Caring for someone with Alzheimer's, or any aging individual, is often overwhelming. You may not feel like you are doing it "right". Even more important, you may be forgetting to practice self care. Caregiving is a huge undertaking when most of us have busy lives of our own. Remembering to practice self care is key to successful caregiving. Self care for caregivers may seem counter intuitive. Aren't you supposed to [...]
Many people had dogs when they were growing up. They usually have fond memories of their furry friends. For dementia patients, touching and cuddling with a puppy can trigger those positive memories and lift spirits, mood, and overall well-being. North Shore Animal League America conducts a program called Shelter Pet Outreach Team (SPOT). They bring puppies to seniors in long term care facilities. This ABC News article shows the power that simply touching and petting puppies [...]
We often think of those who practice yoga as thin, flexible, people in strange poses. However, this is not the case for many people. Yoga can be beneficial for all kinds of people. A certain type, done in a chair, is helping Alzheimer's patients and caregivers connect through yoga. This article in the Baltimore Sun explains how Catherine Rees, a registered nurse, taught gentle yoga classes at a local senior center. After [...]
Recreating the past for people with dementia has been a powerful tool used for many years. Imagine a place that could take those with dementia back to the happier times in their lives. It could it be therapeutic for both the dementia patient and their loved ones. This is exactly the vision Scott Tarde and Lisa Tyburski are working to make a reality. Reminiscence Therapy (RT) is used to provide comfort to those dealing [...]
Preparing and eating food is a necessity. There are many cognitive and emotional benefits that can be gained from cooking. This article from Culinary Schools discusses guidelines for keeping Alzheimer's patients safe, while still enjoying the many benefits of being in the kitchen. Many Alzheimer's patients lose interest in activities they once enjoyed. Bringing back cooking can bring more freedom and independence despite their disease process. Cooking a meal that they used [...]
Sharing stories helps couples facing dementia. The patient diagnosed with dementia is not the only one affected. Their partner shares the burden as well. The New York Times reports one way people can cope is by sharing stories. An eight week storytelling workshop at Northwestern University is helping couples facing dementia. Each week, the couples are assigned a specific prompt to write about their lives together. They are then able to share the [...]
Recognizing the early signs of dementia is not always so straight forward. Most of us think of dementia as a loss in memory. However, the early signs of dementia can include changes in characteristics like behavior, mood and motivation. This article in Health.com reports on a group of experts who are trying to establish a new diagnosis called the Mild Behavioral Impairment (MBI). This new way of recognizing the early signs [...]
Good news for grandparents! Babysitting grandchildren just one day per week reduces the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. A new study published by The Journal of The North American Menopause Society followed 120 grandmothers in Australia and found that cognitive functioning is higher for grandmother's who babysit one day per week. But the data also suggested that grandmother's who babysit five or more days per week did not reap [...]
New brain X-rays can potentially diagnose and treat the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. Recently, researchers at Sweden's Lund University have identified certain changes in the brain using a synchrotron accelerator, a type of super-bright, high-quality X-ray machine, that show the very beginning stages of Alzheimer's disease. This could lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment, which is good news for the predicted 15 million Americans who may start to suffer [...]
Your doctor has mentioned the importance of exercise in dementia prevention, right? It is true that exercise can have delay the development and severity of the disease. In a study done at McMaster University with a group of 1646 adults 65 years and older, walking just three times per week was linked to huge benefits. Exercise helped postpone or prevent the development of cognitive problems. The Huffington Post reports that [...]
