Rita Altman, R.N.

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. There are some ways that caregivers can improve the...

Can you imagine how it would feel if you were no longer able to accomplish a meaningful hobby, routine or familiar activity such as going out to dine with your friends independently? This is a common experience for people suffering from Alzheimer's disease or another form of memory loss.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about what makes a house feel like a home? For some, it is a big kitchen with lots of space for entertaining friends or a tranquil master suite where they can get away from all the cares of...

No doubt you can still recall your first dog or cat and all the joy they brought into your life. For the young as well as the old, especially if they have Alzheimer's disease or another form of memory loss, there are many benefits in caring for pets.

I...

New Year's is a great opportunity for caregivers to recognize the challenges they may face in 2012 and recommit themselves to becoming a better caregiver every day. Choosing just one of the activities below that you may not be doing currently can have a major impact on your loved one...

In the early 1980s, most people with Alzheimer's disease would have simply been labeled as "senile." Spouses and adult children would take on the responsibility of providing care until it was time for a nursing home, where they received care in an institutional setting.

Since then, there have been...

People with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of memory loss often seem to live in a different reality or a different time and place. Despite this disconnect, we should not simply dismiss a person as "gone" or focus so narrowly on all the abilities that the person has lost. Instead,...

Sept. 21 is designated as World Alzheimer's Day, where people around the world unite to raise awareness for Alzheimer's disease. Last year, Maria Shriver marked World Alzheimer's Day by highlighting that, "The nation's 78 million baby boomers are at the forefront of a coming Alzheimer's tsunami....

Pat Summitt, the legendary women's college basketball coach, announced this week that she would continue coaching after her diagnosis of younger-onset Alzheimer's at the age of 59. She has set an example for thousands of others who are diagnosed with the degenerative cognitive disease during the height of...

Mr. Richards*, a slight man with thick, brown-rimmed glasses and a gait that revealed him to be every bit his age of 80, made himself quickly known to residents and staff alike in the assisted living community.

"Have you seen my mother?" he'd ask repeatedly, for hours, as he wandered...

Some people struggle with celebrating Father's Day once their dad begins suffering the effects of Alzheimer's disease or other forms of memory loss. You and your family may feel like the past traditions just aren't possible anymore. However, the day can still be meaningful for both your dad and the...

As shared in The Shriver Report, three out of five people who take on the enormous task of caring for a loved one who has Alzheimer's disease are women. And, almost a third of the women who were surveyed reported that they are the primary caregivers for both...

Creating the best dining experience for those with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of memory loss is about more than just serving the right foods. Mealtimes are actually great opportunities for caregivers to reconnect with their loved one, nurture their spirit and help them maintain a sense of...

Think about how frustrating it is to walk into a dark room and have no idea where the light switch is located. It's even more frustrating to think you know where the light switch is, but are still not able to find it. These feelings are experienced daily by millions...

When I was a very young child, my grandfather taught me about memory loss. Although vascular dementia robbed him of his short-term memory and some of his actions were considered to be unusual and even challenging, he never lost his capacity to love, to nurture, or to teach me many...

Family caregivers for seniors -- especially those with Alzheimer's disease or another form of memory loss -- often feel as if they are "on-call" 24 hours a day. Although rewarding, the role of caregiving can be stressful and exhausting if not managed carefully. Studies show that these intense...

The holidays are an important time to reconnect with friends and family, especially for people with Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia.

At Sunrise Senior Living, we care for thousands of such residents, whose memories of past holidays are often sparked by the seasonal decorations and activities...

This month, California First Lady Maria Shriver released a remarkable book on Alzheimer's disease and its disproportionate impact on women, "The Shriver Report: A Woman's Nation Takes on Alzheimer's." While "The Shriver Report" sounds technical and does present new academic research, it is accessible and a must read...

Providing care for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease or other form of dementia can be the most rewarding work you'll ever do. Yet, we know that not everyone is prepared for the many challenges that caregivers confront.

In my 30 years of working with families and training professional caregivers,...

There is nothing more painful than watching your aging parent's mental agility slip slowly away. So often we view this degeneration as an inevitable part of getting older -- a force we are incapable of stopping.

Yet a flood of new research has offered tremendous insights into how to keep...