Family Caregiver

A loved one develops dementia and begins to have difficulty with memories and crowds, but they still want to be a part of family life and celebrations. How can caregivers balance a loved one's desires with their diminishing capabilities?

Many caregivers look for ways to entertain and stimulate their loved ones with dementia. This blogger decided to take her mother on an outing to the beach.

Mom desperately wants to feel better; to have some purpose in life. As her caregiver I was keen to help, but it can take a number of ideas and trials for a person to adopt a new hobby or activity, especially someone who has dementia.

Caregivers are busy people by definition, whether they are working, married, and/or raising children. Sometimes we get in the mindset of trying to do it all, but we also get frustrated with ourselves and lose sight of simple solutions to being spread so thin.

We all want to feel useful and have some sense of purpose. These desires do not change as we age, but waning abilities leave few options for our elderly loved ones to feel fulfilled.

Caregivers can easily get caught up in life's many demands, but exposing a dementia patient to this whirlwind of activity can be confusing and upsetting.

Sometimes the smallest mishap can be extremely upsetting for a loved one with memory issues. An accident or misunderstanding can cause emotional turmoil for days.

After researching the “ethics” of blogging, I realized what had been bothering me. I hadn’t been honest with Mum and it was time to tell her the truth.

As a loved one's dementia progresses, it can be extremely difficult for them to communicate with their caregiver and other family members. There are a few simple tips to keep in mind that can help conversations go more smoothly.

I had always believed that aging parents should be cared for at home. When I finally made the difficult decision to hand over my caregiving duties to the professionals, it allowed me to truly enjoy spending precious time with my dad.

Actress and screenwriter Lauren Miller Rogen discusses how her experiences with Alzheimer's inspired her to help create a one of a kind initiative to support families and young people affected by this disease.

Once-familiar tasks can become difficult, frustrating, and even downright impossible for individuals with dementia. Sometimes gentle encouragement and careful observation are the best things a caregiver can offer to a loved one facing these challenges.

How do you protect a dementia patient’s identity when they struggle to remember their own family members, likes, dislikes, and milestones in life? Use these tips to help you better understand and support a loved one who is coping with memory loss.

We’ve compiled experienced caregivers’ best suggestions for keeping an aging loved one safe, cozy and clean despite the chilly weather. Do you have any tips for helping seniors thrive during the winter months?

The repetition of Mum’s stories could make me crazy, but on good days I find ways to cope. The trick is to keep the conversation fresh. I amuse myself and make Mum happy.

Sarah Jane writes about the special weekly visits that she shares with her mother who suffers from dementia. Her goal is to connect individuals affected by dementia and provide information and support for improving a loved one's quality of life.

A patient with cognitive impairment can often fool doctors and other care providers during examinations and assessments. Caregivers must take responsibility for making sure physicians are aware of their loved one's true health and capabilities.

Although elderly and disabled individuals are vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, family caregivers can also be targets of physical and emotional mistreatment. What can a caregiver do when they are being victimized by their care recipient?

Many seniors truly do feel they have everything they need. We’ve compiled experienced caregivers’ best suggestions for safe and practical holiday presents that seniors will actually use and enjoy.

Caregivers are often at a loss as to what they can do to help improve a dementia patient's quality of life. Fostering a sense of safety, being attentive to pain or discomfort, and helping them stay content are three of the best gifts a caregiver can give.