The Caregiver Vent

This May marks 10 years since my mother’s death. It’s hard to believe that my mother has been gone that long. Because of the timing, Mother’s Day has become another day of mourning for me. The last Mother’s Day my mother was alive, she was less than two weeks from dying. I was very aware of my mother’s impending death but my mother, the eternal optimist, was less certain. What message to write…

There’s a new documentary about aging, Aging in America: Survive or Thrive, that is airing on PBS for the month of May, which is Older Americans Month. The documentary marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of the Pulitzer-prize winning book “Why Survive? Being Old in America” by Dr. Robert Butler. While the number of Americans over the age of 65 has more than doubled during the last five…

I hope you can join AlzAuthors for Poetry for the Dementia Journey, a moving and inspirational poetry reading on Tues. April 29 at 2 p.m. EDT. I’m honored to be one of the participating poets. I’ll be reading a poem inspired by my father’s experience with dementia. The event will be held virtually via Zoom. While I’ll always consider the essay format to be most suitable for my writing style,…

As government funding vanishes for community-based health programs, it’s becoming increasingly clear that caregivers will need to build their own support networks. If you are considering starting a support group in your community, there are plenty of helpful resources online to help guide you to success. Today’s Caregiver offers an excellent resource about starting a caregiver support group. The…

April is National Stress Awareness Month so it’s a good time to discuss healthy ways caregivers of those with dementia and Alzheimer’s can manage stress levels. The first thing I recommend is to set realistic expectations. The dementia care journey is unique and unpredictable. The more flexible and adaptable you are, the more resilient you will be when facing those tough days when everything…

AI technology has seemingly immersed itself in every part of our lives, so why not in our afterlives as well? The concept of “generative ghosts” is outlined in a research paper released in 2024 that includes a Google DeepMind scientist as a contributor. Since then, thanks to a grant from Google, the research continues while at the same time, enterprising AI companies are swooping in to offer…

While you are spring cleaning this year, it’s a great opportunity to consider the fate of family heirlooms. Too many people never have discussions about what they would to happen to their possessions when they die. This puts a huge burden on relatives who become responsible for determining the fate of a loved one’s personal items. Swedish death cleaning has become a trend, but being thoughtful…

As the weather begins to warm and flowers bloom, it’s a good time of year to consider increasing physical activity. A new study suggests that even a small amount of moderate to vigorous physical activity each week can lower dementia risk by a significant amount. The benefits were also seen for older frail adults. According to researchers from Johns Hopkins who conducted the study, as little as…

If you’ve ever attended an improv comedy show, you know that part of the fun is the unexpected ways the skits unfold. Each show is a bit different, based upon the contributions from the players on stage as well as the audience. Now think about having a conversation with a person with dementia. It may go in unexpected directions. You have to think on your feet about how to respond. Politeness may…

Image of Santa Fe via Pixabay. The unusual circumstances surrounding the deaths of actor Gene Hackman and his wife serve as a stark reminder of what can happen when a spouse who also is the primary caregiver of a spouse with Alzheimer’s dies before their loved one. Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, who at 65 was 30 years his junior, were found deceased in their secluded Santa Fe, New Mexico…

March is Women’s History Month, so it’s a good time to dive into research regarding women and dementia. We know that women are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s than men, but why? One commonly cited factor is a simple one: age. Women on average live longer than men, therefore, they have an increased risk of developing conditions like Alzheimer’s, in which advanced age is a top factor. According…

One common behavior in those with Alzheimer’s disease is to ask to “go home.” It seems like the simplest of requests, but caregivers are often stumped because their loved one may make this request when they are already home. That’s because the meaning of “home” can change as the disease progresses. My father asked to go home almost every time my mother visited him at the memory care center…

A diagnosis of dementia can be devastating, but the damage of an incorrect diagnosis has its own fallout. But how common is it to receive either a false diagnosis of dementia or a misdiagnosis for a specific type of dementia? As those who have dealt with dementia, there are several different types, each with its own set of treatment protocols and expected disease progression. A recent study…

February is American Hearth Month, so it’s a good time to learn more about the connection between heart disease and dementia, especially in women. According to the American Heart Association, “older female heart attack survivors were twice as likely to see declines in memory and cognitive ability.” Multiple factors may contribute to the gender disparity, including blood pressure fluctuations…

You don’t have to be a medical professional to know that getting a good night’s sleep is important for overall health and wellbeing. A new study, following up on findings from previous studies, finds evidence of a potential link between a particular phase of sleep and Alzheimer’s. The study, published in the Alzheimer’s Association Alzheimer’s & Dementia Journal found a potential link between…

Dementia Does What It Does I hope those dementia caregivers who wonder if they are doing enough or doubt their capabilities of caring for their loved one take the time to read the above post, “Dementia Does What It Does” on the When Dementia Knocks blog. Elaine captures quite eloquently the progressive march that dementia eventually takes, no matter what cures or solutions you throw at it.…

After learning about colors as a child, we may take their appearance for granted, unless you are an artist. But colors can take on different meanings for those with dementia, and understanding those changes can be helpful as a dementia caregiver. I remember seeing the visual impact of dementia in person when visiting my parents. We were in a building with an elevator, and my father took a very…