By Angela Lunde December 1, 2015 I’m writing this around Thanksgiving, the official day of giving thanks and cultivating feelings of gratitude. I love writing about gratitude because it means that I’m taking time to reflect on my own life, and the ways I feel blessed. Much of the time it can be hard to […]

Tips for caregivers who need to take a break Your comments over the past couple of weeks have been filled with useful and practical strategies for managing day to day caregiving. More importantly, many of your ideas and strategies arise from the ingenious creativity that only caregivers can offer. For example, Pat bought an executive […]

Living wills and other advance directives are written, legal instructions regarding your preferences for medical care if you are unable to make decisions for yourself. Advance directives guide choices for doctors and caregivers if you’re terminally ill, seriously injured, in a coma, in the late stages of dementia or near the end of life. By […]

We all have our favorite things — favorite color, vacation spot, article of clothing, movie, memory. In this giving season, I thought I’d share with you my list of favorites in the category of caregiving. I’m including books, guides, gifts, affirmations and even my favorite words to live by. Some of these have remained on […]

Holidays can be bittersweet for families affected by Alzheimer’s. Try these simple tips to make the holidays easier on everyone. By Mayo Clinic Staff The holiday season can cause mixed feelings for those who have a loved one living with Alzheimer’s. It’s common to experience a sense of loss for the way things used to […]

In this article Stage 1: Normal Outward Behavior Stage 2: Very Mild Changes Stage 3: Mild Decline Stage 4: Moderate Decline Stage 5: Moderately Severe Decline Stage 6: Severe Decline Stage 7: Very Severe Decline You can help support your loved one with Alzheimer’s by learning more about how the condition unfolds. The stages don’t […]

WHEN Helen Clark brought her father-in-law, then 83, to the doctor last year, she knew his mind was slowing, but a mental status exam confirmed it. He knew the year, where he lived and the name of the president. But when the doctor asked him to count backward from 100, subtracting seven from each number […]

Alzheimer’s care is a round-the-clock job. When you offer to help an Alzheimer’s caregiver, be specific — and gently persistent. Alzheimer’s caregivers need all the support they can get. If you know someone who’s caring for a loved one who has Alzheimer’s disease, here’s how to help. When someone you care about is going through […]

What Caregivers Should Know About Nursing Home Care What Is Long-Term Care? Long-term care refers to a comprehensive range of medical, personal, and social services coordinated to meet the physical, social, and emotional needs of people who are chronically ill or disabled. A nursing home facility may be the best choice for people who require […]

Holidays can be bittersweet for families affected by Alzheimer’s. Try these simple tips to make the holidays less disruptive and more pleasant for everyone. If you’re like many who are caring for a loved one with dementia, the holiday season may not feel so merry. Memories of better times may surface as reminders of what […]