When caring for a loved one who has Alzheimer’s or dementia, behavior can be one of the most difficult parts of the daily journey. It’s important to understand that the disease changes your loved one’s brain, and because of these changes, communication problems can arise. Being aware of some of the more common behavioral problems that come with dementia can help you give your loved one the best possible care. Continue reading
Elderspeak occurs when someone in a senior’s life, whether well-meaning or not, uses language that talks down to an older adult by focusing on their age and ailments instead of what they can do and who they are. While elderspeak is often used unintentionally by healthcare professionals, it can have huge negative effects on seniors, particularly those who suffer from Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia. Here are five ways caregivers can try to stay more aware of what they say and do so they can avoid elderspeak. Continue reading
When it comes to how Mom is taken care of and by whom, there are often disagreements. If you are Mom’s primary caregiver, you may sometimes feel hurt or angry when other members of the family disagree with you about how you are handling a certain situation. Feeling criticized can lead us to question our skills and our self-worth. Try to deal with situations where you feel criticized before the criticism sends you into caregiver burnout. Continue reading
Carol Bradley Bursack, with AgingCare.com, shares this
A frequent problem expressed among adult children is that their parents aren’t truthful with their doctors. While the parent may complain at home of pain, exhibit memory problems and accuse family of theft when he or she can’t locate a commonly used item, the moment the parent faces their doctor a change occurs. Like an actor on stage, the person sitting in front of the doctor becomes animated and charming. My mom was a supreme example. She fell in her apartment—often more than once a week. She had memory problems. She was taken advantage of by telemarketers. She had digestive issues. However, when I took her to her doctor, what I called her “hostess personality” took over. While she may have complained of pain in the car during our drive, the minute she had a chance to tell her doctor how terrible she felt she was perkiness personified. Continue reading
