Do you feel like the only worker ant in your caregiving colony? Caregiving is both rewarding and overwhelming. Do you find yourself trying to make progress when the winds of life start blowing against you? Sometimes, we go through periods in life where we feel like a bunch of ants coming and going… but we [...]
Gotta love the human spirit that refuses to be beaten! After a misdiagnosis of epilepsy, Australian-based Mick Carmody writes, “I was diagnosed with a common form of dementia in people who are under the age of 65 called – fronto-temporal lobe dementia or FTD.” Mick Carmody surrounded by his family. L-R: son-in-law, daughter, wife, son, [...]
As a caregiver, it’s very easy to forget about taking care of yourself when you are laser-focused on taking care of another person. Frequently, caregivers have too much on their plates. If you’re one of these people, you know that even though you’ve prepared fully, surprises can leave you looking for help or new solutions. [...]
Carole Mulliken provides this month’s review of the book, The Inheritance for The Caregiver’s Voice REVIEW. If you are a caregiver for a person with Alzheimer’s, you know that caregiving can be a 24/7 in-your-face challenge. Sometimes, it lasts for decades. The Inheritance is a sweeping saga of the ill-fated Galen and Gail DeMoe family. [...]
What do you mean? Recently, I viewed a video excerpt of a former caregiver claiming that despite being comfortable with both online and offline research, she couldn’t find any information for caregivers. Really? Nothing? The Caregiver’s Voice REVIEW receives books with similar remarks in the introduction: I wrote this book because there is no information [...]
Despite Dementia, Michael O’Brien Smiles Twenty-one years ago, when I became a full-time family caregiver for my father with dementia, few people talked openly about living with dementia. Most didn’t want to talk about it at all and their families usually spoke about it, quietly. We often used the term, Alzheimer’s, to describe nearly all [...]
The Spiritual Life of a Caregiver Guest article by Dr. Carol Peters-Tanksley One year ago, my caregiving journey ended as I washed my husband’s closed eyes and kissed his lifeless hands. Al would never have wanted to call me his caregiver, but as his illness progressed that’s what I increasingly became. I felt the full [...]
One of The Caregiver’s Voice readers writes: A healthcare professional who is obsessively clean may just save your or your loved one’s life! Being meticulously clean can make a big difference between life and death. I read an article about caregiving services for seniors and wanted to know if there are acceptable standards of care. [...]
Guest article by Sarah Schwarcz Memory loss, whether it’s from Alzheimer’s or dementia, is difficult for both those living with it and for those they love. Denial of the condition can make it even worse, but often denial is more than simple head-in-the-sand behavior. Anosognosia is a condition that makes it difficult, if not impossible, [...]
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Guest Article by Kimberly O’Loughlin Today’s health care environment can be confusing and complex for seniors and their families. As seniors age and their health conditions progress, often their adult children who step in as caregivers. Today, more than 43.5 million Americans provide help to an adult family member. More than 30 percent are also [...]
There are over five million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease today and it is the only disease in the top 10 causes of death that cannot be prevented, slowed, or cured. Alzheimer’s is unique, as it’s considered a family disease, impacting not only those with the disease, but also their caregivers – totaling more than [...]
Guest article by Chris Seman Chris Seman CEO Caring Transitions Studies report that clutter causes anxiety. Books such as Marie Kondo’s The Magic of Tidying Up , have become best sellers because possessions represent not just joy, but guilt, bad memories and responsibilities. Clutter presents challenges for people with Alzheimer’s or other causes of dementia. [...]
According to the Alzheimer’s Dementia International, almost 47 million people around the world have dementia caused by Alzheimer’s, Lewy body, vascular, frontotemporal lobe, Parkinson’s, including rarer causes. In the U.S. alone, over 15 million people care for the 5.4 million diagnosed with dementia. Worldwide, this figure rises to above 100 million. Because there is no [...]
Guest article by Megan W. Minogue As our parents enter their elder years, they depend on us more and more for care and support. Here are five great ways for you to be a caregiver to your parents wherever they live — with you, on their own, or in a care facility. While it might [...]
Guest Post by Chris Seman It can be overwhelming to help memory impaired adults and those with dementia, to downsize their home belongings in preparation for a move into a senior care community. Organizations that specialize in support and services for older adults, their families and caregivers during downsizing, rightsizing, and relocation can bring peace [...]
You may not know this but, in 1988, President Ronald Reagan declared August 21st National Senior Citizens Day. This important occasion is, unfortunately, rarely recognized but we can do more to increase its visibility. We would not be here without our elders and they deserve to be celebrated, respected and remembered. A small amount of [...]
Virginia Simpson, PhD, FT, author The Space Between Guest Post Virginia A. Simpson, PhD, FT When beloved celebrities like David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Abe Vigoda, and Maurice White die, we remember the sights and sounds of their performances, the joy and laughter they triggered. Grieving for these beloved strangers can be intense—and may even serve [...]
Guest article by Chris Seman and Nan Hayes For people like Laura Osorio, the dramatic increase in Alzheimer’s and dementia cases is presenting new challenges and new opportunities. As owner of the Caring Transitions franchise in Boca Raton, Laura helps Floridians “rightsize” before they move into a new residence. For older Americans and the more [...]
Memory loss. Forgetting names, appointments, and recent information. Difficulty performing familiar tasks , such as preparing a meal, using an appliance, or engaging in a hobby. Problems with language. Trying to find the right word, for example, to express a common item such as a hairbrush or key. Disorientation to time and place. Examples include [...]
