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...
Alzheimer’s
In-Office Dementia Test Just the First Step in Getting a Diagnosis
Dear Carol: My mom is showing signs of compromised decision-making ability as well as some short-term memory loss. I understand that there are quick,...
Grandfather with Dementia Refuses His Medications
Dear Carol: My mom’s having a terrible time with my grandpa who has Alzheimer’s disease. He’s supposed to take a pill to help his...
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...
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...
