Sandwiched By Sherri C. Bell Caught between generations, I stand – a daughter, a mother, and spouse. A soul-surviving once-caregiver to sister, mother, and partner. Navigating the unknown in the extreme discomfort zone of balancing it all. Now, a sole
Dementia is a term used to describe a decline in cognitive and behavioral functioning that interferes with a person’s daily life and activities as defined by the National Institute on Aging. There are many different conditions and diseases that cause
Anyone who has a relative with dementia has experienced frustration with communication. The person with dementia might have trouble finding the right words, repeat themselves often or become very upset and agitated when they cannot express what is bothering them.
One of the most frequent questions I am asked is, “When is the right time to move my relative with Alzheimer’s into a care facility?” The answer is different for every family. Either remaining at home or moving to a
Reminiscence therapy, according to the American Psychological Association, is the use of written or oral life histories to improve psychological well-being (website: www.apa.org). Examples of this type of therapy are listening to music that may remind someone of things they use
Several months ago I had the opportunity to participate in “The Virtual Dementia Tour”. I was at a conference for the Alzheimer’s Association. The Virtual Dementia Tour was the most useful exercise I have ever participated in when trying to
Imagine this scenario. A senior with dementia needs to get ready for bed. The caregiver has to put on their pajamas and brush their teeth. The person with dementia is thinking…”Who is this person trying to take off my clothes?
Everyone knows it’s good to keep your brain active as you age. When people have Alzheimer’s, however, their ability to participate in certain activities diminishes. So what can you do with Alzheimer’s? The answer is lots of things! One of
When you think of arthritis you may picture an elderly individual, although people of all ages can experience symptoms of arthritis. It can greatly limit the activities you are able to participate in. It can also lead to an increase
What is the difference between home health care and non-medical home care? At first glance these terms look similar. According to Medicare, home health care is recommended to treat an illness or injury. Typically people choose to use home health care
What is a therapeutic lie? A therapeutic lie is the practice of telling “white lies” to a patient with dementia. This is done to keep the person with dementia from becoming agitated. In the support group that I facilitate one
Hygiene is a topic that comes up often for those struggling with dementia. Bathing, dressing, incontinence and dental care are some of the most common tasks people have trouble following through with. There are many practical tips caregivers can follow
How Do You Solve the Problem of Incontinence with Dementia? … It Depends … Although the title of this article is designed to make one smile, incontinence and dementia are no laughing matter. Incontinence, which refers to the loss of
“The Colorado University (CU) Anschutz Medical Campus serves 4,500 students in more than 40 highly rated degree programs across six schools and colleges, supported by $500 million in research awards in fiscal 2018 – creating an overall economic impact to
January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month. Glaucoma is called “the sneak thief of sight”. There are no symptoms and once vision is lost, it is permanent. As much as 40% of vision can be lost without a person noticing. Currently, more
While the coronavirus outbreak poses health risks for the whole population, seniors appear to be particularly vulnerable. The main vulnerability people think of is that seniors have a fragile immune system or a chronic illness that could make them less
