Driving and Dementia: Should You Take Away the Keys?
Nearly everyone struggles with whether or not a person with dementia should be driving. This blog tackles some of the issues.
When Is It OK to Stop Medications for People with Alzheimer’s Disease
In today’s post, I am going to answer a question that I receive many times a week: When is it OK to stop two common medications, Aricept (donepezil) and Namenda (memantine) for people with Alzheimer’s Disease? The short answer: these medications are designed to slow down the nerve damage from […]
Is “therapeutic fibbing” a good idea?
Best ways to get a person with Alzheimer’s dementia to accept care is to enter their reality.
10 Tested Ways to Avoid Care Refusals
You can prevent care refusals by allowing as much self-care as possible and treating the person with dementia like an adult.
Can a Person with Dementia Safely Make Decisions?
The asking of the questions is a process; we are providing an opportunity to really find out what the other person is thinking. On one hand, we want to protect our loved ones from financial abuse or unsafe conditions. On the other hand, we want to respect their autonomy….their ability to make their own decisions.
Decision-Making & Dementia: Dimmer versus Switch
When Mrs. Q’s opinions differed from that of her granddaughter, the granddaughter quickly used the dementia diagnosis to ignore Mrs. Q’s choices. When Mrs. Q’s choices and opinions mirrored those of the granddaughter, the granddaughter believed that Mrs. Q had the capacity to make a decision. This isn’t how decisional capacity works.
5 Critical Questions to Ask When Selecting a Memory Care Facility (and the RED FLAGS that tell you to RUN!!!)
Pretty wallpaper, beautiful bedrooms, and a snazzy meditation room with aromatherapy and massage chairs are nice; however, if the direct-care staff are clueless about dementia care, none of these items mean anything.
Can Constipation Kill a Person with Alzheimer’s Dementia?
Learn how to prevent constipation in persons with Alzheimer’s dementia and the warning signs that constipation is becoming dangerous.
Do People with Dementia Remember What They Want to Remember?
Caregivers find selective memory difficult and frustrating with people with dementia. This blog provides insight and help.
Why People with Dementia Say No (And What to Do About it)
People with dementia say “NO” to nearly every question or request. This is an incredible challenge for caregivers. In this blog, I explain one reason for the non-stop no’s…and offer strategies for preventing and managing the negativity. Patterns of Memory Loss and Retrieval Problems All dementias share this same common […]