Lyme is a bacterial disease carried by ticks, transmitted to people through infected blood. With the arrival of summer, we always see more in the news about Lyme disease. Recently, I have heard a lot of speculation about whether Lyme – or tick bites – might be one of the causes of Alzheimer’s disease. Continue reading “Can Lyme Disease cause Alzheimer’s?”
The presence and process of grief
Grief is a natural response to a loss of any kind. Most commonly, people associate grief with the death of a loved one. But we can experience grief at many other times in our lives, and for different kinds of loss, both great and small. Continue reading “The presence and process of grief”
Dementia is no longer in the shadows!
Since my husband Albert died of dementia in 2010, we have seen remarkable changes in how our society understands and responds to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Continue reading “Dementia is no longer in the shadows!”
When a person begins to lose their memory, can we retrain their brain?
Dementia is not a specific disease. It is a term that describes a wide range of symptoms caused by a number of diseases. The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. However, others, including Parkinson’s disease, can result in dementia. So can non-disease events, such as traumatic brain injury. Continue reading “When a person begins to lose their memory, can we retrain their brain?”
The Rules of Engagement
Caring for a loved one with dementia is more art than science. What works one day does not the next. There are some basic rules of engagement, but most of the time it seems we must be flexible and creative in dealing with a person who is in a frequent state of change. Continue reading “The Rules of Engagement”
Delusion versus reality!!
It is a common belief that individuals living with dementia are, or will become delusional. Delusions are beliefs that are contradicted by reality or rational argument, and they are often associated with a mental disorder. Continue reading “Delusion versus reality!!”
Resolving to become a less-stressed caregiver!
As January arrives, we often think of what we might do differently in the coming year, and sometimes we make resolutions, hoping for better results.
Caregivers for loved ones living with dementia know that the stress and the demands on our time will probably not change in the coming year. For some, it may become even more difficult, which is good reason to assess our situation to see if we can do things a little better, a little smarter, and a little easier for ourselves.
So, let me suggest a few New Year resolutions for caregivers: Continue reading “Resolving to become a less-stressed caregiver!”
Danger from the “dementia persons” perspective
Daily, we are surrounded by danger. There is that throw rug with the corner turned up; that low foot stool or extension cord we might trip over. How about those power tools, solvents, and insecticides in the garage? There are sharp knives in the kitchen, and under the kitchen sink are toxic cleaning agents.
Continue reading “Danger from the “dementia persons” perspective”
Managing holiday or large gatherings for a loved one with dementia
With the holidays come large gatherings with lots of activities. For a person living with Alzheimer’s Disease, stress levels will soar with increased anxiety and life is no longer“normal.” This environment of stress affects both the care partner and the individual living with dementia. But for them it is worse because they will also feed off of your behavior and emotions.
This is when we must make a special effort to manage our own stress, be more sensitive to our loved one’s feelings and behavior, and make a special effort to keep them safe, comfortable, included, and purposeful. Continue reading “Managing holiday or large gatherings for a loved one with dementia”
Until there’s a cure . . .There is only Care!
My primary training is in The Positive Approach to Care, developed by Teepa Snow. Teepa’s slogan is, “Until there’s a cure, there’s care.” This trips nicely off the tongue and seems too obvious to be profound, but there is so much more meaning in this statement than we might see at first glance.I had this brought home to me recently when I had the opportunity to attend a two-day Alzheimer’s conference in Orlando.
I came away feeling quite unsettled, for two reasons. First, we heard nothing very optimistic about the state of research for a cure. The more research we conduct, the more questions – not answers – we seem to uncover. I did not see even a glimmer of that hoped-for cure at the end of the tunnel. Continue reading “Until there’s a cure . . .There is only Care!”