The Diary of An Alzheimer's Caregiver
Appreciate the good, laugh at the crazy, and deal with the rest!
HOME SAFETY FOR SENIORS Keeping mom safe is my number one responsibility. It comes before anything else, even the purchasing of the blueberry Poptarts that my mother claims keep her alive. I’ve been thinking a lot about home safety lately as we start to baby-proof the house for the “Daring Duo” who have begun to…
Read More
DEALING WITH DEATH AND DEMENTIA As some of you know, on Dec. 17th my brother passed away. It’s been hard for the whole family, but my mom lost her son. I can’t imagine losing one of my kids at any age. He was 56. With her worsening dementia, we wondered what this kind of loss…
Read More
Today I thought I would bring you some of the signs to look for in a loved one who might be suffering from Alzheimer’s/Dementia. I’ve included 10 behaviors that may get your attention when your loved one is having a problem. This is where I stress that I am by no means a Doctor or…
Read More
TOP 10 THINGS EVERY CAREGIVER SHOULD HAVE… I ask myself this question every single day. Sometimes my answers might change. It depends on the day, but these ten…they never change. Most learn to be a caregiver just like I did…Flying by the seat of my pants in the dark! [Tweet “Most learn to be a…
Read More
CAREGIVER’S DEPRESSION This post was originally written in March of 2014. It has been revised for today’s post. Caregiver’s Depression is a huge problem for some caregivers and I will admit that it affects me from time to time. I read a piece called “Caregiver Depression: A Silent Health Crisis” on the Alzheimer’s Reading Room…
Read More
Most caregiver’s do not become caregivers on purpose. They only become caregivers after some often traumatic or dangerous situation has occurred with their parents or loved one. With my mother, it was a comment made by her neighbor that first got me thinking about Alzheimer’s Disease. I knew my mom was forgetting things, she had…
Read More
This post was originally written in September 2014. I have updated it for today. Don’t forget November is National Caregiver Month. Be thankful for the caregiver in your life. On September 20th, I will be mom’s live-in caregiver for a whole year. I should specify here that I’ve been her 24/7 caregiver for a year, but…
Read More
Lately, I have been sharing stories of my wonderful mother. Since becoming her caregiver, I have learned so much about the woman who is my mother. In January 2014, I wrote a story about her trip to Minneapolis to live with my father and oldest brother. Here is the link to that story that was…
Read More
Well, today is “home permanent” day in our house. My mom has been getting home perms in her hair every three months since I was tall enough to stand behind her. It is a routine that I have come to love over the last couple of years. We have our primary physician appointment in the morning…
Read More