Learning and sharing information to support loved ones with Alzheimer's and Dementia--
Alzheimer’s Disease: What Every Family Needs to Know Author: Douglas Hardwick Alzheimer’s disease touches the lives of millions of Americans. Today, millions of Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s, and 1 in 10 families have a loved one afflicted with it. With no cure in sight, it is important for families to arm themselves with information about [...]
When my mom came to live with me, I changed her primary care physician to my own personal doctor. His office was near-by and I was already familiar with office and staff. Shortly afterwards, I phoned for an appointment so Dr. Smith could meet Mom and assess her stage of Alzheimer’s. Not wanting to speak [...]
Dementia is a general term rather than a specific disease. It describes symptoms caused by a number of brain-affecting disorders. Dementia is common in senior citizens. People with dementia experience impaired intellectual functioning that hinders normal activities and relationships, and they lose problem-solving abilities and have trouble maintaining emotional control. Senior citizens with dementia may [...]
What should you tell young children who interact with their adult relative who has Alzheiemer’s? Young children usually notice the odd behavor of a grandparent or family member with Alzheimer’s and wonder, silently, what is wrong. If no one offers an explanation that makes the situation all the more mysterious to the child. The child [...]
How can mom forget me, but remember the family dog from 70 years ago? The way Alzheimer’s forms in the brain, as tangles and plaque, determines how it progresses. Memories are formed in a particular order from the first memories after birth until death. When tangles and plaques begin forming in the brain, they follow [...]
