain injury-related hospitalization and death due to falls. Doctors classify traumatic brain injury as mild, moderate or severe, depending on whether the injury causes unconsciousness, how long unconsciousness lasts and the severity of symptoms. Although most traumatic …

Financial and Medical Information You Need to Care for a Loved One

If you are responsible for caring for a loved one, you will need to organize your loved one’s medical information and medical/legal documents for effective caregiving. Here is an annotated list of information and documents for you to gather. Medical Information List of doctors—include name, specialty, phone number, and address for each. List of prescriptions—include name of drug, dosage, and …

Miraculous Music!

G. Allen Power, M.D. has redefined dementia from the perspective of the person living with dementia as, “Dementia is a shift in the way a person experiences the world around her/him.” What a universal human experience music can be. Music connects us with others who are present as well as connecting us with memories. Rhythm is usually preserved in a …

When End of Life Decisions are Difficult to Honor

This month we have a special guest author for our Alzheimer’s Texas Blog, Carmen Buck, former nurse practitioner who has helped many families cope with the challenges of dementia. Sarah and her father discussed his Living Will 10 years ago.  Howard went to his attorney and updated his will, created a living will,  a medical power of attorney (assigned his …

Working with Facility Staff

As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, the person’s needs change, and the time will likely come when you aren’t able to care for your loved one at home. Ensuring that your loved one receives the care they need by finding an appropriate long-term care setting doesn’t mean that you’re no longer a critical component of their care team.  On the contrary, you …