If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
The Blog
Sometimes it is fairly easy to figure out what is going on. Sometimes it may seem impossible. But there is always a reason -- a reason other than, "It's the dementia."
By making Driss and Philippe fully realized characters (the film is based on a true story) with histories and lots to learn about life and each other, The Intouchables manages to escape the trappings of the Magic Negro genre.
How mental health professionals diagnose their patients could be changing, therefore affecting patients, families, and caregivers, after 2013.
Although the term "compassion fatigue" is well-known, some psychologists are starting to argue that the term should be changed to "empathy fatigue."
Mindfulness is about slowing down enough to connect with ourselves and our loved one, moment to moment. As we do so, we can de-stress and at the same time give ourselves and our loved one the chance of experiencing greater well-being.
Whether you're caring for an aging parent or a neighbor in your apartment building, or helping a home health aide connect with your ill spouse, look to establish common ground to drive forward a successful caregiving relationship.
As a person's illness progresses, these episodes tend to occur less often, and so when they do occur, it's all the more striking and precious.
For individuals with memory loss, mealtimes provide social engagement, sensory stimulation and enjoyment, and can add structure and routine to their day. However, mealtimes can also present some challenges for caregivers, especially as their loved ones' memory loss progresses.
Ugh, it's not easy being a caregiver to an aging parent. However, this weekend we were three wild and crazy girls out milling around and doing a whole lot of chilling (as my son often says when I ask him what he is doing). No worries, no deadlines, just having fun.
The reality of spousal refusal is very different from the politically motivated sound bites decrying multi-millionaires on Medicaid. If, for example, my husband has a stroke and we apply for Medicaid for him, I may decide to declare spousal refusal in order to protect my nest egg of $300,000.
My grandmother, Nora Jo, moved in with my family when her Alzheimer's disease advanced to the point where it was dangerous for her to live alone. That's when "chaos" of ultra-farcical proportions began.
Caregivers are a forgotten branch of our military. They tend to the mental and physical wounds of those who return from war, helping them get the benefits they deserve and bridging the gap between what doctors and nurses can give and what veterans need.
Saying no this Mother's Day and beyond will make you a better person. It will make you a better mom, a better daughter and it a better set of lungs with which to breathe for the world.
When someone is diagnosed with cancer, they are so deluged with information about their health and how to treat the disease so that managing their Medicare or Medicaid coverage gets overlooked.
A concert by the Unforgettables, a unique singing group, makes it clear that there can be a life worth living for people with dementia and their caregivers, and that music and other forms of art have much to contribute to making it so.
