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Support and Tips for Alzheimer's Caregivers
Get information, support and encouragement as you care for family members suffering from dementia. Currently, I'm helping to care for DD's paternal grandmother.
DISCLAIMER: All content within Treehuggerz lens is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional.
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Alzheimer's Links Plexo
Online Resources
Vote on your favorite links or add your own.
Alzheimer Toronto -- Home Page
Home page of The Alzheimer Society of Toronto, lin more...1 point
Alzheimer Articles|Alzheimer Resources|Alzheimer Care
Looking for information on Alzheimers? Visit us fo more...1 point
A GUIDE FOR ALZHEIMER'S CARERS -Site Map
Very helpful tips for caregivers. Actual coping st more...1 point
Elder Care Online
Information and forums1 point
Deep Slow Easy - Home Page
Story of one family's experience with Alzheimer's. more...1 point
Dementia Types
The use of therapeutic fiblets (an untruth told to more...1 point
http://www.techforltc.org
Technology for Long-Term Care0 points
Alzbrain.org
Alabama's Alzheimer's Resource0 points
Elder Care - Long Term Care - Caring for the Elderly - Aging Parents
Elder care resource for family caregivers with an more...0 points
Family Caregiving 101
FamilyCaregiving101.org: If you're caring for anot more...0 points
Dementia Types
The use of therapeutic fiblets (an untruth told to more...0 points
Blog Links Plexo
Caregiving, first-person or general information blogs. I read them all and have found many stories that resonate with my caregiving situation.
Fading from Memory
Son writing about his parents living in their own more...2 points
The Tangled Neuron
"A Layperson Repo more...1 point
"Had a Dad" Alzheimer's Blog
Daughter writes about her father with Alzheimer's.1 point
The Trip Over
Man with early Alzheimer's details his journey.1 point
ThirdAge Blog
Blog about caregiving.1 point
Alzheimers News & Views
The latest news and information on Alzheimer's Dis more...1 point
KnowItAlz.com Blog
Finding the humor in caregiving for her father wit more...1 point
The Unforgettable Fund
"Supporting Alzhe more...0 points
Elevating Joy... coping with Alzheimers
Daughter caring for her mother with Alzheimer's Di more...0 points
The Mom & Me Journals
New home for the diary of an unlikely caregiver an more...0 points
IdeaBlob.com
Vote for my Idea
Alzheimer's Medical News
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byAids and Supplies
Products that are helpful for home care.
Aloe Vesta 2- N- 1 Body Wash And Shampoo - 8 oz
INDICATIONS: Soothes and conditions. Gentle to ski more...1 point
MEDIPLANNER II
28 compartments open individually! Holds 7 days of more...1 point
Activity Apron
Activity Apron Provides visual and tactile stimula more...0 points
Ultralight Full Electric / Alzheimer Bed - FREE SHIPPING
The ProBasics Ultralight Full Electric / Alzheimer more...0 points
Talking Date and Time Clock with 4 Alarms
Talking Date and Time Clock with 4 Alarms and Blue more...0 points
Appliance Latch
MAG Security 324/12018 - Wht Appliance Lock, For h more...0 points
Wireless Wander Alarm
Place the Wireless Wander Alarm near the doorway W more...0 points
Hair Wash Basin Inflatable Ez Shampoo For Disabled
Hair Wash Basin Inflatable Ez Shampoo For Disabled more...0 points
Alzheimers Medical ID Tags 5-pack
Have your loved ones wear LIFETAGs to alert emerge more...0 points
Medicare Tip
- Patient is homebound.
- Patient has Medicare Part A and Part B.
- Physician has ordered intermediate skilled nursing therapy and is periodically reviewing care.
- Care is by a Medicare approved nursing provider.
Caregiving Tips
From my personal experience
MedicationSecure all medications, over-the-counter medicine and supplements. Put them into a lock box or locked cabinet in which the AD family member can't get access.
Always ask a health care professional before giving an AD person any new OTC medicine or nutritional supplements. There can be unexpected reactions or interactions with prescription medications.
When giving an AD person new prescription medications, find out about the possible side effects. Then pay attention and report all reactions in the AD family member to their doctor. Sometimes it takes a bit of trial and error until effective medications are found for each individual.
Have the pharmacy put the medications into blister packs for each dose. This is very helpful, especially if more than one person will be providing medications to the AD family member. Mark the top of each bubble pack with the time of day each will be taken with a bold, felt-tip marker. For example: AM, NOON, PM, BED and AS NEEDED. Since you have a blister pack for each daily dosage it makes it easy to rubber band daily medications by dosage time. Also, each blister pack has 31 sections which make it a snap to see when you should get refills.
The best thing is to get ALL presciption medications on the same monthly schedule. Then you only have to get refills once a month. Speak to your pharmacist about how to do this if you are desperately out of sync. As a bonus, at least for us, the pharmacy gives us a small discount for ordering refills only once a month.
Finally, ask your health care provider for medication samples. They are good to have on hand in emergencies or to tide you over until you can pay for refills.
Recommended Children's Books
What's Happening to Grandpa?
Amazon Price: $11.96 (as of 07/25/2008)
Flowers for Grandpa Dan: A Gentle Story to Help Children Understand Alzheimer's Disease
Amazon Price: $12.95 (as of 07/25/2008)
Striped Shirts and Flowered Pants: A Story About AlzheimerÆs Disease for Young Children
Amazon Price: $12.11 (as of 07/25/2008)
Remember Me? / Te acuerdas de mi? (Bilingual Edition)
Amazon Price: $13.73 (as of 07/25/2008)
What's Wrong With Grandma?: A Family's Experience With Alzheimer's (Young Readers)
Amazon Price: $12.80 (as of 07/25/2008)
Amazon Caregiving Books
The Madonnas of Leningrad: A Novel (P.S.)
Amazon Price: $11.16 (as of 07/25/2008)
Creating Moments of Joy: A Journal for Caregivers, Fourth Edition (NEW COVER)
Amazon Price: $24.95 (as of 07/25/2008)
Can't Remember What I Forgot: The Good News from the Front Lines of Memory Research
Amazon Price: $16.32 (as of 07/25/2008)
The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for Persons with Alzheimer Disease, Related Dementing Illnesses, and Memory Loss in Later Life (3rd Edition)
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 07/25/2008)
Senior Care for Alzheimer's
by Alex Jensen
As a person ages, a certain amount of memory loss and confusion is quite normal. Personally, I've been known to invoke the cliché, "The older I get, the better I was!" Unfortunately, Alzheimer's disease represents a more serious loss of mental sharpness and calls for special care for seniors.Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's Disease is a progressive form of pre-senile dementia. Symptoms are typically first noted in a person's late forties or early fifties. As the disease takes effect, it will first impact memory. Impaired thought and speech will follow with the patient eventually becoming helpless.
Alzheimer's is a truly horrible disease because it robs a person of their ability to function. The disease is also damaging to family and friends as it is very difficult to watch a parent, brother, sister or friend progress to the point where they don't recognize anyone. The burden of caring for a person suffering from Alzheimer's is significant. At some point in time, a family will have to look for assistance with the care.
Most "board and care" and "assisted living facilities" are willing and capable of providing for a person suffering from Alzheimer's. These facilities are similar to nursing homes, but with less of an institutional atmosphere. If, however, a senior becomes increasingly disoriented, perhaps even occasionally wandering away, they may require a facility with a dementia waiver.
Despite the name, a "dementia waiver" is an indication that a facility and staff have additional training and licensing for the care of patients with dementia. On top of the additional training, the actual facility may be secured with a perimeter to keep patients on the grounds.
Alzheimer's disease leaves a mark on family and friends as well as the victim. There are, however, facility options that can at least take the care burden off of you.
About The Author
Alex Jensen is with http://www.careplacement.com - a free placement service for Southern California. Care Placement's staff can review your care requirements to determine whether skilled nursing care, assisted living facilities or board and care homes are a viable option for seniors.
Alzheimer's Items on CafePress
Amazon Plexo
Alzheimer's Titles
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The 36-Hour Day : A Family Guide to Caring for Persons With Alzheimer Disease, Related Dementing Illnesses, and Memory Loss in Later Life by Nancy L. Mace
Very good resource book to have handy. I have read more...1 point
Living in the Labyrinth: A Personal Journey Through the Maze of Alzheimer's by Diana Mcgowin
Personal experiences of a woman with early-onset A more...1 point
My Journey into Alzheimer's Disease by Robert Davis
Minister tells his AD story.1 point
Facing Alzheimer's by Patricia B. Coughlan
Written specifically about wives who care for thei more...1 point
Death in Slow Motion: A Memoir of a Daughter, Her Mother, and the Beast Called Alzheimer's by Eleanor Cooney
Stark experience of how caring for her mother with more...0 points
Alzheimer's On YouTube
Advice for carers of Alzheimer's sufferers
Dr Chris Steele provides help and advice to people living with and caring for Alzheimer's patients.
Runtime: 6:13
35443 views
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Caregiving Poll
Amazon Movie Plexo
Films that have an Alzheimer's or caregiving theme. Please vote and/or add your favorite.
