Month: February 2020
What to say when we know something is wrong.
A couple of days ago I met a woman I have known for a while. She is in her late eighties and lives on her own. We will call her Sharon – not her real name. For the past few months it has been obvious that Sharon is having memory issues: She has lost things […]
Read More → What to say when we know something is wrong.Religion – How it can help people with dementia.
Religion can be a great source of comfort for people with dementia particularly if they have been actively practicing their faith for a long time. People who have Alzheimer’s Disease, the most common cause of dementia, lose their short term memory first. Older, long term, memories last much longer so someone who can’t remember what […]
Read More → Religion – How it can help people with dementia.How to cope when they don’t recognize you.
The first time my mother did not know who I was it almost killed me. It was like a kick in the stomach. It was a physical pain and it hurt. I knew the day would come when it would happen but nothing prepared me for the emotional hit when it arrived. I wanted to […]
Read More → How to cope when they don’t recognize you.What to do when they want to go home.
One issue that caregivers often have to deal with is when their loved one with dementia insists that they want to go home. This can happen when they are living in a nursing home, memory care unit or some other residential care setting. It can also happen when they are living in their child’s home […]
Read More → What to do when they want to go home.