There are many services available to check on your mother – some services provide phone calls to call her at certain times. SageMinder–http://www.sageminder.com — is such a company that provides phone checks and will report back to you that things are okay, and even give her medication reminders.

If you want visits from caregivers, start with your n…[Read more]

There are many services available to check on your mother – some services provide phone calls to call her at certain times. http://www.sageminder.com is such a company that provides phone checks and will report back to you that things are okay, and even give her medication reminders.

If you want visits from caregivers, start with your networks. S…[Read more]

There are many services available to check on your mother – some services provide phone calls to call her at certain times – http://www.sageminder.com is a company that provides phone checks and will report back to you that things are okay, and even give her medication reminders.

If you want visits from caregivers, start with your networks. S…[Read more]

There are many services available to check on your mother – some services provide phone calls to call her at certain times – http://www.sageminder.com is a company that provides phone checks and will report back to you that things are okay, and even give her medication reminders.

If you want visits from caregivers, start with your networks. S…[Read more]

It depends on the person and how useful the information is, and your “delivery” of it. If they are asking questions about why they are forgetting things and you think it will ease their mind to tell them, and that they really want to know, then explain to them what you are noticing. However, you don’t want it to tell it to them every day, and…[Read more]

When people get up in the morning, becoming oriented after a deep sleep can take a bit of time. It would make sense that someone with dementia may wake up still “dreaming” and have a more difficult time re-orienting to the day world than an average person. Your mom might need time to determine what is real and her hallucinations may partly be from…[Read more]

The senior travel industry is growing, and there are many possibilities for your Dad and his caregiver to get away and have a nice vacation, what a great idea!

Here are some online resources to check, and also check out your local library and senior community centers for…[Read more]

A first step would be to find a geriatric care manager in your area that will assess your mother, identify her challenges and problems, and then meet with all of you (you can conference call or even Skype) to help develop a Care plan. Your mother also should see a primary care doctor to evaluate her for medical problems and review all of her…[Read more]

No – it is not unreasonable to expect a wide range of different activities and exercise programs at an assisted living facility. Activity programs have come a long way since Bingo and word games, and seniors need to be engaged in meaningful activities for the whole day and caregivers and/or activity assistants can accompany your parents on a…[Read more]

If your mother-in-law is using Medicaid, Medicaid requires you to contribute most of your mother-in-law’s income to her long-term care in the nursing home. She is allowed to keep a small fixed amount of money as a “personal needs allowance” to pay for uncovered medical expenses and for small extras like snacks, subscriptions, and personal pro…[Read more]

For clarification purposes, there is a difference between home health care and home care services. Although they sound the same (and home health care may include some home care services), home health care is more medically oriented. While home care typically includes chore and housecleaning services, home health care usually involves helping…[Read more]

In the earlier stages, memory loss and confusion may be mild. The person with dementia may be aware of — and frustrated by — the changes taking place, such as difficulty recalling recent events, making decisions or processing what was said by others. In the later stages, memory loss becomes far more severe. A person may not recognize family mem…[Read more]

Look for local nursing agencies in your area. Check with your local senior centers or community centers, they might have referrals. Also the local newspapers might have a help wanted section with nurses who are looking for private care work.

Here are 2 websites that offer all types of senior care, including personal care nurses, and have local…[Read more]

Seniors age 65 years or older are less likely to sense and respond to changes in temperature. Your mom might not realize how hot it is and should be checked on often in hot weather. This is a big concern with seniors. Can she use air-conditioning or have friends/family check on her?

Does she have a Medical Alert system where she can push the…[Read more]

Your mother needs to be evaluated by her primary care doctor to see if she meets the requirements and really needs the 24-hour skilled medical care that a nursing home will provide. This assessment will identify exactly what difficulties she is having. If she doesn’t need 24 hour medical care, there are other options that might her stay in her h…[Read more]

There are options and choices to make, and your Dad will need increasing care as he gets older. Have you talked to your Dad about possibly moving closer to you? Does he have relatives and friends in his community that can help? Could you have him visit for a period of time and see how he adjusts to a new location? Moving can be difficult for…[Read more]

Caring for one’s parents will be one of the most meaningful and stressful times of your life. Reach out!!! Ask for help from relatives, friends and build a support team for yourself. Look for Caregiver support groups. Family Caregiver Alliance (caregiver.org) is a good on-line resource for caregivers. Hospitals often have resources for c…[Read more]

Let your wife’s parents and others who will attend the dinner know that your Dad has dementia so they understand your situation. Suggest ways to make him feel comfortable, are there subjects or activities he might like to talk about, or listen to? Letting them know these things in advance will prepare them, and help them feel more comfortable a…[Read more]