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...
Alzheimer’s
Tips for Coaxing Someone with Dementia to Shower or Bathe
Dear Carol: How do people get a parent with dementia to take a shower or bath? I’ve argued with my mom. I’ve coaxed her....
Is Using Validation for Dementia Calming or Condescending?
People with Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia often come to live in an altered reality that doesn’t mesh with ours. As an...
Caregiver Worried That Mom with Late-Stage Alzheimer’s Sleeps All Day
Dear Carol: I care for my mom in my home. She’s 85, has been living with Alzheimer’s for many years, and is now considered...
The Best Ways to Support a Caregiving Spouse
When people get married, they quickly learn that they’ve made a commitment to more than one person. Essentially, you marry your spouse’s whole family....
People with Dementia Might Be More Cooperative If We Show Vs. Tell
Dear Carol: Two years ago, my wife was diagnosed with mixed dementia. I’ve always been a logical, literal, some might say plodding person. My...
Recognizing Caregiver Burnout
Caregiver burnout isn’t something that happens all at once. We all have good days and bad days, which is normal. Eventually, though, we may...
Humor Shared Among Caregivers Is Therapeutic
I once visited a caregiver friend and her mother, who had moderate Alzheimer’s disease. At one point during the visit, the mother abruptly stood...
Revisit Dying Parent’s End-Of-Life Goals Before Pressuring Them to “Fight”
Dear Carol: My mom has late-stage cancer as well as dementia and is being cared for in my home with hospice support. She’s 93,...
Why Does My Elderly Loved One Sleep All Day?
As people age, they tend to sleep more lightly than when they were younger. Waking up during the night due to achy joints or...
