Empathy, Compassion and Joy in Alzheimer's Care
I am sitting here thinking about the role of empathy in dementia care.By Bob DeMarcoAlzheimer's Reading RoomThe caregiver begins to acquire empathy by asking how, why, what.How is the person who is deeply forgetful feeling?Why is the person who is deeply forgetful acting this way?What do they need?Topic - Alzheimer's communication tipsThe only way the caregiver can come to understanding and then empathy is by looking at the world out of the eyes of the person who is living with Alzheimer's or the other types of dementia.Topic -Do you correct someone with dementia?All to often, we spend our time telling others how we f...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - April 10, 2018 Category: Neurology Tags: alzheimer's awareness alzheimer's care Alzheimer's Dementia dementia care dementia help for caregivers help with dementia care memory care nursing home Source Type: blogs
3 Ways to Redirect a Dementia Patient and Embrace Reality
Some caregivers find it difficult to redirect Alzheimer's patients - why not try these simple methods?Learning how to redirect an Alzheimer's patient is often difficult. The concept itself is difficult to grasp.Learning how toembrace the reality of a dementia patient is also difficult.Learning how toredirect a person living with dementia andhow to embrace reality are essential components of effective caregiving.Learning how to do this takespatience and a little practice.Topic -Redirecting dementia patientsBy Bob DeMarcoAlzheimer's Reading RoomWhen ever possible you should include these two nonverbal communication...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - April 9, 2018 Category: Neurology Tags: alzheimer's awareness alzheimer's care Alzheimer's Dementia care of dementia patients at home caregiving dementia care dementia help for caregivers family caregiving memory care Source Type: blogs
Urinary Tract Infection, You Can Learn From My Experience
When a UTI goes undetected in an Alzheimer's patient they can become mean, delusional, dull, disoriented or worse. Undetected UTIs are common in Alzheimer's and dementia patients.Yes, there is such a thing as asilent urinary tractinfection.Silent means no clear cut sign of physical pain, no burning sensation, and no discernible odor.The Connection Between UTI and Worsening DementiaBy Bob DeMarcoAlzheimer's Reading RoomSubscribe to the Alzheimer's Reading - This is a Free Service - Join NowThere arediscernible symptoms of a UTI indementia patients, but the symptoms arerarely connected to UTI by caregivers. This is especiall...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - April 7, 2018 Category: Neurology Tags: alzheimer's dementia symptoms alzheimer's urinary tract infection dementia care elder care health help with dementia care memory care memory care facility nursing home uti alzheimers Source Type: blogs
Death by Complications from Alzheimer's, What does this mean?
Some people might think or believe that Alzheimer's causes brain death. In other words, it causes the complete brain to stop functioning.The simple answer, Alzheimer's does not kill a person directly.Some people might think or believe that Alzheimer's causes brain death. In other words, it causes the complete brain to stop functioning.This is not true.Article-What ’s the Difference Between Alzheimer’s and DementiaHow do you die from Alzheimer's disease?By Bob DeMarcoAlzheimer's Reading RoomWith Alzheimer's the entire brain does not stop functioning all of a sudden(or it is very rare).Topic -Care of Dementia PatientsWha...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - April 6, 2018 Category: Neurology Tags: alzheimers care alzheimers caregiving alzheimers death care of dementia patients coping with dementia dementia help for caregivers how do you die from dementia Source Type: blogs
Death by Complications from Alzheimer's, What does this mean?
Some people might think or believe that Alzheimer's causes brain death. In other words, it causes the complete brain to stop functioning.The simple answer, Alzheimer's does not kill a person directly.Some people might think or believe that Alzheimer's causes brain death. In other words, it causes the complete brain to stop functioning.This is not true.Article-What ’s the Difference Between Alzheimer’s and DementiaBy Bob DeMarcoAlzheimer's Reading RoomWith Alzheimer's the entire brain does not stop functioning all of a sudden(or it is very rare).Topic -Care of Dementia PatientsWhat happens as Alzheimer's progresses into...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - April 6, 2018 Category: Neurology Tags: alzheimers care alzheimers caregiving alzheimers death care of dementia patients coping with dementia dementia help for caregivers help alzheimer's help with dementia Source Type: blogs
Alzheimer's Disease Variation with Frontotemporal Dementia
Dear Bob,My husband has Alzheimers andgulps his food down without stopping. and sometimes spills it on himself. When I try to correct him by saying eat slower,he gets agitated. It's embarrassing since we eat in public where we live.He's defensive whenever I try to correct him . His behavior with other women is very bold, hugging them and calling them darling. that's also embarrassing. I read your column but have never seen this in your informative advice. I would appreciate greatly your response. Thank you for all you do.God bless .What is the Difference Between Alzheimer ’s and DementiaIn is not...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - April 6, 2018 Category: Neurology Tags: alzheimer's care Alzheimer's disease answers to questions about alzheimer's brain dementia care Frontotemporal dementia health memory Source Type: blogs
7 Ways To Deal With Difficult Behavior Caused By Alzheimer's and Dementia
Lately I have been receiving a lot questions from readers asking how to deal with the difficult behavior that is often expressed by persons living with Alzheimer's and dementia.Often these behaviors can be stressful and sometimes combative.Here is an example of a question that popped up on one of myFacebook pages.What can you do when the Alzheimer's Patient gets combative and you want to avoid Nursing Homes.Learn More -Dealing with Difficult Behavior Caused by DementiaBy Bob DeMarcoAlzheimer's Reading RoomI decided to put together a list of articles from the Alzheimer's Reading Room that address this issue.Please take the ...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - April 5, 2018 Category: Neurology Tags: alzheimer's care Alzheimer's Dementia dementia care dementia falls dementia help for caregivers family caregiving help alzheimer's help with dementia care memory care searches related to alzheimer's Source Type: blogs
Mayo Clinic to Coordinate New Effort to Expand Medical Research, Expert Care for Lewy Body Dementia Patients
Lewy body dementia is the second most common type of dementia after Alzheimer ’s disease - but it is not well diagnosed by doctors and neurologists.The Lewy Body Dementia Association announced today the launch of the Lewy Body Dementia Association Research Centers of Excellence.This collaboration, coordinated by Mayo Clinic, features 24 academic medical research centers across the U.S.The new program is designed to improve the diagnosis of Lewy body dementia, raise awareness about clinical trials, and to support caregivers.What is the Difference Between Alzheimer ’s and DementiabyAlzheimer's Reading RoomSubscribe to th...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - April 5, 2018 Category: Neurology Tags: Alzheimers Dementia expert care LBD LBDA lewy body Lewy Body Dementia lewybody treatment mayo clinic research Source Type: blogs
FAU Named a ‘Research Center of Excellence’ for Lewy Body Dementia
The Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA) named Florida Atlantic University as a LBDA Research Center of Excellence (RCOE).ByAlzheimer's Reading RoomThe LBDA is the leading advocacy group dedicated to raising awareness and advancing research about Lewy Body Dementia (LBD)LBD affects 1.4 million Americans and their families, making it one of the most common forms of dementia.What is the Difference Between Alzheimer ’s and DementiaThe centers are selected for their clinical expertise in LBD, experience running clinical trials, capacity of facilities and geographic location (combined, the 33 principal investigators have run...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - April 4, 2018 Category: Neurology Tags: dementia dementia test fau james galvin LBD LBDA Lewy Body Dementia lewy body dementia test Source Type: blogs
FAU Named a ‘Research Center of Excellence’ for Lewy Body Dementia
The Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA) named Florida Atlantic University as a LBDA Research Center of Excellence (RCOE).ByAlzheimer's Reading RoomThe LBDA is the leading advocacy group dedicated to raising awareness and advancing research about Lewy Body Dementia (LBD)LBD affects 1.4 million Americans and their families, making it one of the most common forms of dementia.What is the Difference Between Alzheimer ’s and DementiaThe centers are selected for their clinical expertise in LBD, experience running clinical trials, capacity of facilities and geographic location (combined, the 33 principal investigators have run...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - April 4, 2018 Category: Neurology Tags: dementia dementia test fau james galvin LBD LBDA Lewy Body Dementia lewy body dementia test Source Type: blogs
How to Take Care of a Dementia Patient in the Hospital
Keep in mind that bad behaviors in the hospital can be attempts by your loved one to communicate that there is a problem, an unmet need, fear, fatigue or pain.Be a detective and try to figure out what it can be. Advocate for your loved one, they can ’t do it for themselves.I attended a wonderful lecture given by my friend Sydney Farrier, LCSW, in Dallas, TX.She was speaking to professionals onChallenges in Caring for a Hospitalized Dementia Patient.I will attempt to translate some of the lecturefor families so they can help the hospital personnel treat/manage their loved one in a way that will reduce agitation as much as...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - April 3, 2018 Category: Neurology Tags: alzheimer care alzheimer's hospitalization Alzheimer's information care of dementia patients dementia care help alzheimers help dementia hospital dementia memory care nursing home senior care Source Type: blogs
3 Ways to Talk to People Living with Alzheimer ’s
In caring for someone living with Alzheimer ’s, we encourage you to celebrate each moment of recognition, each gesture of connection, every laugh and every smile!For people living with Alzheimer ’s it is often difficult, if not impossible, to begin a conversation or engage with another person.When we try to talk with a person who has memory loss, we areoften greeted with the thousand mile stare. There just seems to be nothing there.For family members and friends this is, of course, heartbreaking.Is there anything that can be done; is there any way to reach people who seem to be unreachable?Learn More About the Differen...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - March 30, 2018 Category: Neurology Tags: alzheimer's. talk alzheimers communication alzheimers conversation dementia health life news memory talk to person with alzheimers Source Type: blogs
How to talk and communicate with dementia patients effectively
One of the biggest mistakes we make as dementia caregivers is to use too many words.In other words, we try andexplain to persons living withdementia why what they are saying or doing is wrong.By Bob DeMarcoAlzheimer's Reading RoomOr,we try to explain to them why it is important to take a shower or take their medication. When they say No,we try to explain to them why they should say, Yes.This doesn't work.Learn More -How to Listen to an Alzheimer's PatientWhen Alzheimer's patients are given theMini-Cog test to diagnose dementia they are asked to remember 3 words. If they have dementia they won't be able to remembe...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - March 28, 2018 Category: Neurology Tags: alzheimers care alzheimers communication tips family caregiving help alzheimer's help with dementia care how to communicate with dementia patients how to communicate with dementia patients effectively Source Type: blogs
