Together We Walk: A Dementia Journey
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Gunning Park: Walk on Wednesday
December 4, 2024 9:30 am
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A Personal Journey Through Caregiving for a Loved One with Early Onset Dementia
Dementia Friendly Week in Cleveland Heights is a time to learn, connect, and come together in support of those affected by dementia. Hosted annually by Heights Libraries, this weeklong event features workshops, book talks and educational programs like Dementia Friends sessions. It’s about more than information: it’s about building a community that understands and supports individuals with dementia and their caregivers. For Nancy Levin, Director of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library, the mission of Dementia Friendly Week is deeply personal.
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A Caregiver’s Journey Through Hospice Care
There are many misconceptions about hospice care in the United States. When my mom’s cancer became a terminal diagnosis, I was grateful that I had a working knowledge of hospice services so my family and I could focus on her quality of life and pain management as she entered into her life’s final journey. Here are some useful pieces of information that may help us and our loved one make an informed decision about whether hospice may be an appropriate option for our loved one’s end-of-life care.
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Planning for the Future after a Dementia Diagnosis: Why Working Together Is Important
If we are caring for a loved one who has recently been diagnosed with dementia or a related disorder such as Alzheimer’s Disease, it can feel devastating. Often, families avoid having discussions with their loved one about what the diagnosis could mean for their future out of fear. As the disease progresses over time, we may find ourselves as a caregiver in the position of making important care or health-related decisions for a loved one in a time of crisis, even if we have never previously discussed with our loved one what kind of care they would prefer. As a result, we may feel guilty about having to make decisions on our loved one’s behalf, without prior knowledge of their care values and preferences.
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What We Can Do About Robocalls
The term robocall has been around since the 1990s, but in the last few years, they’ve become an ever-present part of our lives. According to the YouMail Robocall Index, in 2018, 47.8 billion robocalls were placed in the US, and just in the first half of 2019, 34 billion calls were made. You’re not imagining that it’s gotten worse – it has.
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Stigma and Working Caregivers: Why Are We Afraid to Talk About Caregiving at Work?
Caring for an older loved one or friend touches many of us. According to the Family Caregiver Alliance, one in six employed Americans report assisting with the care of an older loved one. Moreover, an estimated 10 million millennials are now a part of the caregiver population. So why are we still afraid to talk about caregiving while at work? The answer is stigma.
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Managing Finances for a Loved One with Dementia
Handling a loved one’s finances can be a difficult task, particularly when they have been diagnosed with dementia. In fact, the inability to handle finances is often one of the first signs that a loved one has the disease. They might pay bills more than once, forget to pay bills entirely, give money away unexpectedly or have trouble balancing their checkbook. Dementia can also leave a loved one open to financial risk and abuse, which can make it even more important for us to familiarize ourselves with how best to protect them from these threats.
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Activities for a Loved One with Dementia: Gardening
Gardening can be a wonderful activity for older adults with Alzheimer's or other memory disorders and their families. According to experts who diagnose and treat memory disorders, gardening activities often have a positive effect on the physical, mental and emotional health of older adults. An afternoon of fresh air and sunshine in the garden can help improve a loved one’s appetite and help them sleep better at night. Watching new plants begin to grow and bloom under their care can also give them a sense of pride, accomplishment and enjoyment at the flowers, fruits and vegetables they were able to grow with our help.
