June 6, 2024 by
There is no other experience like trying to care for someone with dementia. It requires you to dig deep down into your reserves of flexibility, patience, and perhaps most importantly, creativity. You have to be ready to pivot at a moment’s notice from one strategy to another to promote a fulfilling and enriching life for the person you love, all while managing the more challenging aspects of the condition. (more…)
May 21, 2024 by
Talking to someone you love who is living with cancer can be awkward and uncomfortable for both parties to say the least. Should you jump right in and talk about the elephant in the room, or avoid the C word altogether? Is it ok to try to make the person laugh? What if they start crying? Conversations become loaded with unspoken emotions, and finding the right words isn’t easy. (more…)
May 3, 2024 by
One thing you can count on with Alzheimer’s is a legion of researchers constantly fighting to find the cure. When someone you love is diagnosed with the disease, however, the urgency to find help is all the greater. If this is you, be encouraged! Though Aduhelm, the controversial drug approved by the FDA in 2021, stirred debate and raised questions about its effectiveness and safety, scientists have been diligently working on alternative approaches that offer renewed hope. (more…)
February 13, 2024 by
If you’re caring for a loved one with dementia, you know firsthand how challenging the ever-changing progression of care needs can be. As the condition advances, there comes a point when 24-hour dementia care becomes not only beneficial but essential for ensuring the safety, well-being, and quality of life for the individual. (more…)
January 16, 2024 by
When we reach our senior years, we have spent decades investing in relationships with family and friends. These bonds are crucial to our quality of life, and when they are severed, it inevitably leads to feelings of deep loss. (more…)
December 6, 2023 by
Did you ever wake up in the middle of a dream and wonder, for just a moment, if what you were dreaming about was real? It can feel so disorienting until you open your eyes and take in your familiar surroundings. Such an experience can give you just a brief glimpse into the ongoing disorientation for someone with dementia. When confusion about time, place, and even identity settle in for someone you love, you have two choices in determining which dementia care approach is best: either stepping into their reality with them, or orienting them to yours. (more…)
June 20, 2023 by
Everyone knows the feeling of not being able to get out of bed in the morning. But for seniors with chronic fatigue, that feeling is intensified a hundred times over. As one chronic fatigue sufferer describes it, “I feel like I have a drained battery pretty much all of the time. It’s sort of like being a wrung-out dish rag.”
April 19, 2023 by
It takes creative thinking, a knack for rolling with the punches, and a generous amount of lighthearted fun to offer healthy and effective dementia care. It stands to reason then that a spontaneous activity like improvisation is a great way to connect and engage with someone struggling with cognitive challenges. Not only does it allow you to pivot and embrace unexpected plot twists, but it helps you to learn more about the person in your care. (more…)
January 25, 2023 by
There’s frequently nothing “routine” about a routine checkup. You may arrive to your appointment perfectly fine but leave with orders for blood work along with other medical tests the doctor recommends to keep you as healthy as possible. These tests might be nothing more than a minor inconvenience for most adults, however for older adults, they may be challenging, for several reasons: transportation problems, thinner skin, mobility issues, cognitive difficulties, fragile veins, health worries, and much more. (more…)
October 3, 2022 by
Fall is the start to cold and flu season, which is also the time our immune systems get a good workout. Fortunately, our natural immunity is remarkable with its capacity to identify and eradicate invading infections. Wouldn’t it be amazing if it could do the same with cancer? As it turns out, just such a cancer treatment option may be on the horizon. (more…)