Living with a degenerative mental disease is quite a challenge for the afflicted, but its effects are also felt by those around them. This is especially the case for close family or a spouse who transitions into being the primary caretaker for a senior with dementia. Alzheimer’s disease, and many other forms of dementia, change more than just the emotional dynamic, leaving many overwhelmed. In many cases, the problem arises due to the added responsibility that comes with dementia care. For a spouse, the shift in intimacy alone can pose problems, especially when it comes to communication. Howe...

When living with and caring for elderly family members, your priority should be to maximise safety. While you can read about the ways to help seniors prevent falls, an effective way to put safety first is to introduce the element of predictability into everyday living. Here, routine plays a key role. The logic is that if you can predict an elder’s movements throughout the day, you can avoid potential accidents or mishaps. In addition to that, daily routines also work beneficially for senior citizens with dementia. Those with a progressive, degenerative dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease ben...

Old age, often considered the dessert of life, is a delicate time that demands significant amounts of personalised care. This is mainly because senior citizens grow physically weaker and more prone to injury as they age, and inconveniences can have a significant impact on their mental wellbeing. In fact, anxiety isn’t uncommon in adults above the age of 60 and there is research that supports that at least 4% of older adults are affected by anxiety. What’s more, in the elderly, anxiety usually manifests through physical symptoms, meaning that there may be a lot of unreported cases too. To deal...

Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia and one that can make it exceptionally difficult to manage everyday tasks unassisted. Here, patients usually suffer from memory loss among other symptoms like depression, mood swings, and aggression. Naturally, the discomfort brought on by dementia and the demands of dementia care can lead to frustration on both ends, the affected and caregiver. Thankfully, there are ways to make the carrying out of basic chores easier, and as a caregiver, it is recommended that you employ these to have the best chance at successfully handling Alzheimer’s disease...

‘Dementia has no treatment’, ‘My father had Alzheimer’s and so will I’ or ‘Dementia patients are inept and can’t live happily’ are all among the common myths that surround dementia and dementia care. In truth, none of these have any merit and simply add to the problem. While any form of dementia is a serious condition, and brings about changes in the patient’s personality, abilities, and health, it is important to steer clear of misinformation as it can lead to frustration or worse, negligence. To address misconceptions and common myths surrounding these mental conditions, here are few pointe...