Guilt is an emotion that so many caregivers experience. It is one of the major challenges associated with caregiving. As caregivers many of us do all we can for the person we are caring for but sometimes it feels like that is not enough. There are a complexity of...
Our elderly loved ones can be vulnerable candidates for financial fraud. Those with memory issues or more serious forms of dementia can be especially tempting targets for unethical healthcare professionals who are entrusted with their care. Here are some examples:...
In the last few days 2 people have come to me for advice about an aging parent with memory issues who is not telling their doctor what is really going on. I had a similar experience with my 90 year old father. The doctor would ask him questions about how he was...
Many times when you become a caregiver you have a set of expectations regarding the tasks you will need to do and how often your assistance will be needed. Unfortunately, unexpected medical issues can arise or your loved one’s care needs can change with time requiring...
When you are in the midst of being a caregiver you build your time and your life around managing the caregiver tasks that need to be done. As a caregiver for my dad I know my schedule revolved around visits to the doctor, the hospital, the assisted living facility,...
I have noticed an abundance of articles about the stress and burden that goes with the role of being a caregiver. I have to assume responsibility for writing and speaking about this topic. It occurred to me we don’t spend enough time highlighting the positive and...
The loss of the ability to communicate is one of the more painful side affects that people with dementia must experience. It can impact people in many different ways. The onset of communication loss can be gradual and it reveals itself in many ways. Examples include:...
One of the toughest scenarios caregivers have to face is when they are taking care of someone who has dementia and is unaware of it. This condition can occur with people who have Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, strokes, or brain disorders. This condition is...
Social interaction is often considered a component for living a longer, healthier life. In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, Lisa Marsh Ryerson, President of the AARP Foundation said research demonstrates “people have increased risk of death due to loneliness.”...
When we begin to see memory loss in ourselves or our loved ones it can be a frightening prospect. What exactly does it mean? What is the cause? How do we prepare ourselves to cope with it? There are many questions that arise. It is important to highlight certain...
I was recently doing an interview on caregiving and was asked about my preparations. I am a parent of an only child. I confess to feeling guilty about that. I don’t want her to take on the burden of being a caregiver for her parents on her own. So there are some...
The term “memory care” is being seen more often in the media. It is an important term to understand. Memory care refers to long term care for people who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease or another type of dementia or other serious memory problems. It also...
The National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP issued a joint report that said “a 49 year old woman caring for a 69 year old female relative” is the average caregiver. They are also women with children and a job. The majority of the estimated 40 million caregivers are...
Being a caregiver for someone who has a memory deficit can be extremely challenging. It becomes even more difficult when that person is unaware of their dementia or any other limitations associated with it. Dementia can directly impact a person’s ability to follow...
One of the most difficult aspects of being a caregiver is having to cope with aggressive or other challenging behaviors that the person you care for exhibits. Other examples of challenging actions includes hallucinations, verbal abuse, anger, running away, taking...
I think about my mother a lot. A flood of memories comes over me as Mother’s Day grows closer. My mom was a beautiful, strong willed, loving parent. Our house was the place all our friends hung out. My mom would hold court at the kitchen table and they would seek her...
We all recognize that caregiving is a complex task. It can bring a new closeness with the person you are caring for. It can inevitably bring a flood of emotions including compassion, nostalgia, gratitude, devotion, frustration, grief, sadness, love, guilt, and anger....
One of the hardest challenges I experienced in caring for my father was helping take care of him when he was hospitalized. His memory got worse and his confusion was heightened being in a new setting. He suddenly became aggressive and agitated and had to be...
If you have a loved one who is aging the issue is not if but when a time will come that additional help may be needed. In my experience as a medical social worker and a caregiver for my parents I know this is a conversation that is very difficult to initiate. Nobody...
Holidays are often considered a time for celebrating. We honor traditions and reminisce about past holidays and the people we shared them with. The very thing we love about holidays can be the source of pain and renewed grief if someone we love is no longer with us...