Are you a dementia caregiver? Do you find yourself raising your voice more often? Are you feeling that you are in a rush and maybe rougher than you would like to be? Or are you observing this behavior in your mom or dad as they care for their spouse? It may very well be time […]
A recent investigation has found that one in three homecare workers have no dementia training. In a study conducted with Unison, Skills for Care and Freedom information and a survey completed by 1,220 people affected by dementia they found startling information. In addition to the 33% of the workforce not receiving any training, the workers […]
Increased activity during the holiday season can be challenging. More large group gatherings, more shopping and a general increase in the speed of life raises stress levels for everyone. If you are the primary caregiver for an individual living with dementia it can feel like too much. So how do you survive the holiday season? […]
Depression is a dark cloud that lowers on us and destroys our emotional well-being. It drains away our pleasure in life and can lead us to feelings of despair and hopelessness. One of the natural outcomes of depression is withdrawal, leaving individuals isolated and without support.
Social networks are important for sustaining us as we age. We enjoy interactions with others and those interactions help us to maintain our emotional balance. We enjoy and gather strength and support from our family and friends.
With a little apology to the bard, Shakespeare may have been on to something when he spoke about the ‘winter of our discontent’. During the winter months in the northern hemisphere it becomes increasingly difficult to get sufficient Vitamin D for optimum brain health. And Vitamin D is very important for brain health and reducing […]
Getting a good night’s sleep is critical for good brain health, yet many older adults experience trouble sleeping. Our brains have a core circadian clock that keeps us on a 24-hour cycle, telling us when to wake and when to sleep, but this seems to change as we age.
Communication is important in every relationship and communicating with someone with dementia is crucial to maintain the relationship. In this post I cover ten (10) tips to keep in mind when communicating with an individual who is suffering from dementia.
As dementia takes its toll, the individual you love may become frustrated with the effects of the disease on their ability to function. They will be aware that they can no longer perform tasks that they could once do with ease. This awareness can lead to frustration, depression, anxiety and anger.
Diseases that fall under the dementia umbrella, like Alzheimer’s, can breed despair — for both caregivers and those affected by the disease. So what hope do we have for individuals suffering from some form of dementia? What can we do or give them that can impact their quality of life in a meaningful way?
