Caring for Mom

Many caregivers look for ways to entertain and stimulate their loved ones with dementia. This blogger decided to take her mother on an outing to the beach.

Sometimes simple discussions about fears and hopes for the remainder of one’s life can prove to be far more healing than surgeries and medication.

Caregivers are busy people by definition, whether they are working, married, and/or raising children. Sometimes we get in the mindset of trying to do it all, but we also get frustrated with ourselves and lose sight of simple solutions to being spread so thin.

We all want to feel useful and have some sense of purpose. These desires do not change as we age, but waning abilities leave few options for our elderly loved ones to feel fulfilled.

Sometimes the smallest mishap can be extremely upsetting for a loved one with memory issues. An accident or misunderstanding can cause emotional turmoil for days.

After researching the “ethics” of blogging, I realized what had been bothering me. I hadn’t been honest with Mum and it was time to tell her the truth.

As the population ages and dementia becomes more prevalent, it is crucial for businesses to train their staff in dementia awareness and make small adaptations to their spaces.

Visual cues help us all throughout our lives, whether we realize it or not. Utilizing these cues both inside and outside the home can improve a dementia patient’s quality of life and ability to function safely and independently.

As a loved one's dementia progresses, it can be extremely difficult for them to communicate with their caregiver and other family members. There are a few simple tips to keep in mind that can help conversations go more smoothly.

Even though Mum’s childhood toy, Edward Bear, had been stored away for years, it turns out he is still able to provide her with the security and comfort she needs in difficult times.

Once-familiar tasks can become difficult, frustrating, and even downright impossible for individuals with dementia. Sometimes gentle encouragement and careful observation are the best things a caregiver can offer to a loved one facing these challenges.

The repetition of Mum’s stories could make me crazy, but on good days I find ways to cope. The trick is to keep the conversation fresh. I amuse myself and make Mum happy.

Sarah Jane writes about the special weekly visits that she shares with her mother who suffers from dementia. Her goal is to connect individuals affected by dementia and provide information and support for improving a loved one's quality of life.

The story begins with a dementia caregiver's greatest fear--a loved one who's wandered away from home--and ends in a compassionate display of validation therapy.

Placing mom in a nursing home—something we never thought we would consider—was not what we feared it to be.

A caregiver shares his journey in finding the right skilled nursing facility for his mother, including steps to take before and after placement as well as the hard lessons he learned throughout the process.

For many, being a family caregiver involves our own aging parents and our significant other’s mom and dad, too. When dealing with elderly in laws, how much care can you be expected to provide, and how much say do you have in their care decisions?

Women with multiple children may have a preference for which of their offspring will act as their caregiver when they get older. A study finds that older women experience heightened levels of stress when cared for by a child who isn't their first choice.

Staying with your mom for a while the first time you drop her off at adult day care is a good idea and might help ease the transition.

Read how this family caregiver's advice differs from the official guidance from the nursing home staff. Transitioning to nursing home care is challenging for everyone involved.