Alzheimer’s disease affects every aspect of your family and community life. Your holiday observances are no exception. Holidays can be bittersweet for families affected by Alzheimer’s. The holiday season may bring mixed feelings and concerns about your loved one’s needs, his or her capacity to be involved in holiday festivities and your expectations for experience. Holiday memories from before your …
When End of Life Decisions are Difficult to Honor
This month we have a special guest author for our Alzheimer’s Texas Blog, Carmen Buck, former nurse practitioner who has helped many families cope with the challenges of dementia. Sarah and her father discussed his Living Will 10 years ago. Howard went to his attorney and updated his will, created a living will, a medical power of attorney (assigned his …
Bathing
Hygiene is critical for our general well-being, but getting a person with Alzheimer’s to bathe can be a major challenge. This intimate activity can make a person feel exposed, physically uncomfortable, and threatened. In turn, they may act out in disruptive ways. Such behavior often occurs because the person doesn’t remember the purpose or need for bathing, or doesn’t have …
Sundowning
Caregivers might notice that their loved one is especially agitated or confused during the late afternoon or early evening. The person might to get anxious, restless, irritable, demanding, or suspicious around the time of day when the sun goes down. Studies indicate that as many as 20% of people with dementia experience this symptom. End-of-day confusion and agitation, or “sundowning” …
Anticipatory Loss, Grief, and Dementia
Some have called Alzheimer’s disease “the Long Goodbye;” because of the gradual decline people with the disease experience, those close to them feel as though they’re losing them little by little over many years. Caregivers can become trapped in a cycle of grieving as the disease progresses and they mourn new losses. Because loss and disability have a significant impact …
Alternative Treatments for Alzheimer’s
It is natural and commendable for people with early stage Alzheimer’s disease to want to play an active role in their treatment and care plan. Many seek out alternative treatments, like herbal remedies, dietary supplements, or “medical foods.” Some older people may benefit from augmenting their diet with vitamin B12, B6, D, and calcium supplements, but for the most part, …
Things to Watch for on a Holiday Visit
It’s increasingly common for people to make their home in a different city than their parents. For many, the winter holidays are the only time of year when they can enjoy an extended stay with their older relatives. You may notice that your elderly loved ones’ memories aren’t as sharp as they used to be, or may seem more frail …
Managing Family Conflict
Throughout the course of a person’s experience with Alzheimer’s, those closest to them will experience complicated emotions. Denial, anger, sadness, guilt, despair, and resentment are all par for the course. The members of a care team or family unit may be processing their grief at different rates and in different ways, meanwhile, important decisions about the person’s care need to …
Activities for People with Alzheimer’s
Activities are the “things that we do.” These include getting dressed, doing chores, playing cards and even paying bills. They can represent who we are and what we’re about. Therefore, allowing the person with Alzheimer’s to participate in these activities can help him/her to maintain feelings of value and importance. Activities can structure time and make the best of retained …
April Caregiver Connection: Communication Tips
One of the greatest struggles for caregivers is communicating with the person with dementia. Luckily, there are proven strategies for avoiding conflict and making yourself understood. Use these “do’s and don’ts” to refine your caregiving communication style. DON’T Don’t reason Don’t argue Don’t confront Don’t correct Don’t question recent memory Don’t take it personally