In my last posting, I wrote about hope. Some of you were rattled by the notion that I would write about hope if the immediate forecast does not offer the promise of a cure for Alzheimer's. I understand that due to the subjective nature and interpretation of hope, procuring hope in the context of a [...]

By Angela Lunde July 10, 2014 Last time, we spoke about wandering, a label we often attach to a person living with Alzheimer's. It's natural to attach a label to something we don't completely understand or like. Think of other labels we use and apply in the context of dementia.  We label a person as [...]

Alzheimer's blog Learning to walk through the darkness of dementia By Angela Lunde April 3, 2015 It was incredibly heart warming to be with family at the annual Meeting of the Minds Dementia Conference in St. Paul a few weeks ago. I don't mean family as defined by a blood relation; I'm talking about family [...]

Alzheimer's disease presents many challenges, and communication is a big one. Try these tips to ease frustration and improve communication. By Mayo Clinic Staff Communicating with someone who has Alzheimer's disease can be challenging. Because Alzheimer's disease slowly erodes verbal communication skills, your loved one's words and expressions might make little or no sense to [...]

By n. r. kleinfield A withered person with a scrambled mind, memories sealed away: That is the familiar face of Alzheimer’s. But there is also the waiting period, which Geri Taylor has been navigating with prudence, grace and hope. A Life-Changing Diagnosis IT BEGAN WITH what she saw in the bathroom mirror. On a dull [...]

Three caregivers who were profiled by the Wall Street Journal a year ago discuss how their loved one’s lives have changed. The past year has been one of grieving and loss for Tony Iero, whose longtime partner, Paul Myers, passed away in May of Alzheimer’s-related pneumonia, his body failing him years after his mind. His […]

Alzheimer’s often makes routine daily activities a challenge. Consider these simple tips to make everyday activities easier. By Mayo Clinic Staff People who have Alzheimer’s disease often need help handling routine daily activities, such as bathing, dressing, eating and using the bathroom. If your loved one needs this type of care, balance his or her […]

Can taking vitamin D supplements or spending more time in the sun help prevent Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia? Answers from David S. Knopman, M.D. Maybe. But it’s too soon to say for certain. New research suggests people with very low levels of vitamin D in their blood, known as vitamin D deficiency, are […]

Alzheimer’s blog Meaningful activity can relieve sundowning for those with dementia By Angela Lunde August 2, 2014 All behavior has meaning. When we accept this our relationship with the person living with dementia dramatically changes. We look for meaningful explanations for what they do, rather than judging, labeling or dismissing it just because they have […]

Hard Cases Dr. Abigail Zuger on the everyday ethical issues doctors face. Our new patient, 88 years old, had been demented for years. She was admitted to the hospital with a deep, malodorous and infected pressure sore stretching from the top of her right shoulder down to the middle of her spine. It took us […]