Columns

It is impossible to be ready for everything and anything, but the Boy Scout motto “Be prepared” is good advice for any caregiver. This is especially true for caregivers of those with dementia. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease make it difficult to be prepared, because we can’t be certain about…

Caregiving often comes on suddenly. Perhaps you’re visiting an elderly parent, or they’ve come to your home for a stay, and you’ve noticed they’re not doing as well as you’d thought. You might have expected some decline, because it’s been a while since you last met them face-to-face. But…

Creating awareness about Alzheimer’s disease is both necessary and good. Toward that goal, designating the month of September as Alzheimer Awareness Month, and Sept. 21 as World Alzheimer’s Day, is useful. But for a person living with the most common form of dementia, or for their family members and caregivers,…

In my previous column, we discussed a simple list of tools that every caregiver should have in their proverbial tool belt. The original list was pretty basic, but the following items are essential for keeping your loved one with dementia safe. Locks An Alzheimer’s News Today reader responded to…

A carpenter wouldn’t show up to work without a belt full of essential tools specific to carpentry. Caring for a loved one at home requires an arsenal of tools specific to the jobs that caregiving entails. Matching the right tool to a job makes a task easier for the…

Do you ever awaken in the wee hours of the morning and wish everything was back to normal? Do you covet the old days, before Alzheimer’s disease and caregiving? I suppose it’s natural. Who wouldn’t undo what’s been done? Who wouldn’t reverse the diagnosis that changed your loved one’s life,…

The U.S. gave a collective sigh of relief a few months ago with the introduction of COVID-19 vaccines, but it was apparently premature. Thankfully, we’re not reeling as we were when the virus first smacked us in the face, but reports of rising cases of variants have some retreating to…

Ignorance abounds, and sadly, ignorance surrounding caregiving is rampant. Before being a caregiver, I was ignorant, too, as most of us were. The definition of ignorance is “a lack of knowledge and information.” After being thrust into the caregiving role, it took time to get up to speed. Caregiving for…

Familial caregivers are supposed to advocate for loved ones, but a person with dementia may sometimes view a carer as an enemy. Perhaps “enemy” is too strong of a word, but some caregiving days are permeated by one battle after another. This gets old quickly for both parties. Who wants…

In a recent AARP survey, three out of four Americans ages 50 and older said they’d prefer to age in their own homes and communities rather than somewhere else. Frankly, it’s a bit surprising the number isn’t higher. While the majority of adults would like to live out their…