Prepare for the Holidays with New Traditions
WIth the holidays fast approaching, please find our tips for the holidays from our post last year: Caregiver’s Corner: Prepare for the Holidays with New Traditions
DetailsMindfulness, Meditation and Dementia
Mindfulness and meditation are two effective techniques for reducing stress associated with caring for a loved-one with dementia. Although each of these are shown to be effective stress-reducing activities, UCLA researchers found even greater health benefits to caregivers when these two skills are combined. Various studies indicate that practicing mindful meditation improves both emotional and…
DetailsHow Much Does Stress Weigh?
Well…how much does a feather weigh? If you were to hold a feather in your hand, it might seem insubstantial. It shouldn’t be difficult to hold it in your hand, palm up, and arm extended for several minutes. But, what if you continued to cradle it in your hand, unsupported, for an hour or a…
DetailsDifferent Dementias – Do You Need to Know?
Can you have dementia and not have Alzheimer’s? The answer is “Yes.” Although Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form, there are other types of dementia, too. Lewy Body Dementia, Vascular Cognitive Impairment (VCI), Frontotemporal Dementia and Parkinson’s Disease Dementia are all types of irreversible dementias. Dementia is used to describe a group of…
DetailsDIRM: An Effective Technique for Coping with Daily Challenges of Dementia
Using the principles of DIRM can greatly minimize or even prevent many of the upsets and frustrations that caregiver’s encounter each and every day. Very simply, DIRM is an acronym for “Does It Really Matter?” And, if one takes the time to ask this essential question, before reacting or responding, they find the answer is…
DetailsLiving with Dementia: Is it Still Safe to Travel?
Vacations are supposed to be fun. However, if you are traveling with someone with dementia, it can be a very stressful time and sometimes even dangerous. Many family caregivers talk about wanting to travel “while we still can.” Then, they plan when and where to go. But families should first ask this most important question.…
DetailsCompassionate Communication – Learning a Language of Dignity
When someone has dementia, their language skills are impaired, making communication challenging for everyone concerned. In order to help them maintain their dignity and minimize stress, it is essential that caregivers learn to speak differently than they always did in the past. It is truly like learning a new language. Good communication skills and guidelines…
DetailsMisunderstood Wintertime Worry: Dehydration
During the winter months, people often don’t consider that dehydration is a true health threat. With colder weather, we often have a very dry, raw environment with low humidity outdoors and heat running nonstop indoors, which is also drying. With flu season in full force, unsettled stomachs and the inability to keep anything down can…
DetailsDementia & Emergency Hospitalization
The cold weather brings snow and ice, which can lead to falls, which in turn can bring a trip to the emergency room. The flu season is upon us. And wintertime dehydration is one of the leading causes of hospitalizations in persons over 65 years of age. Good preplanning for emergencies makes an unexpected hospitalization…
DetailsMeaningful Activities in the Home
“Go Ahead, Make My Day” is a famous quote by Clint Eastwood. Clearly, what “makes” Clint’s day is going to be quite different than what might make my day. Or your day. Or the day of a person living with dementia. But, the point is that it’s usually going to be up to someone else…
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