When we think of the typical profile of a family caregiver, we don't picture a child of 8 or an awkward teenager -- but as increasing numbers of aging Americans come to need care, more children are stepping in as primary caregivers for a chronically ill or disabled parent, sibling or grandparent.

At first, denial can be a healthy defense against admitting that your loved one has dementia. Denial helps you block the more painful aspects of reality. However, if denial continues too long, then it can be life-threatening to you and your loved one.

If you find yourself faced with these 10 signs of dementia, please get help for your loved one. And seek help for yourself too, so that you can deal with your loved one's illness effectively.

This historic report was the product of bipartisan legislation, rare in this Congress, which established an advisory council composed of government and private leaders, and which mandated a national strategy on Alzheimer's disease that would be updated annually.

Even the most giving, skilled, and loving family caregiver can get overwhelmed rather quickly. And not every family member is hard-wired to be a caregiver. Lighten up on yourself, and keep your expectations reasonable.

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.

All people with Alzheimer's and other dementias need to have entertainment. It's essential to their overall wellbeing. The key to success in providing entertainment is to find activities appropriate for the person's stage of the disease.

A woman with Alzheimer's may look at her elderly husband and not recognize him as her husband because he does not look 35 years old anymore. So if you were to play music from that time period it would speak to her current reality.

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. However, the day can still be meaningful for both your dad and the whole family.

Support for Alzheimer's caregivers has mostly been in the form of information sharing, skills training, stress-management techniques, peer-support and behavior modification solutions. While important, these external interventions tend to not stick.

This Mother's Day, take the time to reach out and do something special to acknowledge a woman whom you know is caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease.