Alzheimer’s and Dementia

Respite Care San Diego | Everyone Needs a Break

One of the most difficult things for a caregiver to do is to take time out for self-care. Making the decision to include Respite Care San Diego into your care plan could be one of the best things you can do for your loved one and yourself. Dealing with a loved one who has Alzheimer's or some other form of disability can take a toll on the person or persons responsible for their around the clock care. Coming to terms with the disease process and gaining an understanding, in regards to the things you need to do for yourself to maintain both your physical and mental health is important. Here is some information about respite care, and things you can do to take care of yourself while you care for your loved one. Respite Care San…

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Choosing a Dementia Residential Care Home

Choosing a dementia residential care home is not something a person usually does for themselves. The fact that they are often looking for a place for a loved one to live out the rest of their lives makes it even more challenging. Even when you know your loved one’s condition means they are no longer safe, making the decision to move them is often one that causes a great deal of guilt. If you struggle with the decision of when to put your loved one into a dementia residential care home, you aren’t alone. More adults find themselves facing the fact that in-home care is more demanding on them than they ever imagined. Most adults have other responsibilities that prevent them from giving the round-the-clock care that dementia patients eventually need. Instead of taking on a…

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Memory Care or Assisted Living? Making the Best Choice for Mom or Dad

Senior care facilities come in many types, such as memory care and assisted living, and choosing the best community for your mother or father can be confusing. Rule of thumb is that the right place will help keep your parent safe, while also maximizing his or her independence. To make this decision, you need to know details about your parent’s condition and needs, as well as understand the definitions of the types of care facilities available. Let’s break down these issues with a basic Q & A.  What is Assisted Living? The primary definition of assisted living is a long-term senior care option that offers supportive aid, health services, and housing. Essential services often include transportation, medical management, and 24-hour emergency care. Mom or Dad will be able to ask the staff for assistance with daily…

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Managing Your Emotions After an Assisted Living Dementia Placement

Managing your emotions after an assisted living placement is a complex process. When the choice is made to place a Dementia loved one in residential care, you’re likely to encounter an unsettling combination of feelings. It’s important to acknowledge and deal with these feelings because your adjustment to your loved one’s new lifestyle and surroundings will have a direct impact on their adjustment. We’ve all heard this cliché, or something close to it: “The first step in dealing with a problem is admitting that a problem exists.” The reason we over-hear and over-use this expression so often in problem solving is, simply, that it’s true. When you build up a wall to shut issues out, you’re also barricading yourself from seeing solutions. For your and your loved one’s benefit, a little perspective and a lot of…

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Alzheimer’s Dementia Care | 5 important Safety Precautions

Alzheimer’s is a complex disease that demands, among other things, dramatic changes in a patient’s surroundings. Alzheimer's dementia care involves important safety precautions that should be addressed right away. Before we can give attention to treatments and therapies, we initially want to be sure that our loved ones are safe. It can be difficult to create a dementia-proof living situation at home. The cost, time and knowledge required to incorporate necessary safety precautions in the face of Alzheimer’s are overwhelming. Most homes, as well as homes’ surroundings, simply have too many pitfalls. Even the biggest budgets, hired design experts and best of intentions can fall short. In many cases, dementia’s safety requirements can best be met by the attention of a dedicated, alert, full-time, around the clock staff, along with a tenet of tried and true procedures…

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Alzheimer’s Care San Diego | How Best to Speak to a Loved One

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's can be challenging, even on the good days. The Lakeside Manor, Alzheimer's Care San Diego program has taught us that communication issues are often at the core of family member challenges. Luckily, there are things you can do to help conversations flow more smoothly and ensure that your loved one can understand the point you are trying to convey and get their own points across as well. Alzheimer's affects each person differently so some of the tips provided here may not apply to your particular situation. Keep experimenting until you find the perfect combination to meet your loved one's needs.  Familiarize Yourself with the Condition  The more you know about Alzheimer's, the better you will be able to accommodate your loved one's needs. The next time you take your…

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Dementia Care San Diego │ Understanding Dementia Behavior

Caring for a loved one with dementia can be very challenging. While keeping them at home may seem like the right thing to do, there are many benefits to considering a professional Dementia Care San Diego facility. If caring for your loved one is your first experience in dealing with dementia, the changes they undergo may be surprising and overwhelming. Without a deep understanding of the disorder, it isn’t unusual for family members to fall short on giving their loved one the degree of care they need. What Is Dementia? Dementia refers to the decline of mental ability and memory loss that is severe enough to prevent the person from carrying out normal daily functions. There are different forms of dementia. Alzheimer’s is the most common type, accounting for 60% to 80% of all dementia cases. The majority…

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Looking for San Diego Advanced Alzheimer’s Assisted Living?

Researching San Diego advanced Alzheimer's assisted living facilities is an important step in your loved one's care. It can be time consuming, frustrating and headache-inducing, but when achieved, it can provide your loved one, and you, with some peace of mind. Over 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s dementia, and as the baby boomer generation advances in age, it’s estimated that this number will likely triple within 30 years – to over 15 million. Assisted living facilities are becoming big business. On the upside, there are more to choose from than ever. Many are staffed by skilled professionals who are devoted to providing the best in Alzheimer’s dementia care. On the downside, while great facilities are easier to find than ever, so are ones that would best be avoided. It’s been well documented that Alzheimer’s dementia patients benefit…

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Dementia Gardens | How Gardens Help People With Alzheimer’s & Dementia

Dementia gardens can have a big impact on health and the quality of life for an individual with Alzheimer’s and/or Dementia. Most of us have brought flowers to a hospital room at some point. We’ve done it for obvious reasons. Flowers are pretty, they’re colorful and they add a little warmth to an otherwise sterile atmosphere. They’re conveniently sold in most hospital gift shops or at a handy stand outside the door. Bringing flowers to a hospital room is an old tradition. It is also quite a lot more. Dementia gardens have helped thousands of Alzheimer’s patients feel, and function, better. But, before we get to the specifics of gardening and dementia, let’s talk about the history of horticulture as it relates to general health and healing. The use of gardens as a therapeutic modality is…

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Ways to Soothe Sundowners Syndrome Symptoms in Alzheimer’s Dementia Patients

Approximately 20% of Alzheimer’s Dementia patients have Sundowners Syndrome Symptoms. Depending on an individual’s dementia stage, living situation, physical surroundings and comorbid health issues, specific ‘sundowning’ times and bout lengths can differ. However, sundowning seems clearly related to changes in outdoor light, from day to dusk, and can last for several hours, sometimes into the night. The onset of Sundowner’s Syndrome symptoms tends to be during the later-middle stages of dementia. Sundowners Syndrome Symptoms Sundowners might exhibit any combination of its classic symptoms; they can surge to almost intolerable levels for a patient and his or her caretakers. Some symptoms can be hazardous to the Alzheimer’s patient and to those around them. All symptoms can be stressful, disruptive and upsetting. Symptoms might include: Confusion, disorientation Restlessness, pacing, rocking, agitation, impatience, anger, aggression Mood swings, obscenities, violent…

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