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This type of interaction is not being used enough when dealing with a person living with dementia, many people may not understand what this means, or how is it going to help with care. If you have attended one of my workshops or speaking engagements you may have heard me talking about “Validation Therapy” when dealing with a person living with Alzheimer’s and dementia. I do get some strange looks, some people believe that they are lying to their person, that they are not telling them the truth, this is not true.

When we learn this technique we can restore confidence, dignity and we will also gain some empathy for this person, but most of all we will be taking the time to listen to them, this will tell us where they are and in what time frame they are referring to. Validation will also help you in when redirection is needed especially in the later afternoon when “sundowning” may be an issue for your loved one.
Continue reading “Validation Therapy when dealing with Alzheimer’s and dementia”

Throughout the disease process of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, your loved one will lose the ability to understand simple instructions, the ability to reason or undertake any logical process, and sometimes the ability to speak. My husband Albert lost his language skills very early in the process, and this left me feeling confused, adrift, and alone. How are we supposed to know or respond to what they need when they cannot tell us what they want? Continue reading “You can learn from the behavior of your loved one with dementia”

The other day I read an article about health and longevity that contained the assertion, “The single biggest cause of Alzheimer’s Disease is aging.” This is absolutely wrong, and it represents a logical fallacy that we see all too often among so-called experts and suppliers of products and therapies that they claim will reverse, slow, or even cure dementia. Continue reading “Alzheimer’s is not caused by aging!”

In my workshops, I talk a lot about how journaling can be a beneficial tool for caregivers. As a caregiver for a loved one with dementia, you must make many adjustments in your life. These can include changes in sleep patterns, changes in nutrition, and changes in hydration or even medication. This is stressful and can become very confusing. Continue reading “Journaling can provide many benefits for a caregiver”

According to the National Institute of Health, for individuals over 65 years of age who are in family care, the average age of the caregiver is 63!
When we start families, we are usually in our late teens or early 20s, and we bring a child into the world whom we know will require around-the-clock attention for more than a year. But we are young, we are strong, and we have energy. Continue reading “When coping with dementia, don’t become a ‘Secondary Patient’”

I often get questions about medicines, therapies, oils, or supplements that are supposed to impede or reverse the progress of Alzheimer’s, or even cure the disease. Many of these so-called cures appear on social media and television, making extravagant claims about quick and positive results. Continue reading “Beware the quick fix and the latest claim for a cure”

For the State of Florida as a whole, 17% of the population is over the age of 65. In Hernando County, 31% is over 65; which is approaching twice the statewide average. The Alzheimer’s Association tells us that among people over the age of 65, one in ten is living with the disease. With a population of 178,500 (2015), it does not take higher mathematics to project that about 5,500 people in Hernando County are living with Alzheimer’s. Continue reading “Hernando County, a liability and an asset”

Memory loss is a key and conspicuous symptom of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, but dementia causes many other changes that can result in dysfunctional behavior.
Forgetting things does not mean you have dementia. It happens to all of us. “Where are my keys?” “Where did I leave my coat?” Relax, you very likely don’t have a problem. Continue reading “Identifying possible signs of dementia”

Dementia, which has many causes (75% of dementia’s are caused by Alzheimer’s Disease), has become a major national concern. The Alzheimer’s Association reports that today there are five million with the disease, and that by 2050 this number will grow to 16 million people. Continue reading “Dementia a greater concern in Hernando and Citrus Counties”

While Alzheimer’s is most commonly associated with memory loss, in fact there are many other symptoms attached to this disease and other forms of dementia. One of these symptoms is an inability to recognize when one is hungry or thirsty. Another is the tendency to wander. These two combined can bring tragic results, especially now, during the hottest months of the year.
Continue reading “Dangerous Days for people with Dementia”