Ask NAN blog
Teachings and tips for family caregivers navigating the needs of their aging loved one.
Have a question that’s not answered? Submit your question for us to consider including in the Ask NAN blog.
Facing the Grief of Caregiving
It is common for family caregivers helping a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease to feel a profound sense of grief for all that is lost to this disease. Loss of interest in activities we previously found rewarding and enjoyable are lessened or no longer enjoyable. This is often seen in depression but can also be attributed to a profound loss. Here’s how to cope.
Adult Day Centers
“Adult Day” centers are intended to help provide care and companionship for your loved one who needs assistance or supervision throughout the day. Adult Day can provide valuable respite to caregivers while encouraging socialization and engagement for your loved one. Here is a list of local adult day centers that might be useful in your caregiving journey.
Private Duty and Companion Care
“Private Duty Care” and “Companion Care” are services intended to help your loved one to safely get through day-to-day activities such as personal care, preparing meals, housecleaning, and offering companionship. These services can also offer a break for caregivers, who can use the time to be on their own. Here is a list of recommended local private duty and companion care companies that might be useful in your caregiving journey.
If Your Loved One Wanders
While having your loved one wandering around the house might be challenging to you as a caregiver, it’s not necessarily unsafe. However, some wandering can be dangerous, including going into areas of the house such as stairwells, decks, hot tubs, or swimming pools. Also dangerous is your loved one leaving the house, yard, or property alone. To address the challenges of your loved one wandering, you can try some of these tactics.
Sundowning and How To Manage It
Sundowning is a state of increased agitation, activity and negative behaviors which happen late in the day through the evening hours. When sundowning, the person may become demanding, suspicious, upset, or disoriented, see or hear things that are not there, and believe things that are not true. They may pace or wander around the house while others are sleeping. Here are some tips for potentially reducing the occurrence of sundowning and softening its effects when it does happen.
Activity Ideas for Loved Ones with Low Vision
There are two main reasons your loved one may be having trouble with vision. First, everyone has changes in their vision as they get older. Cataracts are the most common affliction and lead to “cloudy vision” with a slow reduction in people’s ability to see. Secondly, our loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease or related disorders (ADRD) are likely to lack the ability to understand what they see or remember what a particular item is used for. Given these changes, customizing enjoyable activities for your loved one with low vision abilities might take some trial and error to find the right fit.
Sleep Disturbance in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders
People with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders (ADRD) often have problems with sleeping or may experience changes in their sleep schedule. Scientists do not completely understand why these sleep disturbances occur, but as with changes in memory and behavior, the impact of disease on the brain can result in changes in sleep.
Understanding Clinging and Shadowing
For caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (ADRD), clinging and shadowing behaviors happen more often than not over the course of a day. Being followed everywhere and being repeatedly interrupted when trying to complete a task is a common source of frustration for many caregivers of loved ones with ADRD.
Is My Loved One Depressed?
As Alzheimer's disease changes an individual's ability to remember and think, it can also change the ability to control emotion. Up to 40 percent of people suffering from Alzheimer's disease will also suffer from significant depression. Since your loved one may be unable to articulate their feelings, family caregivers may be called on to help identify symptoms of depression. The Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia can help in this situation.
Staying Safe in the Sunshine
When you live in a place as beautiful as Florida, being outdoors is appealing. It is the Sunshine state after all. But as usual…too much of a good thing can be bad for us. And the sun is no exception. The risk of developing skin cancer is directly related to sun exposure over the years.
Get Ready: Hurricane Preparedness
The months of June, July and August mean months of heat, humidity -- and hurricanes! -- and present potential risks. But as your mother always said, “An ounce of prevention…”
Beating the Heat
As summer temperatures climb into the 90s, older people are in danger of conditions caused by extreme heat, such as dehydration and hyperthermia, which can lead to heat exhaustion and its most serious form, heat stroke.
How to Stay Hydrated
About 60% of your body is made up of water. All systems in your body rely on water to function properly. Not having enough water in your body can reduce your energy and make you feel tired and dizzy, and can harm your kidney function. Here’s how to stay hydrated.
Caregiver’s Plan B
No family caregiver wants to think they wouldn't be able to help their loved one, but the chance that something could happen to you that would make it impossible for you to provide the care support you do now makes it critical you identify an individual who is the best “Plan B” caregiver, able to quickly take over as advocate and guardian for your Loved One in the event that is needed.
Exercise Your Brain with Games
Games work to stave off dementia, strengthen critical thinking skills, and promote brain health. What kind of game works best?
Nine Simple Habits That Can Boost Your Brain Power
Research suggests that there are things that you and your loved one can do to boost your brainpower. This includes regular exercise, social interaction, and a healthy diet.
Update on Alzheimer’s Treatment Options in 2022
For decades the main options for “treatment” for Alzheimer’s disease have been limited. But several new potentially beneficial options are emerging.
Strategies for a Good Day…Even if You Cannot be There
Helping to provide a “good day” can be a challenge if you, the primary caregiver, cannot be there because of work or other commitments. Here are some tips on how to give your loved one a satisfying day.
Security for Your Loved One... and YOU!
A critical part of your loved one's health and safety is wearing a wristband with important medical information that can alert others in the event that you are not there.
Medication Management Tips for Caregivers
Helping your loved one take their medicine correctly is one of the most important tasks of a caregiver. Here are some tips on how to stay on track.
Start your journey with NAN
Schedule a consultation to discuss the needs of your aging loved one.