Minimizing Grief for a Surviving Spouse with Dementia
Deciding whether to tell someone who is cognitively impaired that their spouse has died is a serious and often recurring struggle. Dementia and death...
Dementia
Should You Join Someone With Dementia in Their Reality?
It was not unlike any other day, but on this particular afternoon Dad was adamant. He was waiting for his medical degree from the...
The Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease When Using the Seven Phase Model
Note: This is an older article and as always things change. It’s now more common just to use three stages. Still, there is merit...
Honor Your Older Adult’s Need for Independence
Although we may not think about it in these terms very often, a person’s dignity and identity are often tied to their independence. As...
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...
5 Tips for Keeping Your Brain Healthy While Caregiving
Many of us cope with the stress of caring for someone who has dementia. We agonize over the increasing losses that our loved one...
The Persistent Stigma Attached to Dementia Encourages Denial
Dear Carol: People write to you to complain about someone who, despite evidence, denies that they have dementia. I think I know why. At...
Dementia Caregiver’s Experience Brought Premium Incontinence Protection To the US
Note: Egosan is one of my fine sponsors, so I’m proud to occasionally tell you about them. Here’s their story: As is the case...
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...
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,...
