Healthy Family Communication

Unproductive communication styles can take years to develop, so that by the time a family really needs to work together to care for a loved one with a dementing illness they’re hamstrung by toxic interpersonal dynamics.  A family can have all the resources they need to provide for the person with dementia, but if they can’t agree on the right …

Anticipatory Loss, Grief, and Dementia

Some have called Alzheimer’s disease “the Long Goodbye;” because of the gradual decline people with the disease experience, those close to them feel as though they’re losing them little by little over many years.  Caregivers can become trapped in a cycle of grieving as the disease progresses and they mourn new losses.  Because  loss and disability have a significant impact …

Things to Watch for on a Holiday Visit

It’s increasingly common for people to make their home in a different city than their parents.  For many, the winter holidays are the only time of year when they can enjoy an extended stay with their older relatives.  You may notice that your elderly loved ones’ memories aren’t as sharp as they used to be, or may seem more frail …

Managing Finances for a Person with Dementia

What would happen if you had to suddenly take over management of a loved one’s money and finances? If a parent becomes incapacitated, someone has to take over paying bills and managing their money. It happens to many caregivers. Are you prepared? Here are 10 things you should know about your loved one’s finances:

Managing Family Conflict

Throughout the course of a person’s experience with Alzheimer’s, those closest to them will experience complicated emotions.  Denial, anger, sadness, guilt, despair, and resentment are all par for the course.  The members of a care team or family unit may be processing their grief at different rates and in different ways, meanwhile, important decisions about the person’s care need to …

Activities for People with Alzheimer’s

Activities are the “things that we do.”  These include getting dressed, doing chores, playing cards and even paying bills.  They can represent who we are and what we’re about.  Therefore, allowing the person with Alzheimer’s to participate in these activities can help him/her to maintain feelings of value and importance.  Activities can structure time and make the best of retained …

Hospice Care and Alzheimer’s Disease

What is hospice care? Hospice is a special way of caring for people who are terminally ill, and for their family. This care includes physical care and counseling. Hospice provides palliative or comfort care for an individual at the end-of-life. The primary purpose of hospice care is to manage the pain and other symptoms of the terminal illness, rather than …

June Caregiver Connection: Making a Smooth Transition to Long-Term Care

Moving an individual with Alzheimer’s disease into a long-term care facility can be a very traumatic experience, not only for the individual with the disease, but also for the caregiver.  There are a variety of things that can be done to make the transition go more smoothly. Approach the transition in a way that will create a positive experience for …

May Caregiver Connection: How to Know When It’s Time for Long Term Care

The decision to place a loved one with dementia in a long term care facility isn’t easy for most families.  Many seniors prefer to remain in their homes, and because changes in functioning due to dementia can be gradual, it is easy to put off making this difficult decision.  However, as with all things related to Alzheimer’s, it’s much better …