Blog
Family Caregivers Need a Break!
It's October 2020, and many of us know adult daycares across the country that are serving a lower capacity of seniors with dementia. Many have shut their doors altogether, leaving countless people to continue to care for their loved ones with dementia in their homes...
It’s Never Too Early to Plan For Long Term Care
“It is vital for us to be able to talk about long-term care early and often with our aging parent, loved one, or selves.”
A Look at Alzheimer’s Through the Eyes of Our Children
The effects of an Alzheimer's diagnosis impact everyone in the patient's immediate family. Those who have assumed primary care roles often shoulder most of the burden, not only mentally but physically and financially. However, the younger members of our families also...
Why We All Should Care About the Emotional Well-Being of Unpaid Family Caregivers
I read startling statistics from the CDC this past week related to the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on our mental health. While sifting through the statistics of the numbers of people whose mental health is suffering, I read that 30.7 % of surveyed unpaid...
What You Need to Know When Hiring an In-Home Caregiver
Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s can be immensely rewarding, but equally as challenging. The sheer number of “hats” one has to wear would impress even the best multitasker, which is why we like to remind caregivers not to feel guilty if they want (or need) to...
Why We Need to Change the Narrative on Palliative Care for Alzheimer’s
Before my Dad died, I had only one encounter with the concept of palliative care. My beautiful friend's 18-year-old daughter was battling a recurrence of Ewing's sarcoma, a relentless bone cancer, and the prognosis was not good. I vividly remember getting word that...
Creating Joy with Loved Ones in Memory Care
A good friend of mine decided to move his Mom to a memory care facility days before the shelter at home orders began. It was gut-wrenching for him and their entire family. He had made promises to his Mom that he would visit daily and participate in activities, and...
Palliative Care And Living Well With Alzheimer’s
I speak a lot about palliative care and how it relates to families facing a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and am consistently shocked at the misconceptions that continue to exist. Many people think that palliative care is the focus in the last few weeks of life....
5 Ways to Prepare to Care for a Loved One with Alzheimer’s
Caring for someone you love with dementia is one of the most important and selfless jobs you will ever have. According to the Alzheimer's Association, 16 million people provide unpaid care for a person with Alzheimer's or other dementias. In the early stages, the...
5 Ways to Overcome the Guilt of Moving Your Loved One to Senior Living
When I think back on the Alzheimer's journey of my family, the one thing that always comes to mind is the stress around placing my Dad into a memory care facility. While many families choose to have their loved one age in place (with in-home care), many families like...
Windward Foundation Extends Support to Alzheimer’s Association with $30,000 Grant.
The Windward Foundation announced a $30,000 grant to the Alzheimer's Association National Capital Area Chapter, extending its support for care consultation services and caregiver information, education, and support delivered throughout the Chapter territory. In the...
A Wish For My Mom
I would like to tell the story of my mom, a sweet and loving wife and mother who was diagnosed with younger onset Alzheimer’s in October 2013 at the age of 57. When you hear about the toll that Alzheimer’s takes on a family, you hear about the emotional stress of...