The Dementia Caregiver's Toolbox

Dementia Care: Putting a Shadowbox Together

2011-04-18T15:21:51-05:00

Assembling a shadowbox to use for your family member with dementia can be easy to do as you have most items you need right around your home. A shadowbox is a container in which items of interest to a particular person or group are displayed safely. How to put one together is a question often asked by home caregivers as well as paid caregivers who work in a facility.

Alzheimer's Research News

2011-04-04T16:21:57-05:00

There is constant research going on both ways to prevent Alzheimer's disease or dementia and methods to test for it. Updates on research on blood tests and genes were sent to me that I thought I'd pass along.

Dementia: Stop Fighting, Start Accepting

2011-03-27T19:27:48-05:00

The article was called, "Giving Alzheimer's Patients Their Way, Even Chocolate". Discussing some basic stress reducing techniques used by a skilled nursing facility in Arizona, the article focuses on how we as caregivers, whether at home or working in a facility, have the ability to let go of how we think things should be. Instead of automatically deciding what should happen in a particular encounter with a person with dementia, we need to tune into the moods of the person and go with it. As the author mentions, if someone wants an experience that gives them joy, we should give it. They use the example of a client wanting to bathe at 2 am and they encouraged it. Sounds so simple but then why is that so hard to do?

Alzheimer's Action Plan Signed Into Law

2011-02-25T17:14:08-05:00

Last month, President Obama signed into law the very first National Action Plan for Alzheimer's disease. This National Plan is poised to help coordinate an effort to "accelerate the development of treatmnets that would prevent, halt or reverse the course of Alzheimer's disease" while also to "improve the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and coordination of the care and treatment of citizens with the disease".

Dementia Book Review: The Long Hello

2011-02-18T08:28:38-05:00

I'm grateful to the many readers of this blog because they often tip me off to new products or books that you may find helpful. Here is a brief review of a new book called, The Long Hello: The Other...

Dementia Caregiving: Is Depression Hitting You?

2011-02-03T13:00:49-05:00

We've mentioned the topic of depression before but with the winter upon us, we need to check in on this serious concern. The Family Caregiver Alliance has reported that up to 40% of all caregivers suffer from depression. That is a staggering statistic! In addition, Maria Shriver (who just lost her dad, Sargent Shriver, to Alzheimer's disease) has a new report called, "A Woman's Nation Takes On Alzheimer's " which mentions research demonstrating that dementia caregivers have increased risk of having high stress hormones, less active immune function and have a greater chance of developing heart disease. Not only that, the report cites that almost half of all dementia caregivers have marital or family relationships that are strained.

Easing Dementia Symptoms With Massage

2011-01-11T13:00:47-05:00

Touch is so vital to all of us but often missing in our daily interactions, especially in those with dementia. Professional massage therapy may not be an option but as dementia caregivers, you can learn a simple hand massage that can help soothe your loved one with dementia.

Alzheimer's Association & Pfizer Launch "It's Time to Face Alzheimer's"

2010-12-26T13:03:00-05:00

Here is a great dementia caregiver initiative to be aware of from a collaboration between the Alzheimer's Association and Pfizer--another opportunity to have your voice heard. Below is info taken directly from the press materials I was sent: "To raise awareness and reduce the stigma associated with this disease, the Alzheimer’s Association® and Pfizer have teamed up to launch the national initiative It’s Time to Face Alzheimer’s. The initiative asks Americans to voice their support about the need to address this devastating disease, and to share photos and stories of their loved ones who are, or have been, affected via the interactive website,www.TimetoFaceAlz.org. The photos will make up a Faces of Alzheimer’s mosaic.

Dementia Stories Get Recorded with StoryCorps Memory Loss Initiative

2010-12-23T04:45:00-05:00

A non-profit organization called, StoryCorps Memory Loss Initiative has recorded over 2,000 individual conversations and stories of those living with Alzheimer’s disease since they formed in 2006. Their 40-minute, audio-recorded interviews are a simple way for caregivers to receive a recording they'll treasure forever.

Caregiver's Contest For You!

2010-12-19T17:24:47-05:00

I wanted you to know about a Caregiver's Share Why You Care Contest, sponsored by Eldercarelink.com. I write another blog on that site geared to seniors and general caregiver issues. Here is the info you need to know: