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
Creative Therapies for Loved Ones with Dementia While dementia does not yet have a cure, there are ways to treat and soothe a person with dementia’s symptoms and make their potential anxiety, stress, moods and challenging behavior easier to manage. If you’re a caregiver for a loved one with dementia, the creative arts are a great option to consider when it comes to supportive therapies. The arts can help engage your loved one’s attention in something stimulating often soothing, while giving them a way to express their emotions and thoughts in a way they may struggle to do verbally. The arts can also be beneficial for loved ones with both intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and dementia, who may be experiencing increasing challenges in expressing themselves and confidently building and practicing skills using other means. Read more
How Caregivers Can Help Older Adults Retain Independence Lack or loss of control can be a very frustrating feeling, and it’s one most people have to contend with as they age. A natural reaction to loss of control is resistance. However, for those of us who are caregivers, that resistance can make providing the support a loved one needs challenging. It can feel like having to do daily battle against a loved one’s stubbornness, and as frustration mounts, it can become easy to forget just how much personal freedoms mean to a loved one and how hard it would be for anyone—including us—to give them up. Read more
How to Handle Advance Directives When a Loved One Has Dementia Advance directives—legal documents that allow one to express their end-of-life wishes regarding finances and medical care—are important for all of us to consider as we age as a way of retaining decision-making authority no matter what happens to us. However, end-of-life can be a very difficult thing to confront. Even though advance directives are designed to help us protect our wishes and the futures of our loved ones, it's easy to delay making them until a health crisis happens. But what if that health crisis is dementia? Read more
What to Know About Recent Government Policies to Support People with Dementia and their Caregivers The Untied States government has always been a key player in the fight against dementia, but recently it has made an even greater national commitment to address this serious threat to national health. We outline just three recent dementia-related public policies that older adults with dementia and their caregivers should know. Read more
Managing a Loved One with Dementia’s Sensory Challenges Dementia can change a loved one’s ability to experience these five senses, and that can have a huge impact on how they view the world. Their favorite food might not taste the same way. They may be startled by the sound of laughter they used to love. They may draw away from a once familiar touch. As a caregiver, it’s important to recognize these changes, and to help make your loved one’s world a more comfortable, less overwhelming place to be for each of their five senses. Read more
Preparing for Your Future After an Early Onset Dementia Diagnosis A diagnosis of dementia can be devastating no matter your age. However, older adults, especially those over the age of 65, tend to be more aware of the possibility of dementia, and know that their risk statistically increases each year. But for younger adults, being diagnosed with dementia between the ages of 30 and 60 is not only upsetting—it can be outright shocking. Read more
5 Ways Caregivers Can Improve Relationship Strain with the Person They Care For When we begin providing care for a loved one, our relationship with that person can take on a new meaning as our role in their life changes. Whether we are their spouse, child, sibling or friend, taking on the role of managing their care or helping them cope with a disease or condition comes with unique responsibilities and relational dynamics. In some cases, caring for a loved one may make our relationship with them stronger, but in others, the stresses of caregiving may lead to increased strain which in turn can negatively impact our relationship with a loved one. Read more
Using Team Meetings to Develop a Dementia Care Strategy for a Loved One An individual with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease often requires a village of caregivers to help take care of their needs during different stages of the disease. Whether they be family caregivers or providers, caregivers must always be vigilant to make sure their loved one is well cared for and protected. Read more
Taking ACTION to Manage Dementia Care Caring for a loved one with dementia can oftentimes go hand-in-hand with challenging situations that may lead us to feel stress and uncertainty about how to manage our loved one’s care. It can become overwhelming, especially for one person, but there are steps we can take to minimize the burden and make progress. Action planning gives us guidance and support to meet our caregiving needs and manage our loved one’s care by breaking down larger goals into small, manageable steps towards solutions to potential challenges. Read more
