Deciding that it is time to discuss limiting driving or removing driving privileges with a parent is one of the most difficult things to do. Driving is one of the key abilities that signifies independence, and when that is removed it may fundamentally change not only what that person can do, but also how they […]
Category Archives: Dementia
Hospital stays can be challenging for any patient and for someone living with dementia, the patient experience can be even more scary and confusing. Here are five ways caregivers can improve their loved one’s experience. Frequently a trip to the hospital begins with a visit to an Emergency Department (ED). According to the Centers for […]
Pursuing a dementia diagnosis versus choosing not to seek a diagnosis are both reasonable decisions. Many primary care doctors are reluctant to test a patient for cognitive impairment or dementia. On the other hand, in response to a patient’s report of symptoms such as memory loss, providers can make use of a screening tool, the […]
One of a caregiver’s greatest fears is that their loved one will go wandering. After my uncle was diagnosed with dementia, my aunt was determined to care for him in their home. Our family supported her decision. As years went by and the dementia progressed, she worried about him wandering away. Keeping loved ones safe […]
Support for activities of daily living (eating, bathing, toileting, dressing, ambulating) looks different for every caregiver-care partner engagement. The partnership is rarely a 50-50 interaction. As human beings we transact differently depending on relationships. Successful provision of care for someone living with dementia is the result of a caregiver leaving his/her “my way or the […]
Dear dementia, today I add to my list of things that care partners (caregivers + people with dementia) need right now. It has been less than one month since I pressed my first list. Long story short, we need to improve the medical appointment experience for healthcare providers and their patients with dementia. In the spirit of relentlessly pursuing improved […]
Last Friday, mid-morning, I took a client to a department store and to lunch. My client lives in a memory care facility. She has dementia. She also is an 80 year retired English Literature professor, a mom, an aunt, a sister, a friend. She had a career before career women were common. My client likes […]
Refusal to bathe often goes hand in hand with dementia. Possibly one of the top frustrations for caregivers and their care partners is accomplishing a shower at least once a week. This is a great video from UCLA with helpful tips.
Memorabilia: the tools, tchotchke and every day items from the decades of our lives. As the holiday season arrives, sooner every year, this gift for loved ones with dementia is a winner. The entire family can help with collecting items to create a meaningful activity that will spark conversation and joy when shared. A few […]
Memory care programs are usually found in adult day programs and in assisted living facilities and memory care units. Research results about best practices in designing and implementing memory care activities are everywhere. With at least 1 in 4 people facing a diagnosis of dementia the demand for quality programs has never been more pressing. […]