When a parent receives a diagnosis of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, everything changes. Adult children are faced with making decisions they thought they wouldn't need to make for another five or ten years. The status quo has been disrupted. For many, the goal becomes to keep mom or dad in their home as long as […]
There is nothing like a live performance to energize an audience. Especially when everyone gets to participate! At Chelsea Place Memory Care in Aurora, Colorado, students from Regis Jesuit High School worked with residents to plan and organize a cavalcade of music and visual presentations. As so often happens when young people get together with […]
Here is a new year’s resolution that probably didn’t make your list this year: Take better care of my brain. Yet it should be part of everyone’s “to do” list. That’s because brain health impacts every corner of our daily lives. Treating our brains with the respect they deserve can help ward off disease, keep […]
The holidays are over. For some it’s a welcome relief with the promise of a fresh new beginning. However, many Americans will suffer from what we call “post-holiday blues”. If you are caring for a loved one with dementia, the days and weeks following the holidays can be especially difficult. Why is that? There are […]
As we celebrate the beginning of a fresh new year, most of us have “resolutions” on our minds. And, yes, many of those resolutions involve losing weight or quitting bad habits, like smoking or drinking too much. However, if you are caring for a loved one with dementia, these resolutions may seem trivial compared to […]
The holidays bring with them plenty of opportunities to reach out and help others. Doing so not only brings some holiday spirit to those less fortunate, it also rewards those who give with a sense of usefulness, having helped another human being in need. At Grace Point Memory Care in Oak Lawn, Illinois, residents recently […]
As we all know, the holidays can be an emotional time of year. For many it is a season of family gatherings, filled with laughter and good cheer. For others it can be stressful and even depressing, depending upon the situation. One thing is for certain. When you have a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, […]
For many of us, along with the holidays come gift lists. “What should I get for mom?” can be a challenging question for many adult children, especially if mom struggles with a dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease. As you head off to the stores (or laptop) it’s important to consider the level of cognitive awareness […]
“The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but the thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings.” – Henry Ward Beecher November, as you may know, is National Family Caregivers Month. It is a month to show our appreciation and support for the caregivers in our lives. And there are many. The National Alliance […]
Thanksgiving is a time for family and friends to gather to give thanks, catch up and share a special meal together. However, when a family member is diagnosed with a dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, the family dynamic changes dramatically. Nowhere is this more evident than at holiday gatherings. The hustle and bustle of a […]
As you may know, November is National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. It has been observed since President Ronald Reagan made the designation back in 1983. The purpose is to spread awareness of the devastating disease and to energize and promote research aimed at finding a cure. It’s important to note that, back in 1983 there were […]
Earlier this month, twenty young students got together with memory care residents to have some Halloween fun making decorations and “super senior” costumes. The festivities were held at Grace Point Place Memory Care, an Anthem Memory Care community located in Oak Lawn, Illinois. The young people are students from local Southwest Chicago Christian School in […]
As we head into November, along with the holidays comes the onslaught of flu season. We all know that flu presents special challenges for older individuals. Much of it involves strength and the ability to keep air passages clear. When younger, stronger adults contract the flu, they will cough, clear their throats and blow their […]
Have you ever seen a child bring a smile to the face of an elderly loved one when no one else could seem to do it? It happens all the time. A young person’s enthusiasm and energy can often break through hard-to-penetrate personal boundaries that others cannot. This is also true for those with dementia. […]
For most of us, the days and weeks leading up to Halloween are filled with carved pumpkins, cardboard cut-outs of witches and skeletons and sometimes even cupcakes with frosting spiders. It’s all in good fun and we laugh, take our grandkids out for Trick or Treat and steal a Snickers bar or two. For someone […]