Caregivers of Older Adults Blog | Dementia

The diagnosis of a loved one with Alzheimer’s can be frightening, confusing and overwhelming. While these emotions are natural, they can also be immobilizing—especially if you have no experience with the disease. Finding out as much as possible about the situation can offer both clarity and peace of mind for patients and caregivers alike. Read on for a roundup of five questions to ask your aging loved one’s healthcare team after an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis. 

Gun violence and gun control are currently among the most pressing issues facing Americans. And while a great deal of attention is focused around regulating access to guns overall, far less attention is paid to another critical, more specific issue: the millions of firearms that are already in the homes of aging Americans who may be suffering from dementia and other forms of cognitive decline. Here’s a closer look.

The imperative to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease is widespread. After all, not only is Alzheimer’s one of the country’s ten most common causes of death, but it also upends the lives of its millions of victims and their families. Now comes news that preventing and reversing memory loss and cognitive decline may be possible, but involves a shift in paradigm away from the concept of a “silver bullet” and toward the concept of “silver buckshot.” 

The number of seniors in the US taking three or more psychiatric drugs more than doubled in the nine-year period between 2004 and 2013, according to a recent study as reported by The New York Times. While this figure is troubling in itself, even more so is that fact that nearly half seniors taking these medications have no mental health diagnoses on record. What does this mean for seniors and caregivers? Here’s a closer look at the issue.

Communicating with people who are experiencing dementia, age-related cognitive decline, and/or disorientation can be challenging. However, it’s not impossible—especially with the right tools in place. One particularly effective method for communicating with disoriented seniors? The Validation Method. Here’s a closer look at this method of helping seniors and their caregivers share less stressful, more meaningful connections. 

Lewy body dementia (LBD) is one of the most common forms of dementia, and yet it is frequently misdiagnosed as more commonly known illnesses, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson's Disease. If you’re caring for someone who has been diagnosed with LBD, you’re not alone if you feel like you’re in the dark. Read on for a closer look at this complex disease, along with what caregivers should know about LBD.

Mealtimes can be hard times of day for caregivers. Factor in Alzheimer’s disease-related issues like cognitive impairment, coordination problems, and declines in sensory perception which can lead to loss of appetite, and the challenges faced by caregivers rise. 

The challenges of caring for someone with Alzheimer's are frequently discussed. But most people tasked with managing care for someone living with this disease are already well aware of these challenges and are looking for something more: Practical tools and actionable insights for managing them. Read on for ten tips aimed at helping caregivers most effectively tackle the issues they face every day.

One of the most difficult aspects of dealing with dementia is its degenerative nature. While its progression often involves common signs and symptoms, everyone’s experience with dementia is different. This can make managing the disease particularly challenging for dementia caregivers who may find its inherent uncertainty stressful. Having a basic understanding of the stages of dementia progression -- keeping in mind that it’s a just a guideline, not a rule -- can help caregivers cope.  

Can’t remember where you parked your car at the grocery store? Looked everywhere for your sunglasses only to find them perched atop your own head? These are common scenarios in the lives of many older adults and are often written off as “senior moments.” However, they could also be indicative of something greater, according to a study published in the academic journal, Neurology.  Here’s a closer look at research suggesting that memory lapses in the early senior years may foreshadow a significant cognitive decline in the future, along with how this information can help caregivers better support aging loved ones.