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As a former caregiver to an elderly parent who had Alzheimer’s disease, Florida-based Ray counts it a privilege to write columns discussing the day-to-day challenges associated with the onslaught of memory loss. Fighting a relentless foe, caregivers find themselves in the deep trenches, right alongside their loved ones. Her goal is to assist the caregiver on their journey by encouraging them to keep trudging through the mire of uncertainty. “I will be your harbinger of better days to come, so that you’ll know it’s possible to make it through the dark hours, and that even a difficult journey through Alzheimer’s disease can be punctuated with optimism. May you find joy on your journey.”
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…
Three hundred and five billion! In 2020, that was the estimated cost for supporting Alzheimer’s care in the United States. Even with the contribution of unpaid caregivers, the cost is expected to rise to $1 trillion by 2050. Familial caregivers are making a huge contribution to the nation, paying…
The Alzheimer’s disease community received fantastic news last week. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. Aside from the apparent reason, the approval of the drug Aduhelm (aducanumab) is encouraging because it’s been nearly two decades since a new treatment for the…
It’s finally happening. We’re digging our way out of a very long and dark tunnel as the U.S. begins to drop COVID-19 restrictions, mainly mask mandates. Also, deaths from the disease have declined here, and fewer people are falling ill from it. As of this writing, more than 61%…
Mental health is an issue that continues to raise concern in the United States. According to an annual report by the nonprofit organization Mental Health America, incidences of anxiety and depression have reached their highest level since the pandemic began last March. Americans are more isolated today than…
Dementia is potentially preventable in more than a third of reported cases, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. This is encouraging, and also surprising. It is hopeful news for anyone who suffers from dementia and for the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. The fact that dementia is preventable may surprise most,…
Loss accompanies Alzheimer’s disease and may create animosity between a caregiver and the person receiving care. A parent or spouse receiving care may become frustrated with their loss of independence, creating an uncomfortable atmosphere that lands resentment squarely upon the caregiver. Adult children who care for aging parents often…
While aging is the greatest risk factor associated with Alzheimer’s disease, the disease is not a normal part of aging. Most people with Alzheimer’s are 65 or older. But this is not an indication that Alzheimer’s is strictly a disease of old age. Thousands of younger people have…
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