Internet Series “Ruth and Erica” Focuses on Family Dynamics and Alzheimer’s

Internet Series “Ruth and Erica” Focuses on Family Dynamics and Alzheimer’s

“Ruth & Erica” launched this week on the YouTube Internet channel WIGS, which, according to the press release, is now the most popular channel for scripted drama on YouTube. The show portrays the dynamics of a family facing the challenges that often accompany aging and ill health. read more..

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The “Hidden” Costs When We Quit our Jobs to Care for Our Loved Ones

I don’t need a study to tell me that leaving the workforce to become a family caregiver has cost me, financially. All I have to do is look my puny projected Social Security. Over two decades of my adult “productive” years have been spent caring for elders and children while not working at paid employment. read more..

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Caregivers Coping with Criticism from the from the Care Receiver

Each care situation was different. I started with an aged neighbor, then moved on to a childless aunt and uncle, my in-laws and eventually my parents. All of them appreciated me. However they each had moments when, because of their own misery, they’d lash out at me in some way. read more..

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Pecking Order-Caregiving-Decisions-Siblings

Only Children Vs. Sharing Decisions With Siblings – Which is Easier?

In the world of caregiving, sibling issues abound. Any problems that were around when you were growing up will likely turn up again, as your parents age. The pecking order rarely changes. The "girl" work and the "boy" work rarely changes. There are exceptions, of course. read more..

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Solanezumab-Alzheimer

Solanezumab Fails Phase 3 Alzheimer’s Trials: Retains Faint Glimmer of Hope

...Now, Eli Lilly has also announced that their contribution to the Alzheimer’s battle, solanezumab, did not meet the primary endpoints, both cognitive and functional, in either of the two Phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies on the drug. read more..

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Dementia-Elder

When Your Loved One Says 'I Want to Go Home'

"I want to go home." Nearly any person caring for an elder with dementia has heard this heartbreaking plea, even if the elder is home. It's fairly well accepted by dementia experts that the "home" most elders want to return to is their childhood home, because in later stages of Alzheimer's that is where, in their minds, "home" is. read more..

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Guilt

Drop the caregiver guilt and find some peace

Guilt has a purpose in life. If we are mean, we should feel guilty. If we owe someone an apology, we should be big enough to do so. But guilt is a complicated emotion. We take on the expectations of our culture, our religion, our family. And then we take on the expectations of our toughest critic – ourselves read more..

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Helping an elder parent let go of an unsafe cluttered home

Helping an elder parent let go of an unsafe cluttered home

Many elders do well in their homes. They graciously accept the help they need, have cleaning people come in, and are even able to throw away the old newspapers that are piling up in the corner. They are content with adding some safety measures and feel cozy with a bit of clutter. read more..

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Communicating with people who can't speak

Communicating with people who can't speak

Many of us are coping with elders who can no longer communicate. Whether from a stroke, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's or for some other reason, they have lost their ability to talk or seemingly respond in any manner to their loved one's efforts to communicate. read more..

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Sweet Intentions-Cohabitate

Are you having second thoughts about having your aging parent live with you?

Many people are facing the fact that their sweet intentions have taken a sour turn. Certainly, for some, the decision to cohabitate with their elders works out fine. Two or even three generations residing in the same home can work. It can work when there is plenty of space so that everyone has some degree of privacy. read more..

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Depression-Retirement

Keeping a retired elder active after retirement or change can help avoid depression

He helps out too much. Ann's dad had owned his own business and had employees. He was very successful. Ann's mom used to complain that after he retired, he wanted to run the house, but it didn't seem too serious. Then, when Ann's mom got sick, her dad's energy went into caregiving. He was a wonderful caregiver all the way through. read more..

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Adult Children

Setting boundaries in parent/adult child relationships

It's natural for adult children to love their parents and even want to care for them as they age. But, if your parents abused you when you were a child, how do you care for them without harming yourself by being subjected to ongoing criticism and abuse? read more..

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Types Of Dementia-Imperfections-Human Side

Has dementia turned your spouse into a stranger?

Although Alzheimer’s disease is likely the most common and well-known dementia, the reality is that there are many other types of dementia. One lesser known but increasingly recognized dementia is frontotemporal. FTD generally presents itself as a baffling change in a loved one's personality. read more..

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The Human Side of Motherhood: accept and celebrate it

We need to understand, love and forgive ourselves for our perceived imperfections as mothers. And yes, we need to try to understand, love and forgive our mothers for what may have been less than perfect mothering practices. Perfection is hard to define and resides in the eye of the beholder, so it's a subjective idea, anyway. read more..

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Negative Thoughts-Constant Care

Nearly every caregiver will have negative thoughts at times

Elders in need of constant care feel their own pain. They generally feel a lack of control over their lives, as bit by bit their abilities slip away. This can make some of them disagreeable and bossy. Generally, the answer to this is to learn to detach with love. read more..

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Immediate Family

Are you approaching caregiver burnout?

When you are taking care of a parent with Alzheimer's, you are trying to cope with your own grief over their illnesses, help them with their feelings of loss, keep them safe, make your immediate family reasonably content and work at your job. You are wearing out, but caregiver guilt won't let you say – enough! read more..

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Family Strife-Siblings-Errands

Family strife: siblings who don't help with parent care

Caregiving can grow from just running a few errands for the elder into a full-time job. Many people have quit paying jobs, or not accepted a promotion, in order to be available to care for an aging parent. From the outside, it looks as though this person has the time. In most cases, the person has made the time, often at great sacrifice. read more..

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Travis Stork-Exercise-Obesity

10 tips for caring for your elder's hair

I'll tell you up front that I'm not good with hair. For the most part, I'm a minimalist. Alice had perms, but her hair still needed washing and a daily curling to arrange it nicely. Over time, and with lots of humor thrown in, I did learn a few things. read more..

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Interview with Dr. Travis Stork: reduce obesity for overall health

Reducing obesity with a healthy diet and sensible exercise is the goal. During a recent interview with Dr. Stork, I asked him how we can encourage our aging loved ones to exercise and eat right to lose weight and stay healthy, especially when we hear the excuse "why bother now?" read more..

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Sole Caregiver

Should you quit your job to care for your aging parent?

You already know what may be gained by giving up employment and becoming the sole caregiver for your parents. You are the hands-on person and know their care intimately. You know how they are doing day and night and you hope they will appreciate your help. They raised you and you want to give back. read more..

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Tangled Memories-Elderly Mother-Experience

With Alzheimer’s, tangled memories may be culprit in skewed stories

If you've ever talked with someone who has shared an experience with you, but remembers the details very differently than you do, your circumstances are not unusual. Individuals tend to view each experience through a unique lens, because we are shaped by our past experiences, and perhaps our genes. read more..

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Daughter wants to improve quality of life for elderly mother who has become blind

Dear Carol: My 76-year-old mother has lost her vision, and is easily bored. She used to knit and read, but now she's only able to listen to TV. Her thinking and reasoning abilities have decreased dramatically since losing her sight. I often read to her which she enjoys. How else can I help stimulate her interest in life? - Karen read more..

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Family Mediator-Sexual Impulses-The Rocky Road-Family Issues-Dementia

How a family mediator can help you over the rocky road of caregiving

Even siblings who grew up together with fondness for each other often have different ideas about what the right care for aging parents incorporates. When siblings have clashing personalities, or family issues have driven them apart, finding middle ground on anything can be extra challenging. read more..

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Sexual Impulses and Needs in Alzheimer's and Dementia Patients

Recently, I received a question from a reader whose mother, in her late 70s, is in love with a man who just turned 80. The reader wondered what I thought about this situation, because she frankly, as she put it, found it "creepy." read more..

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The Shingles-Diabetes-Hospice

Daughter asks, “When should we call hospice?”

Dear Carol: My 87-year-old mother has Alzheimer’s disease. She came down with shingles a few weeks ago, which is being treated, but she’s still in terrible pain. She also has COPD and diabetes. Since the shingles attack, she has gotten very weak and just wants to sleep. She only eats if we feed her, and then she has to be coaxed to eat even a small amount. The family has been taking turns staying with her, but she mainly wants to sleep. Should we call hospice? When do people decide it’s the right time to call? Does the doctor contact hospice or do we? Her doctor hasn’t mentioned hospice, but he says she likely will continue to get weaker. -Melanie read more..

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Advances In Technology-Trained Professionals-Reading Room-Valentine-Blogger

Advances in keeping our elders safe in nursing homes

The obvious point of safety in nursing homes has always been that there are trained professionals on the spot in case of a fall, mediation reaction or other health issue. However, with advances in technology, nursing homes have advanced in safety measures over and above what they once provided. read more..

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Shower Your Valentine with Dark Chocolate!

By Nancy Emerson Lombardo, PhD, Guest Blogger, Creator of the Memory Preservation Nutrition® Program Can chocolate be a brain and body health food? Absolutely! IF you eat it in moderation... read more..

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About Alzheimer's Reading Room

The goal of the Alzheimer's Reading Room is to Educate, sometimes Entertain, and Empower Alzheimer's caregivers,...
The Alzheimer's Reading Room is the number one source of life news for the entire Alzheimer's community. Our goal is to Educate, sometimes Entertain, and Empower Alzheimers caregivers and their families worldwide. read more..

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