Answers to Your Questions about Dementia Care

Yesterday on Your Caregiving Journey, we began our new monthly series on dementia care. Claire Day, Vice President of Constituent Services for the Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley Chapter, joined us to explain what Alzheimer’s is, its warning signs and to answer two questions from a listener. You can listen to our show via the player at the bottom of the post. (Note: Claire will join us on the...

“Just” a Haircut?

Getting a haircut is not a huge deal for most people. I personally love to get my hair done because it’s an excuse to sit back and relax and have my scalp rubbed while amusing the stylist with the result of my feeble attempts to cut my bangs (“Trish, please come in for a quick bang trim between cuts! You don’t have to live with crooked bangs!”). If Robert doesn’t keep his curly locks cut, he tends to...

Prom!

Hi, Robert! “Hi, Trish. How are you doing?” Great. How are you? “I’m doing very well. And you?” Our conversations always start the same but tonight I couldn’t go in circles with him—I wanted to get to the good stuff:  Prom! Robert, you had Prom today.  How was it? “It was really good.” Yay! He’s added a “very” and a “really” to his normal responses. He must have had a blast. Did...

Making Friends

I’m happy to report that Days 2, 3 and 4 of Program went just as well and Robert even had the van transport (to and from!). He told me after his first day that he had met an “Eric” who was very nice and polite. On Day 2 Robert again told me he met an “Eric” in the van who also was nice and polite. I don’t know if there are two Erics or if, as Denise suggested, there is one...

Robert’s Very Good Day

It has been seven weeks since Robert left his Old Home which filled his days with movies, music, reading circle and bingo (and filled his fridge with Milky Way candy bars with every bingo win!). Nothing was going to prevent me from getting Robert to Day Program today. Not a visit to the ER, not a bandage still wrapped around his head, not the van transport not being set up. I arrived early to Robert’s New Home to...

Day Program Update

Woo Hoo!  The Day Program “interview” consisted of Robert signing documents promising he won’t hit or bite (no problem there) or that he won’t be excessively tardy or absent (now, if I could only get my step-son to agree to that last rule these last few months of high school!).  It appears that Robert has been accepted and his Day Program start date may be as early as Monday.  (Nothing is confirmed yet...

Brain Games

This morning on Your Caregiving Journey, Joni Gatz-Bauman, a member of the Brain Coach team at Marbles the Brain Store, shared games and activities you can enjoy with your caree. (You can listen to our discussion via the player at the bottom of the post.) Joni shared the following book and products recommendations: —”Keep Your Brain Alive” by Lawrence C. Katz, Ph.D. & Manning Rubin features...

Activity Ideas to Beat Back the Winter Blues

On Thursday, Becky Lowry and Nancy Hanley, My Health Care Manager, joined us on Your Caregiving Journey to share activity ideas to beat back the cabin fever. You can listen to our show via the player at the bottom of this post. Some suggestions we discussed during the show include: 1. Move–exercise can help you both feel better. Consider the Sit and Be Fit exercise videos; visit here for more information....

Dancing Away from the Drama

Today, on Your Caregiving Journey, we had our monthly book club discussion. Our January pick was “How to Communicate with Alzheimer’s: A Practical Guide & Workbook for Families” by Susan Kohler MS, CCC-SLP. Susan joined our discussion. (You can listen to our show via the player at the bottom of the post.) During out discussion, Susan and I talked about the importance of objective communication with a...

Stay Home: Resources to Get a Break Right Where You Are

Some days, it feels great to get out of the house. It’s wonderful to hop in the car,  drive away, and leave it all behind. And, then there are some days when staying at home to take a break is just what the doctor ordered. You don’t have to shower, change out of pajamas, or even brush your teeth. You can enjoy a break at home, even with your care recipient at home. Products made specifically to occupy...

Ask Denise: What Can I Do for Mom with Advanced Dementia?

Hi Denise, First, I want to thank you for offering your help and for all the help you’ve been giving.  Bless You! Here’s my situation:  My mom has dementia of the frontal lobe.  Her first diagnose was verbal aphasia.  It’s years later, my Mom is in a care facility on the dementia floor.  She hasn’t spoken in years.  At this point, it’s hard to tell if she understands anything. ...

Walking Back in Time

As your care recipient’s memory moves back in time, you can join him or her in the journey. Use the Internet to research important times in your care recipient’s life; learn what was happening on a world-wide scale, on a national scale and on a local scale, in your care recipient’s home town. When your care recipient begins to speak about certain events or episodes, you’ll have the historical...

Chronicle the Historical Perspective of Your Care Recipient

In your role, you provide care to a family member. But, you also hold a key to our nation’s history; chances are, your care recipient has participated in many amazing historical moments: economic devastation, technological revolutions and World Wars. And, the Veterans History Project wants you to unlock the war-time experiences of your care recipient. To preserve the history our nation’s veterans...

When Housebound, Make In-House Activities Work for You

It looks like a blizzard outside. Or, a flood. And, inside, well, you and your care recipient have been alternating between staring at the walls and staring at each other. Deep sighs are your only companions. Caregiving will make your world smaller; enter bad weather into the equation and your world seems as small as your living room. You’ve both bored, cranky and crabby. What to do? We’ve put some...