Are People with Advanced Dementia Aware of Their Surroundings?
Even among medical experts, you will find differing opinions on how much someone with advanced dementia of any type understands. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in...
Alzheimer’s
Why Would Someone with Dementia Resist Changing Clothes?
Dear Carol: My 83-year-old mother was once obsessive about her hygiene and stylish wardrobe, but now she resists changing clothes. She has early dementia...
Confabulation in Dementia Can Feel Like Hurtful Lies
When a person develops any form of dementia, it is difficult for family and friends to witness their diminishing capacity and the unbearable frustration...
To Celebrate or Not: Father’s Day when Dad Doesn’t Recognize You
Dear Carol: Father’s Day is a tough time for me. My dad has Alzheimer’s and every year the struggle to connect with him gets...
Give Your Dad the Best Father’s Day Gift Ever: Your Attention
Our aging loved ones often repeat the same stories over and over again. As our patience wanes we blame the repetition on memory issues,...
Dementia Bathing: A Challenge for Caregivers but Guidelines Help
Getting an aging or ill loved one to bathe can be a notorious battle that many family caregivers experience. When dementia is a part...
A Common Caregiver Confession: “I Secretly Wish My Ill Loved One Would Die”
…Most caregivers would have been devastated by the death of their loved ones before they took on this role. But when a care recipient...
Can a Caregiver Be an Effective Advocate Without Appearing Adversarial?
Dear Carol: I’m confused about how much oversight I should provide for my dad who has moved into memory care. He’s in mid-stage dementia. I...
How to Communicate with Someone Who Can No Longer Speak
Years ago, I stumbled upon a video that remains vivid in my mind. In it, an elderly couple who had spent a lifetime devoted...
Alzheimer’s: Theft, Paranoia or Forgetfulness?
The truth, as they see it, is still the truth in their eyes. Delusions, hallucinations, agitation, aggression and depression are all part of the...
