Care Options

The following tips are provided by the Alzheimer’s Association, the world’s leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. ©2013 Alzheimer’s Association, reused with permission. Research all care options before deciding which is a good fit. Ask providers if they have training in dementia care. Familiarize providers with the… Read More

The following tips are provided by the Alzheimer’s Association, the world’s leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research.  ©2013 Alzheimer’s Association, reused with permission. Bruises, pressure marks, broken bones, abrasions and burns may be an indication of physical abuse, neglect or mistreatment. Unexplained withdrawal from normal activities, a… Read More

Making a decision on whether or not to move your loved one into a care facility can be challenging. Everyone’s situation is different. It is important to keep safety and well-being top-of-mind for the individual living with dementia and the primary caregiver. You may try help in the home for… Read More

The Five Wishes document (PDF) helps you express how you want to be treated if you are seriously ill and unable to speak for yourself. It is unique among all other living will and health agent forms because it looks to all of a person’s needs: medical, personal, emotional and… Read More

When caring for someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease it is important to consider and research both short and long term care options.  As the condition progresses, adapting your care plan based on the severity of symptoms may be necessary. When feasible, some care for their loved ones at home… Read More

For elderly people with Alzheimer’s, adult daycare offers: A chance to get out of the house. A break from being with the caregiver. Interactions with other people. Stimulating activities. Other therapies as needed (such as physical therapy or speech therapy). Possibly a delay in cognitive decline in the early stages…. Read More

Wait a few weeks and simply try again. Sometimes as the persons with dementia gets worse, they are actually more open to doing things they previously didn’t want to do. Regroup with the staff. Make sure they know your loved one’s favorite things and preferences. If they come out with… Read More

If your loved one is demonstrating positive behavior at the living facility, take your loved one out and about and possibly home. If it doesn’t work, you’ll know not to try it again for awhile. If it does, you can enjoy that special time in their home. You might also… Read More

Go through the kitchen, from fridge to cupboards to oven. Because people spend so much time in this room, you can learn a lot. Look for: Stale or expired foods. We all buy more than we need. Look for signs that food is not only old but that this is… Read More

Rifle through the mail. Your loved one’s mail can offer an often-overlooked clue to how he or she is managing money, a common early warning sign of cognitive trouble. Look for: Snowdrifts of mail in various places. Finding lots of mail scattered around raises concern about how bills, insurance, and… Read More