Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia can be overwhelming, but the more information and support you have, the better you can navigate the demanding road ahead. The more support you have, the better you will be able to help your loved one. As you come to grips with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, you’ll be worried…
Finding the right care for a loved one isn’t always easy. But, understanding the differences between your options will help make your search a little easier. Agency In-Home Care In-home care agencies provide you with choices, like a registry would, but the process is guided. When you meet with an agency Care Manager during the…
Growing older and retiring doesn’t mean life is easier, sometimes, it can be much more difficult. Dealing with aging parents can be emotional and often difficult for adult children, but how do we know when it’s no longer a good idea for your parents to be home alone? The first step in getting more help…
There has been a name coined for those who’ve been caught between aging baby boomer parents and their own families – the sandwich generation. The sandwich generation is also referred to as the “silent army” because there are 40 million Americans that provide informal care to aging loved ones without much media recognition. As a…
Initially, seniors may be resistant to in-home care. Your parent may not recognize how much you help out, believing extra help is unnecessary. There may be fear of lost independence or freedom. Our caregivers create more opportunities to enjoy life, but accepting help isn’t always easy. Many of us have been taught to be independent…
Providing care for your loved one can be difficult. Adding siblings to the mix can further complicate matters. And, the holidays are a cherry on top. While your siblings can be enormously helpful and your best support, they can also be a source of stress. Whatever emotions are stirred up, you’ll need patience and outside help…
Most family’s wait until two common scenarios to occur before seeking professional caregiving: 1) a family caregiver is overwhelmed and they feel unable to do it all, or 2) there is a physical or mental crises. When family’s wait, everyone experiences increased stress, but waiting for a stressful situation isn’t a necessity. We can help…
Many years ago, the Women’s Health Network framed a trend that is in need of attention: In the summer of 2005, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor announced her retirement from the Supreme Court. Her reason? Justice O’Connor said that she needed to spend more time providing care for her husband, who suffers from Alzheimer’s Disease. For…
The African proverb, “It takes a village,” also applies to caring for elderly loved ones. With the help of others, everyday care becomes much more manageable, but sometimes difficult choices need to be made. Examples of everyday care choices include: when to stop driving how to manage money whether to purchase or use support services…
Doctors might refer to dementia as a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life, but, for many of us, dementia means something much more specific. Medical definitions don’t accurately convey what we experience when we are around our loved one. We deal with dementia and Alzheimer’s on…