Alzheimer’s

The indoor background is blurred. IN the foreground, we see an older dark skinned woman with short gray hair. She has a blue ribbon tied around her head. The blue blends with her brown top that has blue and red in the print. Under her short sleeved top, we see she is wearing a long-sleeved brown top. He expression ois one of pleasure as she holds her arms up to be guided in dance by a younger drak-skinned man. We only see a porteion of his face but he has a dark mustaches. His had that holds th arm of the woman wears a wedding ring.

Adult Day Services Can Fill a Gap for Seniors and Their Caregivers

Most older adults are keen on staying in their homes as they age, but family caregivers often struggle to meet their loved ones’ needs...

We see an older man in a chair with his head tiltled toward his hand. He seems to be sleeping. He has white hair and wears a dark blue short-sleeved shirt. There's a pillow propping him up on one side.

Sundowning: Managing Late-Day Agitation, Confusion, and Anxiety in Dementia

Dear Carol: My dad is in mid-stage Alzheimer’s and dealing with his late-day anxiety is driving me to the edge. For most of the...

The Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease

The only certainty when diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease is that a senior’s condition will progressively worsen. The National Alzheimer’s Association has developed a very...

Is It Normal to Grieve Before Someone Dies?

Nearly everyone involved in caring for an ill or aging loved one is experiencing some degree of grief. However, we don’t usually identify the...

This indoor image shows two cupped hands containg small pills. One is a white capsule, one is a small round orange tablet.

Losing the Ability to Swallow: How to Help Someone With Dysphagia

Coping with an ill loved one’s difficulty swallowing can be frustrating and frightening for everyone involved. Caring for someone we love means nurturing and...

This image is the cover of "Bringing Art to Life" by Daniel Potts. Close up on the left, we see a bright yellow sphere, with orage on top. Further down is more yellow with splotches of color on the left. The sphere could be a hat or a paint pallet. The cover art is slightly abstractt.

Dementia Can Open the Door to Artistic Expression

The treatment of people with dementia has changed dramatically since I first became personally involved with the disease. It’s now widely recognized that while...

The image background is a blurred shelf with decorative objects. In the foreground we see an older coule. the sit closely with the mans' arm around the womans shoulders and the woman's hand placed against the man's chest. The man has brown hair and is wearing a light blue, long-sleeved shirt. He smiles as he looks down slightly at the woman's face. She has graying blonde hair and is wearing a gray long-sleeved sweater. Both have light skin and are smiling softly.

Caregiver Distressed That Wife Living at Home Still Wants to ‘Go Home’

Dear Carol: My wife of over 40 years has Alzheimer’s disease and I care for her at home. While I’ve worked to become educated...

This closeup image shows just the head of a woman with dark skin tightly curled hair. She is looking downward with her fingers covering her eyes where you can see one lip closed. She has nails polished in dark blue and a silver pinky ring. The mood is one of sadness or despair.

The Aftermath of Long-Term Caregiving: Is Stress the New Normal?

Often long-term caregivers wonder if their lives will ever return to normal. The short answer is no; at least for most of us. There...

this is a very close image of an older woman with whispy white hair, medium framed plastic rimmed glasses and a serious expression. Her white top is barely visible.

Delirium After an Older Adult’s Hospitalization Is a Legitimate Concern

Dear Carol: My 95-year-old mom was recently hospitalized for pneumonia. While there, she developed delirium and didn’t even know the family. The hospital staff...