Resource Library
Content with Target Audience Family Members or Friends .
Resources
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?
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4 Benefits of Reminiscence and Storytelling in Improving Caregiving
As we age, it can sometimes feel as if our lives are defined more by our health and the conditions we may be living with than by our past experiences, values and memories. For those coping with memory loss, it may be even harder to feel a connection to the past and the things that matter most. As caregivers, managing a loved one’s current wellbeing may seem a higher priority than reflecting on the past, but giving a loved one an outlet to reminisce may be more important than we think. Research shows that storytelling has numerous benefits not only for older adults, but also for their caregivers through improved, personalized care and better communication.
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Useful Items to Have in the Home When Caring for a Loved One with Dementia
“Dementia products” are intended to make life easier for a person with dementia and their loved ones. Some of these products can indeed be helpful. However, often they go unused or hold interest only briefly. Before you jump in and try or buy something, do a little advance thinking about what your loved one's needs are, and what useful items you may already have in your home.
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Busting 4 of the Common Myths About Dementia
Though around 6 million individuals in the United States have a diagnosis of dementia, there are still many things that are not fully understood about the causes of the disease and how it can be better treated or even prevented entirely. There are also things about dementia that are commonly misunderstood. Stereotypes and broad generalizations about the disease can easily spread and become “fact” in the minds of the general public, ignoring the fact that dementia represents many different diagnoses and experiences, and cannot always be summed up in simple terms.
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Helping an Older Loved One Maintain Good Oral Health
When caring for an older loved one with a chronic health condition or serious health concern, you most likely take them to regular appointments with doctors or specialists to assure that they are healthy and in the best possible condition. But with all these important appointments to manage, do you remember to bring your loved one in for a biannual appointment with their dentist? Though oral health may seem like a smaller concern compared to taking care of a loved one’s chronic health condition or other health issues, a healthy mouth can play an important role in their overall wellbeing, self-image and nutrition.
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