Dementia confusion, a common occurrence in Alzheimer’s, can result in recent memories being forgotten or distorted, while those from the more remote past often stay intact. This may cause prior times to make more sense to an older adult with dementia than the present. A person’s alternate reality could be his or her way of making sense of the present…
For individuals providing care for a senior displaying dementia signs and symptoms, careful, compassionate management is a must; but potentially the most overwhelming behaviors include suspicions, hallucinations, and illusions that others are out to cause harm. Incorrect impressions such as these manifest typically in the more advanced stages of progressive dementia due to changes within the brain. It’s vital to…
Like they say, there’s no place like home; but what do you do when a senior with dementia insists on going home – when he/she currently IS home? Regrettably, when caring for an elderly person with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, this is an all too common dilemma. And the confusion and plaintive yearning being expressed are simply…
Providing care for an individual with Alzheimer’s disease can seem like attempting to solve a continuously changing puzzle. As soon as you determine the solution to one area, you learn that the picture has changed, and you need to rethink your plan. Figuring out the puzzle of Alzheimer’s disease care demands ongoing learning and a group effort, which includes professionally…
Today, music is more accessible than ever before. For individuals who carry smartphones or tablets along with them everywhere they go, hundreds of thousands – if not tens of millions of songs – are just a finger swipe away. If you are a caretaker for a senior, your smartphone can easily become one of the most valuable tools in your…
If there’s one constant you can be sure of when caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease, it’s change! Sometimes it seems that as soon as you’ve figured out how to successfully help your loved one cope with one challenge, it’s replaced with another. Home & Hearth Caregivers cares deeply about helping those with Alzheimer’s disease, and those who care for…
If you’re like most family members providing care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, you’ve likely gone to the Internet to try to learn as much as possible about the disease. And if so, you’ve probably also discovered a lot of conflicting information, making it hard to know which resources you can trust. At Home…
Think for a moment about how it might feel to wake up in a strange place, unable to fathom how you got there or even who you are. Utter confusion quickly morphs into fear and anger, and your reaction may be to lash out at the stranger standing beside your bed, even though he or she is speaking to you…
The ability to get up and go wherever we want, whenever we want is a freedom many of us may not give a second thought. Driving symbolizes so much more than just part of a daily routine; it represents both independence and self-reliance. And, it can be incredibly difficult when the time comes to give that up. Driving requires sustained…
Mom has always loved baking. In fact, it’s hard to find a family holiday picture that doesn’t include one of her famous desserts taking center stage on the dining room table. But now that she’s been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, does it mean that integral part of her will soon slip away? While Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia go…
