For most of us, going out to lunch with a friend or family member is a relaxing, enjoyable event. Instead of cooking and fussing over table settings, you are waited on in a pleasant environment. You take your time with the menu selections while you spend time “catching up” with each other. Perhaps you used to […]
As you know, caring for a mom or dad with dementia is a challenging journey with many twists and turns. There are days when you may feel you are not doing as much as you think you should. And, there are probably moments when you wish you had found out more about a certain medication […]
If you are the son or daughter of a loved one with Alzheimer’s, chances are you’ve already accumulated a good amount of information about the disease; what it is, who it affects, how is it contracted, and so on. And, given the abundance of studies (some more reputable than others), you may have also read […]
Numerous studies have been conducted on what is known as “compassion fatigue”. Most relate to caregivers in skilled nursing and assisted living environments. But studies have also found that when compassion fatigue is experienced by adult children caring for parents with dementia, it can have an even greater emotional impact. Compassion fatigue is not […]
When someone you love has been diagnosed with dementia, both your worlds are changed forever. For one thing, your verbal interchanges are impacted as their memory falters, along with the ability to remember simple words and phrases. This is also true for activities they used to take for granted. Seemingly simple things they would do […]
When memory care residents and high school students are brought together, the positive impact is almost always far greater than either group anticipates! That is why inter-generational gatherings and events are a regular occurrence at Chelsea Place Memory Care in Aurora, Colorado. They provide frequent socialization for the residents, who enjoy meeting and interacting with […]
Caring for a parent with dementia may be one of the greatest challenges you will ever face. Because, in addition to the devastating impact on your parent, it takes its toll on so many aspects of your life; your physical and emotional health, your job, your sense of freedom, your friends and your family. But, […]
For those caring for a parent with dementia, having a strong support system is crucial. No one should bear the burden of caregiving alone. So, most adult children turn to siblings or other close family relatives for advice, understanding and support. And, while it may get off to a good start, as the months pass, […]
Adult children of aging parents with dementia often share with us that their greatest fear is that their wandering mom or dad will walk outside their door, out into the street and either become injured, lost, or both! It’s certainly a natural fear and, to be honest, not an unwarranted one. We regularly read about […]
We all know the phrase “laughter is the best medicine”. And it’s true that we all feel just a little bit calmer, happier and healthier after a good laugh. Even published studies confirm the benefits of laughter. One such study, conducted by a group of Australian researchers, set out to determine if humor could measurably […]
One of the greatest concerns for those caring for a loved one with dementia is keeping them safe. And rightfully so, as even the most familiar areas and objects in a home can become serious hazards to someone who is cognitively impaired. Open doors, tile floors, bathtubs and stove tops must be re-evaluated in context […]
The die-hard Bronco fans at Highline Place Memory Care in Littleton, Colorado, were at it again! And nobody seemed to care that their favorite team didn’t make it to the Super Bowl! This time, they were joined by students from Littleton High School for a tailgating party, lots of fun and food and, above all, […]
Most of us have experienced the loss of taste and smell when we have a bad head cold. Nothing smells or tastes quite right. Now, imagine your ability to remember and reason are also impaired. You might go ahead and eat rotting leftovers because they don't smell that bad, and you’d forgotten that you put […]
The Juniors and Seniors at Regis Jesuit High School, in Aurora, Colorado, had an assignment: To spend a total of 60 hours interacting with seniors at a local memory care community. While the students admittedly initially approached the project as a “mandatory assignment”, it quickly turned into a life changing event for them and for the […]
For most of us, a discussion about dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, centers primarily around memory loss. That’s understandable, given the devastating impact memory loss and confusion has on those struggling with dementia and the effect upon their families. What is often overlooked, however, are the physical manifestations of the disease in the mid to […]