BLOG
Holiday traditions must change as your loved one’s cognition changes
A friend told me shortly after Thanksgiving "Last year my husband was helping to prepare a beautiful meal with 10 guests. This year his dementia has him close to moving into assisted living. I can't believe how fast his decline has been." I get it. That was very...
Celebrate the Day of the Dead with Gratitude
It's the Day of the Dead, a time of reverance and celebration. In 1992, my dear husband, Richard and I dressed up as old people for Halloween. We assumed that we would indeed grow old together. It turned out that Halloween 1992 was the only day we would have together...
Incontinence with Dignity
Incontinence with Dignity by Marilyn Stevenson, a support group member with the Lewy Body Dementia Resource Center https://lewybodyresourcecenter.org/incontinence-with-dignity/ Incontinence is a topic that some people are uncomfortable speaking about and/or don't know...
Helping A Loved One Feel Less Lonely After The Death Of A Spouse
Dealing with the loss of a spouse from a chronic illness like Parkinson’s is one of the most life-changing experiences a person can have. When it happens during our senior years, it can be even more devastating because it often brings even bigger life changes such as...
5 Tips for Seniors Getting Married During the Golden Years
Thanks to Hazel Bridges of Aging Wellness for this article. https://agingwellness.org Newly married couples of any age have many exciting things to look forward to when planning a life together even if you face a difficult medical diagnosis, such as Parkinson's or...
Nursing Home or Assisted Living: Which Is the Right Choice for You?
There are more than 50 million Americans over the age of 65. Of these, around 1.5 million reside in nursing homes and another million in assisted living facilities. If you're trying to decide whether a nursing home or assisted living facility is right for you or your...
Movie: The Long Road to Hope: Ending Parkinson’s Disease
This Parkinson's TV movie follows the stories of twelve incredible individuals with Parkinson's and their journeys to end this debilitating disease. The documentary is based on the book "Ending Parkinson's Disease: A Prescription for Action,"...
8 Early Warning Signs of Parkinson’s Disease
Thanks to AARP's Jen A Miller for this excellent article. My dear husband, Richard, exhibited all of them. Some signs of Parkinson’s disease are ones most of us recognize, such as tremor and trouble walking. But very early signs of the disease, which can appear a...
The Science of Mattering: Why Feeling Significant Is So Significant
Zach Mercurio's article The Science of Mattering: Why Feeling Significant Is So Significant resonates with me. People with dementia or other challenges still need to feel that they are important, that they matter. Everyone does. Zack describes how feeling...
Top Tips for Self-Care as a Caregiver
As a caregiver, you may have heard the term "self-care" mentioned quite a bit. It's an important topic for caregivers—one many don't know enough about. Below are some top self-care tips for you and your loved one. Thanks to Beverly Nelson of Stand Up for Caregivers...