Alzheimer’s Care

Finding a home for your loved one

Feel free to print this out and use it.  Dan TO DO’S Identify homes that are geographically located close where you want the resident to live. Call each home and ask if there is availability. The ones that have openings, take a copy of this list and ‘show up’ for a visit. When you arrive, ask to walk around immediately. Look in each room, bedroom, bathroom and around the facility. Look at the residents. Talk to the residents. Ask if they like it there. Then sit down with this list, (one page of questions for each facility). Ask the questions and write down the answers as you get them.   QUESTIONS TO ASK How long has this facility been open? Are you licensed? May I see a copy of the license? How many beds are there?…

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5 Tough Decisions You May Have to Make When Caring for a Loved One with Alzheimer’s

Many couples make the promise to one another that they will never place the other in a nursing home if they become ill. When the time comes in which they may need the special care provided at an assisted living Alzheimer’s facility, they may feel they are not following through on their promise. The first thing a caregiver must come to terms with is the difference between a nursing home and a facility that addresses the needs of Alzheimer’s patients. There are a number of behavioral changes and medical concerns that many people have in common. The professionals at an Alzheimer’s facility understand the specific needs of their patients and they know what to look for when the person’s condition changes. The second factor you should realize is that putting a loved one into a care…

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Is it Alzeihmer’s or Dementia?

Actually it's called Dementia of the Alzheimer's type. 'Dementia' is an umbrella term,  Alzheimer's being the most prevalent type of dementia.  The two most common types of dementia are Alzheimer's Disease (apprx. 65%) and vascular dementia or those incidents caused by loss of blood to or in the brain - more commonly called strokes.  There are also TIA's - trans ischemic attacks or mini-strokes. Dementias are characterized by loss of memory especially short-term, loss of thinking skills including reasoning and judgement, confusion regarding time and place orientation, inability to conduct task sequencing such as cooking and a demise of feeling good about one's self or well-being.  There may also be aphasia;  a loss of the comprehension and expression of language caused by dysfunction in the brain. Next we'll get in to some more of the terminology…

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Memory Care – What’s it all about?

Memory Care refers to addressing the loss of memory and confusion of residents (at Lakeside Manor they are residents - not patients)  by the caregivers who are trained specifically in this type of care.  The loss of memory is frustrating and can contribute to anxiety, mistrust, fear and anger. The trained caregiver is fully aware of what is happening: - repetitive questions of the same wording; - confusion about time and place orientation - "where am I?" - requests for something has just happened - to do it again - and again; - wanting to talk to folks from their past who are no longer around; and, - with little comprehension that they have a loss of memory. The best ways to address this are: - stop what you're doing and listen to the resident; -…

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