http://nurturingnuggets.typepad.com/the_nurturing_nuggets_blo/ Tips, news bites, product reviews, and people in the news for professional and family caregivers who want to keep up with the world of dementia care. This is a companion blog to www.dementiatoolbox.com, a product line which provides education to caregivers while supporting dementia and caregiving causes worldwide. en-US Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:32:03 -0500 http://www.typepad.com/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification http://nurturingnuggets.typepad.com/the_nurturing_nuggets_blo/2009/11/comfort-zone-technology-launched-by-alzheimers-association.html http://nurturingnuggets.typepad.com/the_nurturing_nuggets_blo/2009/11/comfort-zone-technology-launched-by-alzheimers-association.html As a member of two committees at my local Alzheimer's Association chapter, I was so pleased to hear about the collaboration between the Alzheimer's Association and Omnilink to launch a special product called Comfort Zone. This unique product is something that dementia caregivers everywhere have been waiting for. Dementia caregiving intervention Dementia technology Sue Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:32:03 -0500 http://nurturingnuggets.typepad.com/the_nurturing_nuggets_blo/2009/10/dementia-care-designing-a-better-bathroom.html http://nurturingnuggets.typepad.com/the_nurturing_nuggets_blo/2009/10/dementia-care-designing-a-better-bathroom.html If our goal is to keep a person with dementia as independent as possible, it would make sense to design or alter the bathroom area so it is as easy to use as possible. Here are a few things to... Dementia caregiving intervention Sue Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:50:00 -0500 http://nurturingnuggets.typepad.com/the_nurturing_nuggets_blo/2009/10/advanced-dementia-labeled-terminal-illness.html http://nurturingnuggets.typepad.com/the_nurturing_nuggets_blo/2009/10/advanced-dementia-labeled-terminal-illness.html A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine identifies advanced or end stage dementia as a terminal illness. Hard for dementia caregivers to believe, but up to this point advanced dementia was not thought of as a true terminal disease. Dementia disease research Sue Sun, 18 Oct 2009 13:47:48 -0500 http://nurturingnuggets.typepad.com/the_nurturing_nuggets_blo/2009/10/dementia-caregivers-meet-the-pioneer-network.html http://nurturingnuggets.typepad.com/the_nurturing_nuggets_blo/2009/10/dementia-caregivers-meet-the-pioneer-network.html There is a group working behind the scenes (and in front too) helping advocate for all those aging, including those with dementia. You may have never heard about them, but you need to know about them. The group is called The Pioneer Network. This wonderful advocacy group started in 1997 and took official form in 2000 with volunteer groups working together on the mission of "...advocate and facilitate a deep system of changes and transformation on our culture of aging". Dementia caregiving intervention Sue Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:00:00 -0500 http://nurturingnuggets.typepad.com/the_nurturing_nuggets_blo/2009/10/dementia-repetitive-questions-a-new-product-to-help.html http://nurturingnuggets.typepad.com/the_nurturing_nuggets_blo/2009/10/dementia-repetitive-questions-a-new-product-to-help.html We've discussed before the intense challenge of having a person with dementia asking certain questions over and over. I received an email about a new product that may help with the situation. After talking over the care of her 92 year old mother, Jeannette Twoney, faced the multiple question situation just like we all have. The difference here is that Jeannette appears to have tried a new approach. Jeannette, a mediator by trade (interesting caregiver training!), invented Kind Reminder, a small recorder that the person with dementia can wear around their neck. When a simple button is pressed, the person can hear the voice of a family member or friend reassuring them. Dementia caregiving intervention Sue Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:46:49 -0500 http://nurturingnuggets.typepad.com/the_nurturing_nuggets_blo/2009/09/dementia-what-does-homelike-really-mean.html http://nurturingnuggets.typepad.com/the_nurturing_nuggets_blo/2009/09/dementia-what-does-homelike-really-mean.html We all hear the buzz words "homey", "home-like", and "just like home" to describe the perfect dementia environment. Yet what does this exactly mean? A person with dementia could actually be living in their home (a good thing) yet not really be surrounded by a "home-like" environment. How is that possible? A home is not just the bricks and mortar; the physical environment. It is so much more: the physical plus the social and emotional parts of the place that make it home. Sue Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:51:00 -0500 http://nurturingnuggets.typepad.com/the_nurturing_nuggets_blo/2009/09/dementia-caregivers-need-meditation.html http://nurturingnuggets.typepad.com/the_nurturing_nuggets_blo/2009/09/dementia-caregivers-need-meditation.html A new research study reports that dementia caregivers can reduce stress by adding simple meditation to their daily routine. The Alzheimer's Research and Prevention Foundation in collaboration with UCLA's Psychiatric Department prepared a study that tested the theory that meditation can be used to successfully reduce "stress response and improve cognitive function in older dementia caregivers". The study was headed by researcher Dr. Helen Lavretsky of UCLA. Sue Sun, 27 Sep 2009 17:35:21 -0500 http://nurturingnuggets.typepad.com/the_nurturing_nuggets_blo/2009/09/dementia-video-scrapbooking.html http://nurturingnuggets.typepad.com/the_nurturing_nuggets_blo/2009/09/dementia-video-scrapbooking.html We've talked before about using meaningful pictures or sounds to bring quality to the life of someone with dementia. As our assess to simple technology continues to grow, we now have the ability to make special video scrapbooks that are a portable way to connect with sight/sound and great memories. Dementia caregiving intervention Sue Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:55:00 -0500 http://nurturingnuggets.typepad.com/the_nurturing_nuggets_blo/2009/09/dementia-new-website-with-articles-available.html http://nurturingnuggets.typepad.com/the_nurturing_nuggets_blo/2009/09/dementia-new-website-with-articles-available.html After receiving lots of mail and questions over the years, I took the plunge and created a second website: www.dementiatoolbox.com, that will focus primarily on dementia care. My reason for making this site was to be able to refer people who have general questions and need quick basic info on dementia. My other website, www.nurturingnuggets.com, focuses on so many areas that I wanted one site just for dementia care. And of course, doesn't the web address of the new site sound familiar? Dementia websites Sue Sun, 13 Sep 2009 15:40:06 -0500 http://nurturingnuggets.typepad.com/the_nurturing_nuggets_blo/2009/09/dementia-book-review-memory-triggers.html http://nurturingnuggets.typepad.com/the_nurturing_nuggets_blo/2009/09/dementia-book-review-memory-triggers.html Memory Triggers is a new series of picture/stimulation books by Nadine Rudner Brechner that were specifically designed for use with persons with dementia by their caregivers. Books Sue Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:20:16 -0500