Archives for General Information

Memory and Age: Is this Dementia?

We all tend to forget things from time to time. For example, we set our keys down on a table and 10 minutes later, we’re scrambling to find them. It happens to everyone, even to people in their twenties. Forgetfulness is actually more common in elderly people, however, there may be a time where someone isn’t just being forgetful. People have a hard time distinguishing the differences between forgetting things with age and dementia. What Is Dementia? Dementia is more than a severe case of memory loss. Dementia is a progressive neurological disease with a specific set of symptoms that
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Talking to Mom About Dementia and Driving

Elderly parents can start having trouble with certain things such as memory and coordination. It may initially seem just like a part of aging that’s concerning, but ultimately manageable. However, these symptoms can lead to a diagnosis of dementia and some very serious discussions, including what do to about their ability to drive. If your mother has dementia and still has a driver’s license this is what you need to know. The Appearance of Dementia This isn’t something that just pops out of nowhere and robs someone of their cognition. What can make it so hard is the gradual decline,
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Smoking & Dementia

Smoking and Dementia: What You Should Know Recent studies have shown that there may be an increased risk of dementia among individuals who smoke. Although not all who smoke get dementia, studies have shown that quitting can significantly reduce the risk of developing this disease. Dementia causes damage to the brain from certain conditions. At this time, there isn’t a cure for dementia. It is a progressive disease, and individuals with dementia will eventually need residential care. There are many forms of dementia with some that are much more common than others. The most commonly seen types of dementia include:
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Smartphones in Smart Hands: Help Your Parents Get The Most Out of Their Tech

Keeping Your Parents Plugged In With technology advancing with each passing year, it can be easy for those who weren’t introduced to phones at a young age to miss out. However, as smartphones, in particular, have become a staple in almost everyone’s daily life, older parents have been forced to use this new piece of technology or else suffer from an ability to communicative effectively with their loved ones. As any loving child would, you likely want to give your parents a bit of help to keep them hip. The best thing that you can do is to teach them
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Discussing Parent’s Elderly Care with Your Siblings

More than 65 million Americans are devoting 20 hours a week or more to caring for elderly family members. Being a caretaker while also trying to manage your own career, family and personal life can be challenging, especially if you’re dealing with an elderly loved one who has Alzheimer’s or dementia. It isn’t always the best option for your loved one, either. How will you provide proper care if you’re tired and irritable all the time? Is it possible to do your best at work when you’re stressed about being a caretaker?   Gathering the Team: Discussing Elderly Care with
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Caring For Loved One With Memory Loss

If you have a loved one who is experiencing memory loss, it can be difficult to know how to deal with these changes. Unfortunately, memory loss affects many areas of the patients life and their daily functionality. This makes it challenging for their loved ones to step into the role of caregiver. However, there are several ways to make the transition from family member to caregiver much easier.   1. Regular Health Screenings For Both The Patient And You It may seem obvious to state that you should have the loved one you are caring for regularly checked by a
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5 Tips When Decorating Assisted Living Space

  When the time comes to seek Senior Care for a loved one, you want the transition to be as smooth as possible. One way to accomplish a smooth transition and evoke a feeling of safety and security is to decorate the Assisted living space to feel like home as much as possible. Here are 5 tips for decorating that take both comfort and safety into consideration.   #1. Ask the Assisted living facility for a list of guidelines and rules for decorating. It is important to know what is provided by the facility and what is allowed to be
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How to Make the Present as Meaningful as the Past

Your memories define who you are. The places you have visited, people you’ve interacted with, the food you’ve eaten, positive experiences, and even the negative moments have all worked in unison to synthesize the person you are today.   When an individual realizes that they’re losing their memory, they feel as if they are losing a part of themselves. It is little wonder that for individuals who are reaching the third phase of life even common memory lapses can be terrifying. Losing their keys, forgetting someone’s name, and misplacing a wallet can make seniors wonder if they are developing the
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Dementia vs Alzheimer’s: The Lowdown

Dementia is thought of as a disease of old age. While it’s true that dementia becomes much more prevalent among older individuals, the truth is that it’s far more complex than most think. It’s also importantly not a synonym for Alzheimer’s, a condition that also impacts many individuals over the age of sixty-five. Understanding the difference between the two, means understanding a bit about both conditions and realizing that the difference between a diagnosis of dementia and Alzheimer’s can play a major role in the future of a loved one.
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