Caregivers of Older Adults Blog | Dementia

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. 

There’s a common misconception that dementia is a disease, but it’s actually collection of symptoms. Dementia symptoms affect a person’s memory and sometimes other faculties, like reasoning and judgment. These impairments of a person's mental ability are significant enough to disrupt daily life.

You've probably heard of Alzheimer's disease in the context of learning about dementia, but other types of the condition exists. It's helpful to know about the different types that you may encounter — such as vascular dementia and Lewy body dementia — and how they differ in terms of dementia symptoms, causes, and other factors.

After Alzheimer's disease, it’s been thought that vascular dementia was the second most common type of the condition. However, Lewy body dementia seems to be on the rise.