Free Online Directory Helps Caregivers in Underserved Populations Access Dementia Support Programs Best Programs for Caregiving, a newly-introduced online directory of evidence-based dementia caregiver support programs is making big strides in helping to expand both awareness and availability of top-rated programming in underserved rural and remote areas across the country. Difficult-to-access geographies are a real concern to the medical and social service organizations, and many recent initiatives have been devoted to addressing these underserved areas of the aging population. This is particularly true in the case of people living with dementia and their family and friend caregivers for a number of reasons. Read more
Resources Explore the Benjamin Rose Resource Library with articles, publications and videos on aging and caregiving issues most important to you and your loved ones. Read more
WeCare…Because You Do℠ WeCare is a telephone- and email-based care coaching program designed to assist and support older adults living with chronic conditions and their caregivers. Read more
Understanding and Managing Dementia-Related Behavior Changes A loved one with dementia will experience many changes as the disease progresses. Though dementia is most commonly associated with memory loss, the changes dementia causes to the brain impact more than just memory—personality and behavior can be affected as well. We may feel that a loved one with dementia isn’t “acting like themselves” or that their actions might be “uncharacteristic.” Sometimes this can manifest in small ways, like being less alert than usual, or being more talkative around strangers. Other times, they may say or do something much more difficult to handle, like having an outburst of anger in public or making a sexually inappropriate comment. Read more
Becoming a Caregiver: My Role Has Changed, Now Who Am I? We all have roles in life that we are used to and comfortable with. Some roles that come to mind easily are mother, father, sister, brother, wife, husband, partner, friend, aunt, uncle and grandparent. These are very common roles that are socially accepted, defined and supported. We know how to be a parent, sibling, friend etc., because people teach us by serving as an example. What happens when these roles start to change, however? These scenarios happen every day, and the shift that it can create in a relationship paradigm can have a ripple effect of feelings, emotions and struggles. Read more
It’s OK to Feel: The Emotional Side of Caregiving The reality is that caregivers experience a wide range of emotions, from ambivalence and resentment to anxiety, grief, loneliness, fear and even joy—often within the same day. We are conditioned to believe, as one family caregiver so eloquently stated, that we “must always smile and never complain…" And yet these emotions are normal, they are healthy, and we need to find ways to name them, to feel them and to express them. Read more
The Impact of Caregiving on Family Members and Friends Family members and friends provide an average of 80% of the help needed by older adults who are unable to independently complete all their daily activities due to an illness or disability. While assistance from professionals or paid helpers may also be beneficial, most of the time, family members and friends are the main source of support, with one or more assisting and serving in the role of caregiver. Read more
