Caregivers are at risk of depression. The problem with being a caregiver to someone with Alzheimer’s is that it is unremitting. Day in, day out, and often for years, you are needed to provide support, give varying levels of help with activities of daily living, and make the life of the person you care for as fulfilling as possible. There are... Read more
Dementia is not a disease but the term describes a set of symptoms. Alzheimer’s is one type. These symptoms can include memory loss, mood changes, problems with communication and reasoning and difficulties with day to day activities.
A Swedish study published in April in the journal Neurology shows that the risk of developing dementia... Read more
Anxiety is often automatically linked with stress. I suppose that is because those of us who have been, or are caregivers, know what a difficult job it can be at times. Although anxiety is different to stress, the features can overlap and the so too the response to self-help or other therapy strategies.
Anxiety, when we do recognise it, is... Read more
Finding purposeful activities and a focus for enjoyment in the lives of people with Alzheimer’s can be difficult. Most people with dementia continue to enjoy their food however. Mealtimes are also one of the regular times for people to move from their own rooms and from communal sitting areas to meet others in a social setting. Mealtimes... Read more
I recall a psychiatric nurse telling me about a patient with dementia who had not spoken for years and appeared to show little awareness of changing circumstances. They were on a trip out from the hospital and the bus they were sitting in was backing up very near a sheer drop. The patient suddenly swore and cried out that the driver should... Read more
