To fully understand how Alzheimer's disease impacts an individual's emotions, we need to understand what parts of the brain Alzheimer's affects and what parts it does not. That imbalance leads to common emotional symptoms, including depression and apathy, anxiety, fear, and agitation. The ability to feel fear and anxiety, along with an inability to control the emotional response, creates a potential for exaggerated emotional responses or unexpected upset.

The challenge that family caregivers face is to learn acceptance, to live in the present moment, and to let go of things you cannot control. This is a challenge to be sure, but if there can be any joy in caregiving, this is where it is.

Depending on your loved one’s illness and the financial and family resources they have, caregiving can have a significant impact on the financial stability of both the patient and the family members. Here’s how to prepare and plan.

Knowing the stages of Alzheimer’s helps Caregivers predict what kinds of behaviors to expect in their loved one, as well as prepare for changes yet to come.

The unfortunate end-result of the decline from Alzheimer’s comes when your loved one is no longer capable of independently making decisions about their care or personal possessions. This incompetence requires someone else to be assigned to advocate, speak, and make decisions on their behalf. Here’s how to set that up.

Even in the most loving families, money is often a taboo subject of conversation, especially between parents and their adult children. Unfortunately, when Alzheimer’s disease is progressing there are many ways financial affairs can become problematic. Here are some strategies for beginning that important but often difficult conversation.

In situations where your loved one cannot speak for themselves, medical personnel will turn to the next of kin to get help in making important health decisions. It is important to have your loved one’s wishes of how to respond in a serious medical situation be known in advance, through several documents such as an Advanced Directive and Living Will.

Sometimes having legal or financial expertise can be helpful in making important decisions. Here’s how to find and choose an Elder Law or Financial Expert.

Improve your flexibility, strength and cardiovascular health, all while seated!

It would seem to be a given that many caregivers would be "depressed,” given all the challenges they are facing. But it is critical to separate the expected sadness from the effects of Alzheimer's disease and the emotionally and physically debilitating illness that "Major Depression" is in its worst form.

It’s important to understand that anxiety is triggered by physical reactions to stress signals the body receives. Here’s how to reduce these effects.

Here’s an overview of the basic categories of care most often needed by elders and payment options available, including what Social Security and Medicare covers for elderly care — and what it doesn’t cover.

As a new caregiver for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, there are undoubtedly concerns about what this diagnosis means for your loved one. But most likely you also have questions about what this diagnosis means for you and your family. Here is how to begin.

With Alzheimer’s disease, your loved one’s ability to understand, process, and communicate information will change. Here are some strategies and skills you can use to reduce communication challenges that could frustrate both of you.

With any new medication, it is critical to think about the potential benefits as well as the possible side effects. Since there is currently no drug that will cure the illness, the last thing we want to do is reduce the patient’s quality of life with side effects.

Here is an approach to having a conversation with your loved one about driving.

Here are ten important lessons to live by in your caregiving efforts

Try these activities to keep your loved one occupied and engaged during the day

For caregivers some of their greatest challenges come from the mood, personality, and behavior changes that can occur as Alzheimer’s disease impacts the brain. Here are some recommendations for handling these situations.

Coping with memory loss can be a time of sadness and frustration for both the person affected and their family, friends, and caregiver. Here are some of the tips shared from others who have faced life with Alzheimer’s disease.