Updated May 2025 The stereotype that older people lose their mental sharpness is pervasive. Like all stereotypes, it invites judgment based on group membership rather than individual accomplishment. Nola Ochs [earned a masters degree at the age of 98. Peter Roget was 73 when he created the first thesaurus. Grandma Moses started painting when she […]
About 6.9 million Americans who are 65 or older are living with dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease. About two-thirds of those individuals are women. Almost three-quarters of people with dementia are age 75 or older. The NIH estimates that 13.8 million Americans will suffer from dementia by 2060. Alzheimer’s is the most prevalent cause of […]
Being a caregiver to someone with dementia can be very challenging, especially if it’s hard to make conversation or to just feel like you’ve connected with the one you are caring for. What happened a few minutes ago, or even a few seconds ago may be lost to your elder, but some things remain even […]
A wonderful match has been made between kittens and a community of elderly people in an Arizona senior living center. Rebecca Hamilton, the health service director at Catalina Springs in Arizona, is also a committed foster parent to animals in her community. Her love for the volunteer job got her thinking — why not pair […]
If your loved one has dementia, you’ve probably seen how anxious they become, especially during the later afternoons and evenings. Sundowning is a term used to explain how dementia patients become nervous and anxious once the sun starts going down. Some very crafty ladies in Canada and the United Kingdom found a way to help […]
There are so many emotions that go along with caregiving. We’re trying to help. We’re trying to do what’s best for our loved one. When you add in the dementia element, the caring gets a whole lot harder. I’m sure I’m preaching to the choir here, but it can get downright exasperating. You’re trying to […]
Good nutrition is important for people of all ages. But not all seniors are capable of managing their nutritional needs easily. And those with dementia can experience mental and physical hurdles that interfere with their abilities to eat and maintain healthy diets. Dementia may also make it more difficult for them to understand or express […]
Caring for someone who has dementia is a uniquely stressful experience. The person may be forgetful, engage in bizarre behavior, have trouble speaking, become incontinent, fall, and have trouble eating, dressing, or bathing. He or she may even forget who you are — which can be particularly distressing for family members. Caregivers and family members […]