Caring for a person with Alzheimer’s is a challenging task that is not a one-person job. No one is capable of caring for someone 24/7, alone. If you are caring for a loved one who has dementia, you will need to learn to ask for help. In the early stages of dementia, you may be capable of caring for a … Read More
When Should a Person with Dementia Stop Driving?
Driving is a powerful symbol of independence and adulthood. We all know that the concentration and quick reaction times required for safe driving can gradually decline with age. For people with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia, this decline is sped up dramatically. If you are caring for a parent or loved one who is suffering from dementia, they … Read More
How To Communicate With a Person With Dementia
Trying to communicate with a person who has Alzheimer’s disease can be challenging. Communication skills are gradually eroded by dementia, so their behavior and words can become difficult to understand. They will also have difficulty understanding your actions and your words. This combination creates misunderstandings and can cause tempers to rise on both sides. Knowing what to expect and learning … Read More
Alzheimer’s and Day-to-Day Activities
Alzheimer’s disease can make ordinary, day-to-day activities challenging. Here are some tips to make daily tasks easier for the patient, the caregivers and the family. Dressing Dementia can make getting dressed a very frustrating experience. Make it part of a routine. Help the person with Alzheimer’s to get dressed at the same time every morning. Don’t offer too many choices. … Read More
Alzheimer’s and Dementia Symptoms
The symptoms of dementia involve difficulty with most areas of mental function. Dementia affects language, memory, all cognitive skills (judgement, calculation, abstract thought), perception, emotions, behavior, and personality. The earliest sign of dementia is usually forgetfulness. Early Symptoms & Signs of Dementia Mild Cognitive Impairment is the stage between common forgetfulness caused by aging and dementia. Not everyone with Mild … Read More
The 10 Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease
1. Memory loss that affects day-to-day function Forgetting things more often and not remembering them later, especially things that have happened more recently. 2. Difficulty with familiar tasks Unable to complete familiar tasks such as preparing a simple meal or playing a favourite game. 3. Problems with speech. Forgetting simple words or substituting words, making conversations difficult to understand. 4. … Read More
Dementia vs. Normal Aging
Dementia Forgetting new information and being unable to recall it later Consistently poor judgement and decision making Loss of the ability to manage money and pay bills Forgetting where you are, how you got there and how to get home Misplacing things and being unable to find them or putting things in unusual places Gradually becoming unable to carry on … Read More
Alzheimer’s and the Risks of Hospital Admissions
A hospital stay can be unsettling and challenging for anyone, but it can be especially difficult for people with dementia who have trouble coping with new and unfamiliar surroundings. These challenges may be compounded by the fact that many people with Alzheimer’s can no longer communicate effectively. A person with Alzheimer’s may not be able vocalize their needs if they … Read More
Alzheimer’s: Facts and Fiction
Alzheimer’s is an extremely prevalent affliction -affecting roughly 1/8 of the senior population. For such a widespread condition, the average person knows relatively little about this disease – and may be prone to rumours concerning Alzheimer’s. Let’s disperse some of those myths, discuss the condition, and look at several new treatments that are on the horizon. Not just a senior’s … Read More
Alzheimer’s: Dealing with Mood Swings
As the effects of Alzheimer’s intensify, emotional distress may become an ongoing consideration in your day-to-day routine. Frustration, fear, and a lack of independence can create considerable strain between the Alzheimer’s patient and their homecare provider. Empathy will be your best ally in your quest to disarm these potentially heated situations. Below, we’ll walk through some common scenarios which you may … Read More