Working Memory. Memory Working.
As we age, or for those of us who develop degenerative brain diseases, keeping more than a couple things in our minds at the same time can be problematic. Don’t get too discouraged just yet, because working memory is something that can be improved with effort.
Handling Dementia with Teenagers at Home
Surviving the teenage years of children can be hard enough on a parent; throw in a spouse with dementia and you’ve got yourself a pot of boiling stress and anxiety for a caregiver.
Comfort Food – Grandma’s Cooking
I’m sure we all have favorite dishes our grandmothers’ have cooked for us. Whether it’s cake, pie, or meatloaf and mashed potatoes — somehow certain foods conjure up memories that last a lifetime.
Distinguishing Between Alzheimer’s & Dementia
Having several family members that struggle with Alzheimer’s as well as dementia, there’s one question that seems to constantly circulate in my mind which I never quite get an answer to: “What exactly is the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia?”
Alzheimer’s Myths, Rumors & Tall Tales
Let’s take a moment to address the misinformation about Alzheimer’s and get the facts straight so these rumors can be stopped dead in their tracks.
Alzheimer’s Risk Factors & Prevention
Is Alzheimer’s disease preventable? It’s a question many ask but few seem to get a straight answer to.
Stepping into the Leadership Role
Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia involve a progressive loss of one’s memory, thinking, language, and self-care skills. Someone with dementia eventually loses the capacity to be completely independent, and others must step up to provide assistance. A special brand of leadership is called for. At least one person must assume overall authority for […]
Communicating with Alzheimer’s Patients
I recently read an article in Parade about a speech-pathology professor at Ohio State University, Michelle S. Bourgeois, who is finding new ways to communicate with Alzheimer and Dementia patients.
Comfort Care for Advanced Dementia
The prestigious medical journal, Archives of Internal Medicine, published a study last month showing that a significant portion of Medicare expenditures for people with advanced dementia is spent on aggressive treatments that could have little clinical benefit. Researchers found that 30 percent of Medicare expenditures for people with advanced dementia were for hospitalizations during their […]
Music Therapy for Dementia
In a recent New York Times article, “Giving Alzheimer’s Patients Their Way, Even Chocolate,” the use of food, art, music, and exercise were highlighted as means to generate positive emotions and to engage people with dementia in positive activities. Last week I had the pleasure of witnessing the power of music, as part of my […]
Brain Exercise: A Puzzling Experience
When I was younger, I recall my grandmother sitting in her chair, pencil in hand, “working the puzzles.” I never inquired any further. I never asked what “the puzzles” were or why she even did them. All I ever asked as a kid was, “what are you doing?” She would respond, “working the puzzles.” My […]
Early Dementia: Enter their world
I was able to transfer some of what I learned from my profession to experiences with my grandmother in the last years of her life. The premise is very simple; in dealing with someone with memory loss or early stage dementia the key is anxiety reduction. How troubling it was for me to encounter a […]
