
When a family member or friend falls ill, enters an advanced age, or gets injured, they may need support and care to maintain quality of life and independence. Someone who steps in to help with these tasks is officially considered their, “caregiver.” At the beginning of your journey as a caregiver, you may understandably start to feel overwhelmed. There are a lot of things to do, learn, and consider, and things are likely to change over time. If “overwhelmed” accurately describes how you’re feeling, let us help to put your mind at ease. Here are the first things you should do at the beginning of your caregiving journey.
When to seek help for Memory Loss
Memory loss and Dementia
Learn more about the stages of dementia
What is wandering ? and how to prevent it
What is a Silver Alert?
A Silver Alert is activated when an elderly, developmentally, or cognitively impaired person has gone missing and is determined to be at risk. Silver Alerts provide immediate information to the public to aid in the swift recovery of at-risk persons meeting the criteria.
Relatives of people with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease often have the nagging fear that their loved one might wander away and get lost. It’s estimated that more than 9 of 10 people with dementia who leave the house alone are likely to be unable to find their way home without assistance, giving caregivers and other relatives endless moments of anxiety until their loved one is found.
Causes of incontinence with dementia
Several potential issues can lead to incontinence in people with dementia.
Cognitive decline can cause an inability to recognize when a person needs to use the bathroom. In some cases, individuals may not remember or know where the bathroom is.
When someone with dementia starts to lose control of when they urinate or defecate, caregivers can take steps to determine possible causes. In some cases, knowing the cause may help the caregiver better address the incontinence.
A Brief Video of the importance of having a legal document that everyone should, especially someone with Dementia
Do You Know that having A power of attorney avoids the necessity of guardianship or conservatorship
Someone who does not have a comprehensive power of attorney at the time they become incapacitated would have no alternative but to have someone else petition the court to appoint a guardian or conservator. The court will choose who is appointed to manage the financial and/or health affairs of the incapacitated person, and the court will continue to monitor the situation as long as the incapacitated person is alive. While not only a costly process, another detriment is the fact that the incapacitated person has no input in who will be appointed to serve.
The Law May vary from State to State see legal advice From A licensed Attorney
Note:
It is very important to have the legal documents prepared by a Licensed Attorney for the state or territory where the person you are caring for lives, as soon as possible while they are still able to express their final wishes make sure they are properly prepared.
You should give two people that trust, a copy of the documents in case the documents are misplaced someone would have a copy of them.
Five Wishes is a United States advance directive created by the non-profit organization Aging with Dignity. It has been described as the "living will with a heart and soul
Most adults see a reduction in physical and/or mental abilities over time as the aging process occurs. Our muscles and bones weaken, reaction times lessen, and our bodies simply do not cooperate in the same way that they once did. It is a normal part of the life cycle, and for most older adults there comes a time when additional assistance with daily living and activities is needed. But when is that time, and how do you know if your aging loved one needs help? And with so many options available, where should you start looking for care?
This guide will provide a path for you to follow in the evaluation of home care needs, and how to get started on the search, and will explain the differences between your options. Most importantly, it will guide you in talking with your loved one about getting the care that is needed
Memory is how your brain processes and stores information so you can access it later. Most memory formation happens in your hippocampus, but the process also involves many other connected brain regions. The three main types of memory are short-term, long-term and sensory memory.
Assisted Living or Home Care Choosing the Right Care Path
A person has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease (at any stage), it is important to know that their behavior can be unpredictable.
Learning more about communicating with a person who has dementia
Questions that I answered on quota.com
There is a strong link exists between poor oral health, particularly gum disease and tooth loss, and an increased risk of developing dementia and cognitive decline.
What are some home safety measures that can be taken for clients who have dementia?
Things to keep dementia patients busy
Thought and how they can effect memory
Thought plays a crucial role in shaping our memories. When we engage in thought, we are actively processing information, which can enhance the encoding of memories. This process is influenced by factors such as attention, emotional involvement, and the clarity of the thought. When we focus our thoughts, we improve the quality of encoding, making it easier to remember the information later. Conversely, weak or negative thoughts can hinder memory formation.
Ways To Relieve Stress
Understanding the challenges and responsibilities of dementia caregiving is crucial for both caregivers and their loved ones. We'll cover practical tips, emotional support, and self-care strategies to help you navigate this journey with compassion and resilience.
This course is only to help you understand more about Alzheimer's Dementia, Please seek more information and training from your doctor and other physicians in regards to caring for your loved one.
You will learn more about
The stages of Alzheimer’s Disease • Communication • How to cope with Agitation and Aggression • Bathing, Bedtime, and Mealtime Tips • “Sundowning” and Wandering• How to organize family matters and planning ahead.
Please be sure to view all videos and resources provided in this course.
Do you know the types of Dementia?
The Types Of Dementia
Alzheimer's Disease and other types of Dementia
More than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia. Alzheimer’s accounts for 60 to 80 percent of all dementia cases. includes 11 percent of those age 65 and older and one-third of those 85 and older. e disease also impacts more than 15 million family members, friends, and caregivers. Other types of dementia
»Vascular dementia is a decline in thinking skills caused by conditions that block or reduce blood ow to the brain, depriving brain cells of vital oxygen and nutrients. these changes sometimes occur suddenly following strokes that block major brain blood vessels. It is widely considered the second most common cause of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease.
» Multi-infarct dementia (MID) is a type of vascular dementia. It occurs when a series of small strokes causes a loss of brain function. A stroke, or brain infarct, occurs when the blood ow to any part of the brain is interrupted or blocked. the location of the stroke damage determines the type of symptoms that occur.
»Mixed dementia is a condition in which abnormalities characteristic of more than one type of dementia occur simultaneously. Symptoms may vary, depending on the types of brain changes involved and the brain 6 regions affected, and may be similar to or even indistinguishable from those of Alzheimer’s or another dementia.
»Parkinson’s disease dementia is an impairment in thinking and reasoning that many people with Parkinson’s disease eventually develop. As brain changes gradually spread, they often begin to affect 3 mental functions, including memory and the ability to pay attention, make sound judgments and plan the steps needed to complete a task. »
»Dementia with Lewy bodies is a type of progressive dementia that leads to a decline in thinking, reasoning, and independent function due to abnormal microscopic deposits that damage brain cells.
»Huntington’s disease dementia is a progressive brain disorder caused by a defective gene. It causes changes in the central area of the brain, which affect movement, mood, and thinking skills.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is the most common human form of a group of rare, fatal brain disorders known as prion diseases. Misfolded prion protein destroys brain cells, resulting in damage that leads to a rapid decline in thinking and reasoning as well as involuntary muscle movements, confusion, difficulty walking, and mood changes.
»Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a group of disorders caused by progressive cell degeneration in the brain’s frontal lobes (the areas behind the forehead) or its temporal lobes (the regions behind the ears).
» Normal-pressure hydrocephalus is a brain disorder in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain’s ventricles, causing thinking and reasoning problems, difficulty walking, and loss of bladder control.
»Down syndrome dementia develops in people born with extra genetic material from chromosome 21, one of the 23 human chromosomes. As individuals with Down syndrome age, they have a greatly increased risk of developing a type of dementia that’s either the same as or very similar to Alzheimer’s disease