Many individuals experience great anxiety when they see items in a home that they once used and operated but no longer can due to the advancing ravages of a progressive dementia. Most families and professionals feel home is the greatest place of comfort – and for many that is true.  In fact, for some individuals [...]

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Like most things in life this varies by person and situation.  Those of us who have worked in this field for a while, though, recognize some common signs. If you are thinking about it – needing help that is, chances are your instincts are leading you to fulfill a need.  As a caregiver, if you [...]

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  After 27 years of helping families understand and cope with dementia and/or memory loss, I find myself riding the same wave.  What I  notice sitting on this end of my career colliding with my family life is a feeling of denial and grief. Seeing this resilient and very social mother of mine lose her [...]

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Sometimes fear keeps us stuck in old routines even if they don’t work for us anymore.  The fear of falling could keep someone from exercising, the fear of loss of control could keep us in a home that doesn’t meet our needs and the fear of rejection could keep us from speaking from our heart [...]

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“Help – Mom’s diabetes is out of control, she can’t manage it and we can’t be there for her.  Her memory is failing and it looks to us she is losing weight.”   “Dad should be on oxygen and now they are talking about a gastric feeding tube because of his Parkinson’s disease.”  Older Adults who [...]

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“85 year old active senior dies in a house fire on December 28, 2010 in Walnut Creek, CA.”  This is news none of us likes to hear. Many of us love to get into a warm bed and since many seniors run cold, having an electric blanket is something many enjoy.  However, it can be [...]

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