Signs of Middle Stage dementia

Everyday Gift Ideas for Older Adults

Everyday gift ideas for older adults on your list

Gifts that are useful The holiday season is a special occasion, a time when we are surrounded by family and friends. Joy in the heart shines through symbolic gifts that we all love receiving and which are treasured due to their strong significance.

Every person loves to receive something as a sign of appreciation for their presence in our life. The value of any gift comes from the strong connection we have with the giver.

The same feeling we get when making gifts for a loved one. Gift giving allows us to express our admiration, respect and love for all the people in our life. As holidays grow closer we ponder and analyze gift ideas for the older folks in our life as we do the youngsters. A few favorites for the older folks are below.

Bring technology into their life for useful purposes

Although technology might not be the best friend of the elderly, if that is their interest there are things to consider. There are thoughtful gifts you can make from this area as well. For example, purchasing a weather environment system or station display can become the perfect way of offering them the chance to be always informed about the weather in their region in a simple way. It is not a difficult device to use and you can even install it for them so that all they have to do next is enjoy using it.

It will show temperature outside and inside as well as the wind speed and its direction. This is a valuable gift for older adults in your life because it is practical given the fact that everyone is interested in monitoring the weather every day so that good traveling plans as well as a list of daily activities might be established accordingly.

Floor cleaners for linoleum and hardwood

Everyone spends some time every week cleaning the house. When it comes to older adults, the efforts required in doing this chore are more serious given their age and physical condition. Therefore, bringing help their way in this case can only prove to be the best gift ever for obvious reasons. You can manage to achieve this by purchasing a robotic floor cleaner for them to use both on linoleum and hardwood and make their jobs so much easier every day.

This is a thoughtful gift and one that they will treasure the most given its practicality and ease of use. It will help them keep their homes clean all day long without having to spend too much time or effort to achieve this. Their energy is better preserved for other joyful activities appropriate for their age. It can be the perfect gift for parents, grandparents as well as any other adult on your list because everyone needs help cleaning their personal spaces easier to ensure perfect living conditions.

New way of making the morning coffee

Everyone loves a fresh cup of coffee in the morning but not everyone is too joyful about waking up early and making the coffee. However, with the latest advancements in technology everything can be done easier these days. Who said that technology cannot be a practical part of the life of older adults as well? A brewing system coffee maker is the perfect tool for everyone to use with the purpose of having fresh, delicious coffee made easily every morning.

Offering this device as a gift can only bring joy and appreciation from those receiving it. We all need such tools in our homes and enjoy using them so everyone receiving this gift will be thrilled to see how practical you have been in terms of choosing New Year gifts. With the press of a button and easy refill actions, your older adult friends will drink their coffee every morning thinking of your thoughtful gesture.

Everyone likes to make and receive gifts because it is the way in which we show the people surrounding us how much we appreciate their presence in our life. No matter whether your list of people for whom you would like to buy gifts this New Year is made of people living in care homes in Barnet or parents, grandparents and other relatives living at home, the above-mentioned gift ideas can help you succeed in making them happy.

Author: Edward Francis is interested in writing about health, fitness and related issues. He has a deep knowledge of this field. Edward also works for care homes and retirement villages.

Caring for Someone with Cognitive Decline

01/1811 Comments

Caring for a Person with dementia and Cognitive Decline

Caring for a relative who suffers from dementia poses significant challenges for the family. Alzheimer’s and other diseases related to cognitive decline or cognitive decline from simple aging is incurable. That being said, if you decide to become a caregiver for a loved one, you should be prepared to face difficulties along the way.

However, there are ways to make things better and you can start by improving your own communication skills. This will make the relationship with the patient more tolerable.

5 Difficulties you might struggle with along the way, and how to overcome them

1. Dealing with a bad mood
Body language and attitude communicate feelings and thoughts a lot stronger than actual words. It’s normal for patients struggling with dementia to get depressed every now and then.

As their caregiver, you have to be patient with them. Don’t get angry and try not to scream at them or lose your temper. Set up a positive, calm tone of voice and use your gestures to make them feel comfortable. Get their attention and limit noise and other distractions.

2. Communication issues

When caring for a patient with dementia, it’s normal to come across communication issues. At some point, your relative will start forgetting things, and as the condition advances, they may not remember your name and who you are. It’s very important to keep things simple and well-organized. Have pictures, paintings, or favorite possessions on display to make the patient feel safe and comfortable.

Your next step is to establish daily routines. Speak as calm as possible, stay calm and use simple words for your loved one to understand. If they misunderstand things, try not to argue with them and keep the tone of your voice down. Even if they don’t remember you, the fact that you’re calm will force their brain into believing everything is ok, and that they’re safe.

3. Physical disabilities
Most physical disabilities that happen in patients with dementia occur due to falling injuries or strokes.

The greater the severity of the problem, the tougher it is for the caregiver to look after their loved one. In order to avoid accidents, it’s best to make your home a safer place to live in.

For example, in the bathroom, you can have grab bars installed. You can also place a shower bench and include a rubber carpet too to avoid complicated injuries from falls. Avoid telling your parent that they’re not trying enough or that they could do better. This will only discourage them, and you certainly don’t want that happening because it will affect their mood.

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4. Dealing with boredom
It’s fundamental for a caregiver to understand that a patient struggling with dementia won’t be able to perform all the activities that they once performed. To them, life can get boring and empty, not to mention that depression might kick in as well.

In case of vision loss, they won’t be able to read anymore; and if they lose their mobility abilities, they won’t be able to move. The Caregiver should focus on providing auditory and visual stimulation. Find a way to make them happy and don’t bring to their attention that there’s something they can’t do. If they can’t see well, take them outside anyway to smell the fresh flowers and hear the birds sing.

If they can’t walk, turn to different types of activities such as playing games or reading. Whatever you do, make sure they feel valued and useful. This will keep them happy, entertained and engaged.

5. Confusion and anxiety
Last but not least, we have to emphasize that all patients with dementia struggle with confusion and anxiety. These are enhanced at night, so always make sure that they have the light on when they go to bed.

Furthermore, if they lose track of time or place, the first thing you need to do is remind them who they are and where they are. This will help them “return to reality” a lot faster. Once again, do it on a calm tone and if you notice that they’re saying incorrect things, change the subject. Find a way to build a pleasant dialogue; talk about interesting subjects and put a smile on their faces.

Author: Edward Francis and Foresthc.com!

How to get Relief from Sundowners Syndrome

09/218 Comments

Sundowners Syndrome and Sleep

When my Mom had Alzheimer’s, Sundowners Syndrome could make bedtime a nightmare.

Late evening was a dreaded time for my Mom. Some evenings she would fall asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. But, more often than not she would begin to cry only hours before bed time.

A gentle weeping at first would turn into a very sad, groan then escalate to a loud sobbing wail that filled the house.

It didn’t happen every night, but it happened often enough to ask the doctor if there was something wrong and what on earth could I do.

Some antidepressants cause anxiety and irritation and keep them awake rather than help them to sleep. Mom seldom took more than a mild antidepressant at night as we hoped for a sound and restful sleep.

Despite all our efforts, several nights a week Sundowners Syndrome haunted Mom. Her wailing cry was unnerving. It almost sounded like someone in horrific emotional pain. If you’ve ever heard a mother weep from the death of a child, that is exactly how my Mom sounded on many nights. She wouldn’t walk or flail, but sit on the side of the bed and weep into the darkness.

Mom took a light medication to help her sleep, but remained alert during the day. Most often, she had really good days, it was only the evening hours that brought nightmares while she was wide awake.

A few things I did find to help during those Sundowners Syndrome Nights:

Keep the last meal of the day fairly early, usually before 5 pm
Take an afternoon walk, so Mom would be ready to settle down
No naps during the day, as that prevented sleep at night
For an hour or so before bed time, Mom would wind down from her daily activity
She’d be drowsy and perfectly happy to go to bed with a little warm milk

Sometimes these small activities would do the trick and she’d sleep soundly

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Though no one really knows for sure what causes it, Sundowners is common among those with dementia

Some behaviors during Sundowners include: shouting, wandering, expressing fear, sadness, crying and anxiety.

Since the cause of Sundowners is unknown, many think it might have something to do with the body’s natural cycle or Circadian Rhythms (natural sleep/wake cycle.) The longer they’ve had dementia, the deeper is their confusion. It seems to occur as they begin to sleep more and stay awake less.

A few other recommendations I’ve learned since my Mom passed away 7 years ago are:

Shadows seem to bring them a lot of fear, so try for a well lit atmosphere as much as possible
Make sure they get lots of exercise during the day, so sleep-time comes more naturally
Keep caffeinated beverages or foods to a minimum as they too can keep them awake
Playing soft music also helps them to stay asleep and if they need to get up for bathroom time in the middle of the night, be certain the bathroom is well-lit
Touch-base with their doctor. Let them know about the issue and ask for suggestions, perhaps a light sedative– or check on the medications they are already taking, could one of them be keeping them awake?

All the best to those caring for someone with Sundowners Syndrome. If you find something that helps or would like to share something you’ve learned, comment below. We’d love to hear from you.

Alzheimer’s Shadowing – Means Me and my Shadow

08/022 Comments

“Me and My Alzheimer’s Shadow” is a quote from Bob DeMarco and the Alzheimer’s Reading Room.

Alzheimer’s Shadowing was one of the most disturbing symptoms for me as a caregiver with my own Mom.

At the time, I didn’t know why Mom followed me everywhere, nor why she woke me up during the middle of the night only to stand beside my bed and stare down at me without saying a word. Yep, it was spooky– to say the least.

It was a frightening experience. While Mom lived with us, I had a shadow every time I moved, a real- life, human shadow. Mom would hunch her shoulders and creep quietly like a cat stalking a mouse. If I turned quickly and caught her on my heels, she would stare at me without saying a word. I can’t count how many times I awoke in the morning to find Mom leaning over my bed, eyes wide and staring.

Eventually, I began to realize that she saw me as her security. If she was on my heels if I turned around quickly or standing beside my bed while I slept. And that made her happy. If I was in-sight, she was okay.

Though still a frightening sensation, I could understand why Mom needed to do it. Shadowing is no fun. Not for the caregiver, nor the person with dementia who feels the necessity to stick so closely on the heels of their caregiver. Yet, for awhile, they must do it.

If I had it to do over, I would try a few new things with this most annoying symptom.

1. More Hugs: Maybe Mom needed more reassurance and comfort.

2. More familiar Items from her own home: Perhaps she would have felt more confident and content if more of my Home felt like her Home.

Still — Shadowing is a known symptom of dementia so there may have been nothing I could do to prevent this phase at all.

I hear about shadowing from other caregivers often, and most others have the same sentiment about Shadowing. So I believe it to be more likely that the person with dementia needs the caregiver so much that shadowing will happen no matter where they live or what comforts are afforded them.

A Caregiver’s Guide to Dementia What If It’s Not Alzheimer’s?

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Still, Alzheimer’s shadowing or not, with a “do-over,” I would bring more of Mom’s items into my home to make her surroundings more familiar.

Mom packed one suitcase for the trip to live with us. And I didn’t fully understand how little memory she had left about packing for a trip away from home. The circumstances were so hectic and disturbing, no one thought to bring more of her own surroundings to her new home.

Care-giving is difficult. Afterthoughts and regrets rule supreme!

Emotions are raw and confusion reins. In the first days of “caregiving” most folks haven’t read a book or visited a memory cafe or spoke to a nurse or nursing home or any others who could help in the transition phase. I’d been so busy caring for my mom and coping with behaviors that I didn’t understand that I hadn’t taken any of the above steps.

Actually, the quicker you can learn and understand more about some of the odd behavior and symptoms of a loved one with dementia, the sooner you, as a caregiver, can learn to cope and make better choices.

Read books, join Forums (locally and online) call your local Alzheimer’s office

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Dementia Behind the Wheel : Dementia and driving a car do not go together

09/1224 Comments

Dementia Behind the Wheel

Dementia and driving a car do not go together!

I don’t mean to be “Preachy”

I feel like I’m on a soapbox when I talk about driving and Alzheimer’s.

But I know for sure I want to be heard!

In the last couple days, I’ve heard multiple family members profess their love for someone with dementia only to turn around and directly contradict themselves.

I think you know who I’m talking about. You may even recognize yourself. I certainly feel the stab of guilt when I hear such statements as this:

“I love my Mom…Grandma…Aunt…Uncle…Cousin…..” (whomever the person with Alzheimer’s / dementia may be) then they go on to say: “but I can’t possibly take their CAR away. They would hate me forever.”

WHAT???

That’s like saying I really love you so I’ll never mention the hole in the sidewalk directly in front of you until you fall in. Come on…

If you love someone, you try to keep them from harm. Keep them safe.

Driving a car (a 3,000 pound missile doing 70 miles an hour down a busy highway) is harmful. Not only harmful but downright dangerous if you have Alzheimer’s or dementia. It is also harmful and dangerous to other passengers or pedestrians who happen to wander into your path. They are innocent bystanders.

What if it’s your grandchild in the crosswalk when someone with dementia approaches?

And oh yea, as this little old lady with dementia rolls nearer to your grandchild, she’s struggling anxiously to recall just which pedal makes this hunk of metal STOP!

Yikes!

A few weeks ago a senior citizen in a “snow-bird” state, who should have had his license removed 5 years earlier made that same error.

He couldn’t remember which pedal made the car stop and instead of stopping in front of the convenience store, so he could walk inside, he pushed the gas pedal and ran right through the plate glass window, killing a female customer waiting to pay for a Slurpee.

As his family excused themselves for allowing him to drive, they said, “We know he has dementia but he’s a good driver. He’s never done anything like that before!”

Hmmm. Isn’t there a first time for everything?

Don’t let your first time be after it’s too late! If you have dementia, STOP driving. If you have a loved one who has dementia, TAKE THEIR CAR AWAY! They will continue to love you and eventually forget about the car–and you might save someone’s life.