Dementia behavior

A very old woman sits on a brown leather couch. Her gray hair is pulled back, and she wears rimless glasses. Her dress is dark blue and she's wearing a cream-colored knit shawl. Her expression is pleasant.

People Living with Dementia May Fight Bathing: Compassion, Education Can Help

Many older adults may not bathe as often as younger people think they should, but what about people living with dementia? Here lies a much...

The image shows a closeup of an older man with a gray beard and a salt and pepper mustache. He's wearing a dark purple porkpie hat and a gray doat. His expression shows subtle humor mixed with defiance.

An Older Adult Skips Bathing? Maybe there’s a Reason

A common complaint about older people, especially those who have health challenges, is that they “smell” or have other signs that they don’t shower...

The image shows an older man, maybe Hispanic, wearing a straw hat and blue shirt with a white collar. His expression is contemplative and rather sad as he looks off into the distance.

Father’s Denial of Dementia Diagnosis Frustrates Daughter

Dear Carol: My dad’s been experiencing memory lapses and making sketchy decisions. I finally got him into a neurologist who diagnosed him with dementia,...

Understanding the Difference Between Lying and Confabulation in Dementia

Dear Carol: My mom burned pans when she cooked, got overdue notices on bills, and has become incontinent. Since she wasn’t safe living alone,...

Two Hispanic women, brightly dressed, sitting on a wall. They are laughing and enjoying each others company. One wears a red top, the other a yellow top with red print slacks. Outdoor background is of a hill with green below.

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...

Background is white sheer curtain. Foreground is an older gray haired man seated in a chair. He's wearing a navy blue short sleeved shirt, His arm is raised to his face where his hand covers his mouth. He seems to be leaning slightly on his hand as he quietly dozes.

Why Does My Older 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...

Closeup of a man's face. He has thinning brown hair mixed with gray and a graying beard and mustashe. He's looking at the camera with challenging eyes, seeming to question your reaction.

Dementia and Inappropriate Behavior: How to Respond

Dementia can cause people to say and do some pretty odd things. Family caregivers may be caught off guard at first, but as they...

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Elder Care Needs Can Change in an Instant

During the years I cared for multiple elders, I grew to dread the ringing of the telephone. It seemed most calls meant emergencies. One...

older, gray-haired man sitting at a table with younger man. The setting shows a room in a facility such as assisted living. Large windows appear in the background along with some foliage from a tree branch.

Do Parents Really Want to Live with Their Adult Children?

It’s difficult to pinpoint how many aging parents live with their adult children, but there is certainly a lot more interest in this type...

A very close shot of an older face. The person has blank looking blue eyes, the skin is white, sun damaged, and wrinkeled.

Repetitive Questions in Dementia Stems from Memory Loss and Confusion

Dear Carol: My mother, who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, repeats the same question multiple times an hour. I know that’s typical behavior with...