Is your aging parent’s home overflowing with clutter? Are they refusing to part with broken items or expired food? Hoarding behaviors in seniors often stem from deeper issues like dementia, trauma, or anxiety, and harsh interventions can backfire. In this guide, you’ll learn:✅ 5 subtle red flags (beyond just clutter)✅ How to start a productive conversation (without conflict)✅ Step-by-step decluttering strategies that…
When a loved one with dementia accuses you of stealing, lying, or worse, the emotional toll can be devastating, even when you know these false claims stem from the disease. These painful dementia accusations often leave caregivers feeling heartbroken, defensive, or exhausted, especially when logic and reassurance fail. In this Best of 2024 guide, we share 8 expert-backed strategies to navigate these…
The Mini-Mental Status Exam (MMSE) is a widely used 30-question screening tool that helps assess cognitive function in older adults, particularly for signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease. We examine the test and how it can help diagnose or rule out dementia. Understanding the Mini-Mental Status Exam (MMSE) for Dementia Caregiving Suppose you’re concerned because you think your older adult might be…
Engaging in meaningful activities for people with dementia can bring joy, reduce anxiety, and improve their quality of life. In this blog post, we’ll share 10 fun, no-fail activity ideas that are easy to implement and tailored to spark connection and creativity for your loved one. Activities for People with Dementia – Finding Success is Key Everyday activities can become too complex…
Holidays are often stressful for seniors with Alzheimer’s Holidays bring a flurry of activity, changes in daily routine, conversations with extended family, and participation in annual traditions. For seniors with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, this can be stressful. To help your older adult have a happy holiday season and to reduce your own stress, scale things back and modify traditional activities so…
Visiting a loved one with dementia can feel overwhelming when you’re unsure what to say or do, but with the right approach, your time together can be meaningful and comforting for both of you. While dementia changes many things, the need for human connection remains. In this article, we share essential rules to make your visits more positive, from conversation starters that…
Holiday gatherings can be a time of shocking updates Many families only get together a couple of times a year for big holiday celebrations. When family members see your older adult, they might be surprised or scared by their current condition. You see your older adult all the time, so the way they appear and behave is normal to you. But for…
Seniors with Alzheimer’s may ask tough questions Alzheimer’s disease or dementia can cause seniors to get confused and forget key details about their lives. This might mean that your older adult asks sensitive questions that are difficult to answer. The Center for Dementia Care at Seniors At Home, the in-home care division of Jewish Family and Children’s Services, shares tips for what…
How to manage sundowning symptoms in dementia Many people with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia get increasingly confused, anxious, and agitated later in the day. Others may have disrupted sleep schedules or restlessness at night. These sundowning symptoms are disruptive and difficult to manage. They’re also stressful and negatively affect your older adult’s quality of life. We explain why this behavior happens and…
The caregiving journey is often filled with tough challenges and intense emotions. To help manage it all, Sue Anne Kirkham shares 10 suggestions for how to thrive as a caregiver, learned from hands-on experience caring for her father and stepmother with dementia. “I feel like somebody’s demented grandmother,” Zelda declared as she wriggled her tiny frame out of the cavernous restaurant booth…
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