The Diary of An Alzheimer's Caregiver
Appreciate the good, laugh at the crazy, and deal with the rest!
Millions of families trust the care of their elderly loved ones to a nursing home facility and, in doing so, rely daily on the accuracy and attentive care of the nurses, nurses’ aides, living managers, and other members of the staff. A large majority of the residents at long-term care facilities take prescribed medication to…
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When you learn that your senior loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, you may be feeling a lot of mixed emotions. You might feel sad, angry, and confused. You might also feel relieved that their condition has been discovered early enough and that you have time to find ways to help them. On the…
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As someone who lived and cared for my mom who had Alzheimer’s, I learned very quickly that guilt would be my closest companion. It’s inevitable that those emotions become intertwined with sadness and sometimes even anger. The guilt comes from the feelings of: Not doing enough Not doing things correctly Dreaming about an afterlife Anger…
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Thank you SEIU for sponsoring this post! Most caregivers have a similar experience as me. My moment was walking into my mom’s house and finding piles of pills all over the place. She had gotten her meds out but had forgotten them somewhere along the way. The next epiphany I had was, “I…
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This post was originally written in 2014, but it was updated because it’s so relevant today. Mom hasn’t had a good today either, must be something in the air. She has asked me the same two questions all day. I am trying to interpret them, I am just not coming up with anything. I bought…
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The emotional toll of being a caregiver to a loved one who has Alzheimer’s Disease is hard enough. But when your loved one is struggling with addiction, it seems the bar is raised a few levels higher. Not only are you caring for someone who’s losing memory, coordination, and mental function daily, you’re also taking…
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As an adult, living at home with your parents comes with its own set of challenges. With an aging population and a growing number of Americans coming back home to live with their parents, it’s important to know how to set boundaries so that you can live in peace. Luckily, there are quite a few…
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We all hope to be there for our loved ones when they need us most. Unfortunately, these moments can sneak upon us. The COVID-19 pandemic throws this into sharp relief. All over the country, older people are advised to avoid errands, stay inside, and keep themselves away from anyone who could potentially spread…
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Visit The Diary of an Alzheimer’s Caregiver for more insights, information, and support on caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s. Adapting to life with Alzheimer’s can be a challenge for everyone — not only the Alzheimer’s patient but also their caregivers and loved ones. One of the biggest things to consider is how to…
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The idea of losing one’s memory—or watching a loved one or patient go through this for the first time—is likely frightening to most people. While most types of dementia—though not all—are incurable, there are ways to recognize the signs early, stave off or slow progression, and care for yourself and those with dementia as the…
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