Being a Primary Carer of a Relative with Alzheimer’s Disease: The Long Goodbye
“It is a bittersweet irony that those who care for the sufferers in reality suffer more than the sufferers do themselves.” This is how Stephen Morgan, a primary caregiver for a relative suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease, describes how life can indeed be “up and down.” Stephen Morgan, a primary caregiver for a relative suffering […]
Being Imperfectly Perfect
What a journey caregiving is! So, as I began my journey, I thought I would breeze through this stuff. What an eyeopener it was for me to realize I was not perfect. When the emotion is attached, it is a whole different ball game. Mom would say to me “don’t treat me like one of […]
What is ‘Sundowning’ and how can we address it?
By Ethan Porjes You might find yourself caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease and notice patterns in their behavior depending on the time of day. A popular change in behavior comes with the fall of evening as the sunlight begins to fade and the Alzheimer’s patient might get increasingly disoriented until daylight. This […]
Quick Tips to Buying a Stairlift
Stair lifts provide more than just a means of getting from the downstairs floor of a house to the upstairs – they also represent mobility and independence to an aging generation. As time goes by, it is only natural that we find certain everyday activities, such as climbing the stairs, becoming increasingly difficult. For […]
UTIs and Confusion in Senior Citizens: What You Should Know
by Ethan P When an elderly loved one begins to show signs of confusion, we might suspect it being the onset of Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia. These concerns are shared by many and while these memory disorders are common in the public conversation, it is important to consider that there are other […]
10 Ways to Love Your Brain
Courtesy of the Alzheimer’s Association San Fernando Valley Office Growing evidence indicates that people can reduce their risk of cognitive decline by adopting key lifestyle habits. When possible, combine these habits to achieve maximum benefit for the brain and body: Break a sweat: Engage in regular cardiovascular exercise that elevates your heart rate and […]
Love Comes in Many Shapes, Colors…and Fabrics
I wrote a short first-person article called The Blessing of a Wheelchair. Here is an excerpt from the original writing: “Wheelchair (n)…a chair mounted on wheels for those who cannot walk; origin late 1600s. One can go through a whole lifetime without even a thought of its effects, or life can revolve around […]
Self Care Tidbits
(Adapted from Good Mental Health: Self Care) Self-care is not one thing, it is many things. Here is a simple list that can help you create moments of “escape” from the heaviness of caregiving. Find something positive. Little things like saying thank you to someone for a small gesture such as holding the door, expressing […]
The Blessing of a Wheelchair
Wheelchair (n)…a chair mounted on wheels for those who cannot walk; origin late 1600s. One can go through a whole lifetime without even a thought of its effects, or life can revolve around the existence of a wheelchair. For some of us, it makes a sudden appearance and alters for a while how we “roll” […]