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14
Sep

Choosing an Alzheimer’s Care Community

In the last two entries, we discussed long-distance caregiving and in-home caregiving, respectively. First we covered the steps to take when caring for a loved one in the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s from long-distance. Secondly we included deciding if/when you should move the loved one into your home for more constant care. Odds are; there will come a time when

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14
Sep

Con Artists Taking Advantage of Elderly With Dementia

Older adults have long been the target of fraud and scams. There are several reasons for this but the most common is impaired judgment and loss of cognitive ability. The onset of Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia may make your loved one a target for scammers and con artists. The Prevalence of Modern Scams Let’s face it, we have

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14
Sep

Live Their Reality

As a longtime professional caregiver to people with dementia, I learned many years ago, from a dear friend at the Alzheimer’s Association, three very simple but powerful words; Live Their Reality. Research and experience has taught us that the mind of a person with Alzheimer’s tends to regress over time as the disease progresses.  Unlike the approach for certain psychiatric

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14
Sep

The Woman in the Mirror

You may have heard the familiar phrase, “ If you know one person with Alzheimer’s, you know one person with Alzheimer’s.”  As a longtime caregiver to people with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, I have had the opportunity to encounter so many different scenarios and learn from them.  Some have been very pleasant, while others have been something less

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14
Sep

Robin Williams & Lewy Body Dementia

The recent news of Robin William’s autopsy results has shown that he might have had Lewy Body dementia in addition to the diagnosis of Parkison’s disease.  Though not as prevalent as Alzheimer’s, dementia with Lewy Bodies is the third most common form of dementia.   As the news reports have highlighted, confusion and hallucinations are both symptoms of this form

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14
Sep

Letter to the Editor – Walk to End Alzheimer’s

I am writing to express concern for those living with Alzheimer’s disease as well as those people caring for them.  We need help stopping this epidemic that is threatening to bankrupt our country.  According to the 2014 release of Facts and Figures from the Alzheimer’s Association, there are currently 5 million Americans with Alzheimer’s. In Illinois alone the number of

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14
Sep

The Unexpected Costs of Caregiving

The rising cost of health care in this country has been a growing concern for decades. With Americans living longer, the need for long-term care is also becoming more predominate. Most people, however, look at long-term care as a last resort due to the expense and emotional reasoning. Therefore, when the time does come that a loved one needs care, family

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14
Sep

Giving to the Givers!

Last week I discussed appropriate, meaningful gifts for someone with dementia, so this week I want to focus on the caregivers.  In 2013, it was reported that roughly 15 and a half million people were providing personal care for someone with Alzheimer’s/dementia.  Anyone who knows a personal caregiver also knows how hard they work and how much time they devote

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14
Sep

Dementia Checklist at the Holidays – Know the Signs

For most Americans, Thanksgiving is the official kick-off of the holiday season and, as we have seen on the news, millions travel the country to be with their relatives.   For those with older family members, these trips provide an excellent opportunity to make a checklist of their physical and mental health. The holidays are a time of joyous celebration.

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14
Sep

Surprising Advice from a Caring Spouse

Recently, a presentation was given at a Chicagoland hospital by a highly regarded neuropsychiatrist and educator on the topic of dementia.  His objective was to explain a particular type, vascular dementia, and how it differs from Alzheimer’s or other dementia.  It was informational and engaging.  At the conclusion, a member of the audience raised his hand to make an extensive

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