Navigating the Path: A Guide for New Dementia Caregivers Becoming a caregiver for a loved one with dementia is a profound and, at times, overwhelming journey. It's a role that comes with many responsibilities and challenges, and requires careful planning. If you've recently become a dementia caregiver, here's what you can expect and some recommendations to help you along the way. Read more
Understanding Glaucoma: A Guide for Caregivers of Older Adults Ensuring the well-being of older adults involves comprehensive care, and one aspect often overlooked is eye health. Glaucoma, a progressive eye disorder leading to optic nerve damage and potential blindness, is a significant concern, especially among older adults. As a caregiver, it's crucial to integrate glaucoma testing into the care plan, given its prevalence and potential severity. Read more
Decoding Dementia’s Genetic Connections Dementia affects millions of individuals globally. While age, not genetics, is the primary risk factor, there's growing evidence that genetics can indeed play a role in determining an individual's susceptibility to certain types of dementia. 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
Senior Companion Our Senior Companion Program connects older adults with a trained peer volunteer who can offer companionship and minimize isolation. Read more
The Power of Memory Cafés for Dementia Care Most communities have plenty of gathering spaces available for people to meet up, chat, share a meal and take a break in a relaxing, supportive environment. But for people with dementia and their caregivers, finding a truly safe space out in the community can be a lot more challenging. Due to stigma and lack of knowledge, many people in the general public aren’t sure how to interact with someone with dementia, and even business owners may be at a loss to handle a situation where someone with dementia is distressed, or struggles to make a purchase. Aware of these challenges, caregivers may hesitate to bring a loved one into the community, unintentionally putting them at risk of social isolation. Read more
Things to Look for When Visiting an Older Loved One to Assess Wellbeing As your loved one ages, you’re likely to find yourself worrying more about their wellbeing. Maybe you’re concerned about issues of them living safely in their current home, or taking care of themselves without in-home support. Or maybe you’re anxious about the possibility of memory loss, and early signs of dementia developing without anyone around to notice. These concerns are especially common for long-distance caregivers—who make up roughly 15 percent of all family caregivers. Read more
Medications and Driving: Safety Tips for Older Adults and their Families With laws around THC use changing around the country, the subject of “drugged driving” has been appearing more and more in the national discourse. Most people are aware of the risks involved in driving under the influence of marijuana, but aren’t aware that prescription drugs can also fall under the umbrella of drugged driving—and that many older adults are unintentionally driving impaired, and contributing to the high statistics of drugged driving accidents. Read more
Pain Management for Older Adults with Dementia Just like most other older adults, people with Alzheimer’s and related types of dementia suffer from headaches, stomachaches, toothaches, muscle cramps and other painful conditions that are an uncomfortable part of the aging process. However, an older person with memory loss who suffers from chronic pain may not be able to tell their caregiver how they feel or ask for help to relieve their discomfort. Instead, they may communicate their distress through other means, such as becoming agitated or crying, which their caregiver may not understand how to interpret or address. Read more
Bridging Conversations Between Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Dementia Guest speaker Kathy Service, Nurse Practitioner Consultant for the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS), explores difficulties in diagnosing and distinguishing dementia in the IDD population, how establishing a baseline for function and cognition can provide clarity, and what factors can contribute to the development of dementia for people with IDD. She provides practical, evidence-based considerations for ways that families and other care providers can better navigate and become more knowledgeable, effective advocates in healthcare settings to enhance the well-being of individuals with IDD living with dementia. Read more
