The Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease: Ways To Measure May Change, but the Disease Remains the Same
When I wrote this article, seven stages were considered the standard way to evaluate people living with Alzheimer’s. Now, it’s more common to have...
Stroke
Aphasia: Speech Problems Caused by Brain Injury
My uncle was an avid reader and loved playing word games. After a series of strokes, he had extreme difficulty communicating. The worst part...
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...
Losing the Ability to Swallow: How to Help Someone With Dysphagia
Coping with an ill loved one’s difficulty swallowing can be frustrating and frightening for everyone involved. Caring for someone we love means nurturing and...
Oral Care Strategies for Older Adults
As the years go by, most of us find that our teeth require an increasing amount of care. A cracked tooth here, a root...
Caregiving’s Impossible Choices Can Lead to Endless Second-Guessing
Dear Carol: Mom is 84 and was in good health until she had a stroke while visiting us. Even though we knew that she is...
‘Kick-Ass Kinda Girl:’ Caregiving During Middle Age Inspired Author to Help Caregivers in Need
When people think about caregiving spouses, they often think of older adults. We only have to look at a young mother diagnosed with multiple sclerosis...
Arts Improve Quality of life for Stroke Survivors and People with Alzheimer’s
“Patients who appreciated music, painting, and theatre recovered better from their stroke than patients who did not”Patients interested in art had better general health,...
