“An advocate can be a family member, friend, trusted coworker, or a hired professional who accompanies you to your appointments and asks questions, writes down information, and speaks up for you so you can better understand your illness and get the care you need.” [Source: AARP] As an Aging Life Care Professional (also known as […]
Tag Archives: care partners
The weight of caregiver guilt can be overwhelming. Guilt is a 4-letter word in disguise. It is a bad feeling that can tear us down. As family caregivers we wrestle with feelings of guilt frequently. We give all we have however too often we feel like we have failed. And we doubt ourselves every single […]
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 […]
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 […]
Caregivers, adaptive clothing for aging loved ones will make your and your care partner’s lives easier. You may think that suggesting an adult bib might embarrass your loved one. Instead, think about a bib as a tool to help keep favorite blouses or shirts stain-free. Buttoning” your own shirt is now possible again for those […]
Stroke warning signs, can you quickly and easily name them? The National Stroke Association suggests using the term FAST to help you recognize common stroke warning signs. F for face A for arms S for speech difficulty T for time It is critically important to call 911 so that you can get to a hospital and […]
Same day medical procedures that require support from a care partner or a friend can be a challenge to organize and schedule. Have you or your loved ones been postponing a same day medical procedure (cataracts, endoscopy, colonoscopy, etc.) because you need someone to accompany you, wait for you throughout the procedure (required by physician) and […]
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 […]
Teepa Snow is a widely known dementia expert. She is an occupational therapist whose experience, training and passion for her Positive Approach to Care™ (PAC) benefits people living with dementia and their care partners/caregivers. Are you worried that a family member is no longer safe to drive? Preparing for a conversation with your loved one […]