Ask NAN blog
Teachings and tips for family caregivers navigating the needs of their aging loved one.
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Cómo hacer respiraciones de relajación
Si se siente ansioso, el primer paso a seguir es romper el ciclo de respuesta al estrés de su cuerpo. La respiración de relajación es una técnica poderosa para lograrlo.
Testing for Alzheimer’s Genes
There is scientific evidence that in some cases, genes can play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. The most common gene that increases the risk of Alzheimer’s is known as “APOE”. Here’s a list of commercial companies that test for the presence of the gene.
How to Help Your Loved One Enjoy the Holiday Season
The typical chaos, excitement, and joy of the holiday season can be overwhelming for someone with Alzheimer’s disease. But with a little planning ahead, you can make holiday gatherings more enjoyable and less stressful for all involved.
Enjoying the Holiday Season as a Caregiver
During the holiday season it is crucial for caregivers to make time to take care of themselves. Here is some guidance for your self-care during the holidays, and a link to a worksheet that can help you organize your thoughts and plan.
A Workbook for Planning Your Self-Care During the Holiday Season
During the busy and sometimes stressful holiday season, it is crucial for caregivers to make time to take care of themselves. Here is a workbook to help you think through and plan your self-care during the holidays.
Traveling with Your Loved One
Travel can be an especially challenging activity for your loved one. Still, with careful planning and consideration, you can make the journey safe and comfortable for you and your loved one.
Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Orders: What Are They, and Should I Discuss Them With My Loved One?
Many family caregivers identify taking on the role of medical decision maker for a loved one as one of their greatest challenges. Here are some steps that a family caregiver can take to confidently support their loved one’s wishes for end-of-life medical decisions.
How To Do Relaxation Breathing
If you're feeling anxious, the first step to take is to break your body's stress response cycle. Relaxation breathing is a powerful technique to achieve this.
The Basics of Adult Day Centers
Adult day centers offer supervised care and activities that are tailored to meet the needs of people living with Alzheimer's. Adult day services can help provide respite to caregivers, while at the same time ensuring that your loved one receives safe, compassionate, and attentive care. Here’s a guide to how to find the right fit for your loved one.
Time Management for Caregivers
While there isn’t a way to create more time in the day, there are methods that can help you get the most out of every minute. Here are some strategies to help manage time effectively and free up time for yourself.
Caregiver Burnout: How to Cope
Caregiving for someone suffering from Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most challenging jobs in the world, and it comes with a risk of what is known as “Caregiver Burnout.” With caregiver burnout, you are in a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that may also be coupled with a change in your attitude towards your caregiving role, from one of positive, caring, and rewarding to one of feeling negative, unconcerned, and resentful.
Agotamiento del Cuidador: Cómo Afrontarlo
Cuidar a una persona con Alzheimer es uno de los trabajos más desafiantes del mundo y conlleva el riesgo de sufrir lo que se conoce como "síndrome del cuidador". Con este síndrome, se experimenta un estado de agotamiento físico, emocional y mental que también puede ir acompañado de un cambio en la actitud hacia el cuidado, pasando de una actitud positiva, cariñosa y gratificante a una actitud negativa, indiferente y resentida.
Motivating Your Loved One to Do Physical Activity
Exercise can have enormous benefits. However, keeping your loved one with Alzheimer's disease motivated to exercise and do physical therapy can be a real challenge. After all, Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that leads to loss of memory issues, mood swings, and multiple physical limitations. Here are some strategies you can use to encourage them.
Is It Safe To Leave My Loved One Alone in the House?
One of the biggest responsibilities that comes with caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease is keeping them safe. This can be challenging as Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, and so it can be hard to know when your loved one’s capabilities have declined to the point that you can no longer leave them safely alone by themselves. Here are some signs that indicate it is no longer safe to leave your loved one alone in the house.
Viajar con un Ser Querido con Parkinson
Cuidar de un ser querido con Parkinson no debería impedirles viajar. Con una planificación cuidadosa y siguiendo unas sencillas pautas, usted y su ser querido pueden disfrutar de un viaje sin estrés. Aquí les explicamos cómo.
Traveling with A Loved One with Parkinson’s
Caring for a loved one with Parkinson’s disease should not keep you both from traveling. With some careful planning and following some simple guidelines, you and your loved one can enjoy a stress-free traveling experience. Here’s how.
Venciendo al Calor
A medida que las temperaturas del verano suben a los 90 grados, las personas mayores corren el riesgo de sufrir afecciones causadas por el calor extremo, como deshidratación e hipertermia, que pueden provocar agotamiento por calor y su forma más grave, el golpe de calor.
Comunicarse con su ser Querido
Comunicarse con un ser querido con Alzheimer puede ser un desafío, ya que la enfermedad le roba a su ser querido su capacidad para recordar y procesar información durante una conversación. Pero hay formas de facilitar que ambos se comuniquen de forma eficaz.
Communicating with Your Caregiving Village
As the primary advocate for your loved one, you need to feel confident and comfortable adding your voice to the conversations about their care. Here’s how to communicate with your healthcare providers.
Communicating With Your Loved One
Communicating with a loved one with Alzheimer's can be challenging, as the illness robs your loved one of their abilities to remember and process information during a conversation. But there are ways you can make it easier for both of you to communicate effectively.
Start your journey with NAN
Schedule a consultation to discuss the needs of your aging loved one.