The True Meaning of “Person Centered Care”
Is person centered care really being used in assisted living and memory care facilities? Or is it just another empty "buzzword"?By Carole LarkinAlzheimer's Reading RoomThe death of 8 residents in a Florida rehabilitation center; and, a lawsuit against the largest assisted living center in the United States is calling into question how our elders are being cared for in assisted living, nursing care homes, and memory care facilities.Most of these facilities are touting"person centered care" as a technique they use to care for the elderly. Is this just an empty buzzword; or, is it really being put into practice?6 Reasons Why ...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - September 19, 2017 Category: Neurology Tags: alzheimers care assisted living care of dementia patients dementia care memory care facility nursing home person centered care Source Type: blogs
Dementia Care, There is No Place Like Home
For a person living with dementia "there is no place like home".By Bob DeMarcoAlzheimer's Reading RoomListen to the Podcast Now, orContinue Reading.Alzheimer's Care, Alzheimer's 3 Little Words That WorkA person living with Alzheimer's diseasecan hear you and even respond to you.What they don't do well is remember what you just said.I grappled with this problem for several years as I was constructing my own understanding ofhow Dotty was thinking (or not thinking) and feeling.In order to adjust, I invented a place called -- Alzheimer's World.This is where I went tocommunicate most effectively with Dotty.In Alzheimer's World ...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - September 15, 2017 Category: Neurology Tags: alzheimer's care Alzheimer's Dementia alzheimer's home caregiver excellence dementia care family caregiving help alzheimer's help with dementia care memory care tips on dealing with alzheimer patients Source Type: blogs
Alive Inside - Find Your Songs
Meaningful music has a place in our caregiving strategies, and can often becomes active expression and conduit of our love.By Pamela R. KelleyAlzheimer's Reading RoomMy mother, Audrey, had a famously tin ear. She ’d be the first to tell you that she couldn't carry a tune in a bucket. But she liked to sing, nonetheless. So when we began our partnership through the last five years of her life, we made a habit of singing every day.Four songs. That was it. At any point in the day, if I heard Audrey hum a note in her distracted way, I would catch her eye and hold her glance and ask her,“Do you want to sing with me?” ...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - September 13, 2017 Category: Neurology Tags: alzheimer's live Alzheimer's music alzheimers reading room dementia care find your songs health. alive inside memory care searches related to music and alzheimer's Source Type: blogs
How to Survive a Hurricane with an Alzheimer's Patient
Six of my most important tips for dealing with an Alzheimer's patient during a hurricane.By Bob DeMarcoAlzheimer's Reading RoomI took care of my mom, Dotty, for eight and a half years, 3,112 days.My mom lived with Alzheimer's disease.We survived 2 hurricanes together including monsterhurricane Wilma. A category 3 hurricane when it reached our home in Delray Beach, Florida.Here are 6 of my most important tips for dealing with an Alzheimer's patient during a hurricane.12 Ways to Control CareGiver Stress and SadnessListen Now or Continue ReadingSubscribe to the Alzheimer's Reading RoomEmail:#1 It's Not Their FaultMy mom acted...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - September 8, 2017 Category: Neurology Tags: alzheimers care Alzheimers Disease alzheimers help alzheimers hurricane care of dementia patients florida disaster hurricane alzheimers natural disaster Source Type: blogs
Stories from the Past
Comments and outbursts from Alzheimer's patients are often laced with truth and fiction. Or, they may be factually accurate but chronologically scrambled.By Elaine C PereiraAlzheimer's Reading RoomFact or Fiction in Someone with Dementia?People living with dementia often drift back in time and live in the past. For several precious weeks, my mother who succumb from Alzheimer ’s Disease, talked about her childhood and her mother, my Grandmother Lillian!Topic -How to ... Alzheimer'sSubscribe to the Alzheimer's Reading Room Now - This is a Free ServiceI was only six years old when my grandmother died. The three-hour drive t...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - September 3, 2017 Category: Neurology Tags: alzheimer's care Alzheimer's Dementia care of dementia patients dementia care dementia help for caregivers family caregiving help alzheimer's help with dementia care memory care past Source Type: blogs
Alzheimer's Dementia Patients Have Wonderful Imaginations
I don't think it is well understood that persons living with Alzheimer's have wonderful imaginations. If they tell stories they have an imagination, don't they?By Bob DeMarcoAlzheimer's Reading RoomDid your loved one living with dementia ever tell you a story that was less than true?How to Get The Answers to Your Questions About Alzheimer's and DementiaSubscribe to the Alzheimer's Reading - This is a Free ServiceI wrote a previous article around this issue that might be of interest to you,Dementia, Accusations, and Fractured Fairy TalesI don't think it is well understood that persons living with Alzheimer's have wonderful ...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - September 3, 2017 Category: Neurology Tags: alzheimer's caregiver tips alzheimer's dementia stages Alzheimer's information alzheimer's symptoms Alzheimers Dementia alzheimers education endalz health imagination life memory memory loss Source Type: blogs
3 Examples of How Dementia Alters Relationships Among Family and Friends
One of the most difficult things that Alzheimer's caregivers face is the abandonment of family and friends.By Bob DeMarcoAlzheimer's Reading RoomThis is a companion article to -Dementia Patients Can Deceive Others to the Distress of Their Caregiver.I am not saying it happens to all of us, I am saying it happens to most of us -we often feel abandoned by family and friends.Did it happen to you?9 Things I Learned on the Path to Joyful CaregivingListen Now or Continue ReadingAs friends and family fade away we feel lonely. At times some of us feel like like we are doing the caring all by ourselves.What is the Difference Between...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - August 30, 2017 Category: Neurology Tags: alzheimer's care alzheimers and family alzheimers caregivers Alzheimers Dementia alzheimers education caregiving dementia care dementia patient care elder care home care Source Type: blogs
The Importance of Relationship Change in Dementia Care
The role of change in dementia care is about discovering what your loved one likes to do; and then, figuring out how to guide them.When Alzheimer's strikes, when we receive the diagnosis,we enter what can best be described as a period of "great sadness".A kind ofall encompassing emotional stress that can include:fear, denial, pain, stress, confusion, and an overall sense of hopelessness.The list of potential negative emotions and feelings are long, very long.How do you feel?Topic -Touching Foreheads and Kindness in Dementia CareBy Bob DeMarcoAlzheimer's Reading RoomSubscribe to the Alzheimer's Reading RoomThe majority lear...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - August 28, 2017 Category: Neurology Tags: alzheimner's care care of dementia patients caregiver change dementia care elderly dementia care help alzheimer's help with dementia care how to care Source Type: blogs
Dealing with Difficult Behavior Caused by Alzheimer's Dementia
I often get asked questions about how I dealt with my mother when she engaged in difficult to manage behaviors.I read these six coping strategies for dementia-related behavior problems some time ago.Dr. Peter Rabins is a Johns Hopkins neurologist. He touches on the following behaviors: outbursts, agitation, aggression, wandering, vocalizations, hoarding and hiding things, and inappropriate sexual behavior.Learn More - Dementia Patients Can Deceive Others to the Distress of Their CaregiverPeople living with dementia often exhibit aggression and behaviors that are frustrating, embarrassing, and sometimes even dangerous ...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - August 27, 2017 Category: Neurology Tags: 36 hour day alzheimer alzheimer dementia alzheimer's behavior Alzheimers aggression alzheimers dementia stages help for caregivers help with dementia care Source Type: blogs
Alzheimer's Care Why Do the Deeply Forgetful Say No So Often
Many Alzheimer's caregivers accept the word "No" from the deeply forgetful without ever trying to figure out why they say it.By Bob De MarcoAlzheimer's Reading RoomS/he says no all the time, the caregiver complains.It is very common for a person that is deeply forgetful to say "no" when you ask them to do something. I don't know why, but it seems like this is a secret to many in the dementia communityeven though this is a common occurrence.What is The Difference Between Alzheimer ’s and DementiaSubscribe to the Alzheimer's Reading - This is a Free ServiceI knew for a long time when Dotty said "no" she didn't mean it. Nev...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - August 24, 2017 Category: Neurology Tags: alzheimer's care Alzheimer's Dementia dementia care help alzheimer's help with dementia memory care facility nursing home searches related to dementia care Source Type: blogs
10 Great Alzheimer's Quotes
I often hear people say that a person suffering from Alzheimer's is not the person they knew. I wonder to myself - Who are they then?~Bob DeMarcoAlzheimer's QuotesAlzheimer's Reading RoomAlzheimer's Care, The Power of Purpose in Our LivesAlzheimer's Care, Sitting in The Front RowAlzheimer's The Emotional Roller Coaster RideYou know, people get frustrated because their loved ones who have Alzheimer's, oh, he doesn't recognize me anymore, how can I recognize this person, if they don't recognize me? They're not the same person. Well, they are the same person, but they've got a brain disease. And it's not their faul...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - August 21, 2017 Category: Neurology Tags: alzheimer's care alzheimer's quotes dementia care help with alzheimers inspirational alzheimer's quotes quotes from the alzheimer's reading room searches related to alzheimer's quotes Source Type: blogs
This Land is Our Land
When we work with people who are living with dementia, we often are privileged to hear stories from their past, stories of how they came to America or how their parents or grandparents immigrated to this land.By Tom and Karen BrennerWe work with people of many and varied ethnic groups, religions and cultures andas a result their stories of immigration vary greatly.There are, however,a few themes that are common to all of the elders telling us these stories.They all, every one of them, made a life here and contributed enormously to their new home - America.Topic -Coping with Alzheimer'sSubscribe to the Alzheimer's Reading R...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - August 18, 2017 Category: Neurology Tags: alzheimer's care alzheimer's caregiving care of dementia patients care of dementia patients at home dementia care help alzheimer's how memory care facility nursing home tips Source Type: blogs
The Remarkable Memories of Deeply Forgetful Dementia Patients
Alzheimer's caregivers often confuse the difference between short term memory loss and memories.Dementia patients lose their ability to remember new information and experiences. This happens because they can no longer store new memories in their brain.On the other hand,dementia patients remain full of memories. These memories were stored in their brain long before the onset of Alzheimer's disease.Topic -How to Reduce Caregiver StressBy Bob DeMarcoAlzheimer's Reading RoomSubscribe to the Alzheimer's Reading RoomEmail:A simple example. My mother was already in the moderate to severe stages of dementia. One night while we wer...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - August 18, 2017 Category: Neurology Tags: alzheimer's care Alzheimer's Dementia care of dementia patients at home caregiving dementia care dementia help for caregivers family caregiving memory care alzheimer's disease Source Type: blogs
Caregivers Operate at a Very High "Station In Life"
While operating as a caregiver for someone living with Alzheimer's, or any type of dementia, we are performing at a very high "station in life".Caregiving is often arduous and burdensome.At times it can be heartbreaking.But the ordinary acts we perform each day can bring meaning and purpose to our lives.The Frightened, Angry, Anxious, Mean Dementia PatientBy Bob DeMarcoAlzheimer's Reading RoomIt is my belief that we are all searching for meaning in our lives. I can think of few things as meaningful ascaring for someone who needs us so much.Article - Alzheimer's Care - "The Power of Purpose in Our Lives"If allow ...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - August 15, 2017 Category: Neurology Tags: care of dementia patients caregiver caregiving dementia care elderly dementia care help alzheimer's help with dementia how how to care Source Type: blogs
1 of the Worst Emotions of Alzheimer's - "Guilt"
This article was adapted from SURVIVING ALZHEIMER'S: Practical tips and soul-saving wisdom for caregivers.What is the Difference Between Alzheimer ’s and DementiaThe Frightened, Angry, Anxious, Mean Dementia Patient10 Tips for Communicating with an Alzheimer's and Dementia PatientsAre You Banging Your Head Against the Wall?3 Ways to Redirect a Dementia Patient and Embrace RealityTopics PagesWhat to do when dementia patient gets agitated6 Reasons Why You Might Have to Put Someone with Dementia in a Memory Care Facility or Nursing HomePaula Spencer Scott is the author ofSURVIVING ALZHEIMER'S: Practical tips and soul-saving...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - August 9, 2017 Category: Neurology Tags: anger care of dementia patients care of dementia patients at home dementia care feelings guilt health help alzheimer's help with dementia care home care how lifestyle loneliness memory care facility Source Type: blogs
