• Home
  • About me / Privacy Disclosure
    • Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk Info
    • Contact Us| Or Ask a Question on Facebook
  • The Stages of Alzheimer’s

Alzheimers Support

Learning and sharing information to support those with Alzheimers dementia

  • Just me…
  • The Stages
    • Late Stage
    • Middle Stage
    • Early Stage
  • Questions
    • How to Take the Car Away
  • Best Reads
  • Communication
  • Care Tips
    • Healthy Diet
    • Medical
  • The Caregiver
    • Caring for the Caregiver
    • Memories Forgotten
  • Signs and Symptoms
  • In the News
  • Health and Aging
  • Alzheimer’s Clocks
  • Activities
    • Activities for those with Alzheimers or Dementia
    • Activities to Share with a loved one who has Dementia
    • Best Gifts for those with Alzheimer’s Dementia
    • 5 Activities to Keep Hands Busy for thse with Alzheimer’s or Other dementias
    • Does Mom with Alzheimer’s Need a Baby doll?
    • Baby Dolls Crafted for dementia and the Elderly
  • Holidays and Gifts
    • How to Choose Fun Gifts for Seniors with Alzheimer’s
    • Best Gifts for Caregivers
    • Best Gifts for Elderly People with Alzheimer’s
    • A few Great Gift Ideas for those with dementia
    • Alzheimer’s Digital Clock keeps time for those with dementia
    • Alzheimer’s Fidget Quilts for Sale Online
    • Chocolate may Soothe Anger in Alzheimer’s
You are here: Home / Archives for late stage

Tips for long distance Relationships For loved ones with Alzheimer’s dementia

06/18Leave a Comment

Tips for long distance relationships for caregivers of a loved one with Alzheimer’s Disease

Tips for long distance relationships between the caregiver and a loved one with dementia can be helpful. It is difficult having a parent with Alzheimer’s Disease, and more so if you live in a city that’s far away from them, it is hard to know what to do. In many

elderly-phonecases, it’s impractical for you or your parent to move so that you’re closer, so you are stuck with a long-distance care-giving arrangement. Believe it or not, there are ways you can look after a loved one with dementia even if you’re on the other side of the country. Here are some tips that can help you.

Start a log

Experts say that our population is getting older, and Alzheimer’s is becoming a bigger issue. They expect that the incidence of this disease will quadruple over just the next fifty years. Researchers have no cure right now; so many Americans will be in the same situation as you. Start a log related to your parent’s care, and keep notes of everything that may be important in case you become a long distance caregiver in the future.

Set up an emergency procedure

It’s wise to give your parent one of the emergency alert bracelets or necklaces, which lets them push a button if they require help. This will summon paramedics or police for immediate assistance. You can also talk to their neighbors or friends, and have them notify you if anything out of the ordinary happens.

Get paperwork organized

The next time you see your parent, spend some time with them trying to find and organize all of their paperwork. You’re looking for legal and financial information, such as social security cards, birth, marriage or divorce certificates, wills, and power of attorney documents.

Find out about their bank accounts, real estate titles, and insurance policies. At some point, you may need to start handling their bills and managing their affairs. For now, make sure all the documents are stored in a safe place, like a safe-deposit box.

family-meeting

Get their affairs in order

When a loved one has Alzheimer’s, it is important for them to get their wishes documented and affairs in order while they can, before the disease progresses too far. They may not want to talk about it, but they should have a will in place, as well as a living will. Depending on the assets involved, an estate planning expert may help with setting up a trust. While there are ways to deal with a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease, remember that the condition is incurable and you never know if you’ll be needed when there is a long distance between you.

Get approval to handle their affairs

The time will come when your parent can no longer manage things themselves. If you are going to handle arrangements for them, you’ll need the proper approvals. They can give you a power of attorney to act on their behalf. They can give you signature authority on their bank accounts. They can also make you a representative payee, so that you receive their government checks for them.

family-meeting2

Be prepared for travel

You will probably need to make occasional trips to visit your loved one, so that you can take care of things that need to be done in person. It gives you a good opportunity to visit with them at the same time. If you’re going to be doing this trip repeatedly, check into the best travel options – airlines, car rental, and hotels. At some point, you may need to make the trip on short notice.

Consider professional home care

Hire a nursing specialist or a caregiver for your loved ones and have a computer nearby. Install social programs such as Skype and talk to them on a regular basis. You can also see your relatives from a distance through a camera. You should stay updated with the changes in their behavior, and find the time to come visit at least once a month.

Dealing with a relative suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease can be dreadful. If you’re living in a different city or country, caring for your loved ones becomes an impossible job. And yet, there are ways to look after them from a distance. Whether you choose to Skype once a week or come visit every month, it’s really important to stay in touch. Dementia will eventually affect your parent’s memory, so you want to enjoy the time you still have available and interact as often as possible.

Guest Post Author: Edward Francis and Foresthc.com

————————————————————————————————–

Stay in-touch with email. They know your voice. They enjoy your conversations.SKYPE and talk to your loved one whenever you likeLeave your smiling face with them all the time in a digital frameShow other family members and fun activities too!Send your voice, recordings, or their favorite music.

————————————————————-

Filed Under: Care Tips, communication, The Caregiver Tagged With: Caring, late stage, long distance caregiver, long-distance carer

Residential Care for the Elderly and Funding Options Available

01/162 Comments

Residential Care for the Elderly – Funding Options

While living at home is still a possibility for many elderly people, others find that it becomes more difficult to remain independent as they grow older.

A residential care home facility can be a good way for older people to get the services they need in one place. There are even homes that provide nurses who can look after residents with complex or advanced medical conditions. In addition, they can benefit greatly from being around other elderly residents and having a social community with which to interact on a daily basis.

Funding a home when you can no longer live lone

However, residential care is not fully funded in most cases. People who choose residential care either for themselves or their loved ones will have to think about how to fund their stay in a residential care facility.

Working with Your Local Authority

If you are considering moving into a resident care facility but you are concerned as to how you will finance the process, then you can contact your local authority for advice. Most people will be expected to contribute to their care costs either through their savings, income, or any assets that they may have. Many local authorities utilize a means test in order to assess your costs as well as the value of your property and assets.

Typically, (for the UK) the first £14,250 of your assets and savings are not counted towards the assessment of your means. If you have assets with a value between £14,250 and £23,250, then your local authority will help subsidise the costs of your care.

If you have any assets above £23,250, then you will be responsible for funding your own care. In addition, the Government has recently handed down legislation dictating that caps will placed on the monetary amount of care that they will cover. There will be a lifetime cap of £75,000 on care costs, and an additional cap of £12,000 per year for hotel (“room and board”) costs.

In the US, some local authorities participate in schedules where your residential care costs are deferred and are paid out of your estate when you die. If you have a significant amount of assets and no heirs, this may be a good choice for you if you qualify for the program. You may also qualify to have some of your nursing care costs covered on the NHS or Medicare, though this will not provide for your room and board.

Making Residential Care a Part of a Retirement Savings Plan, or Asking for Help from Loved Ones

While a pension might provide enough money to cover some of your basic costs, it will not be enough to pay for the costs of a residential home or care facility. By making additional savings a part of your retirement plan, you can provide for yourself or a loved one who needs residential care when they are elderly. Increasing your pension contributions while you are still working can go a long way towards covering costs. In addition, you may be able to receive some financial help from your loved ones. The benefits of professional residential care often outweigh the costs.

care-funding

Funding Your Residential Care – A Smart Choice for the Future
Entering a residential care facility is not a decision to be taken lightly. Funding your care can be done through use of your assets and help from your local authority. Don’t leave arranging your finances until it is too late.

Author: Ryan Hughes writes about Health and Aging.

————————————————————————————————

Stages of Senior CareHOME CARE HOW TOTransforming Palliative CareInsider’s Guide to Better Nursing Home Care

——————————————————————————

Filed Under: Care Tips, LATE STAGE Tagged With: elder care, Financial Assistance, Funding Options, late stage, Nursing Home

Does Mom with Alzheimer’s Need a Baby doll?

01/034 Comments

Does Mom with Alzheimer’s need a Baby Doll?

I use to wonder if  Mom (with Alzheimer’s) might like a baby doll of her own? She was so drawn to babies. Any sort of baby, actually; Baby kittens, baby pictures, real live babies or even baby dolls. She would oooh and ahh over my granddaughters baby dolls like they were the real thing.

My mom loved to shop. It wasn’t that she liked buying things but she loved shopping. The soft elevator music in the background, the busy aisles filled with friendly, smiling people. The scramble to find the perfect item before her best friend bought it.

Mom and I could shop for hours and sit for even longer watching other people shop. Some of my favorite conversations with Mom happened at the open-air Pizza Pub inside the mall where we always stopped to catch our breath. baby-doll

Then Alzheimer’s came visiting and gradually our shopping venues shrank.  From the busy bustling super Malls to smaller and smaller shopping centers. Eventually Mom was quite satisfied with the neighborhood Dollar Store.  Fewer aisles meant less walking for mom and fewer people to watch.

Still, I can’t count the times I’ve lost track of her. She would wander away trailing a young mother with child or any baby stroller with a tiny bundle inside.

Mom loved babies. And her mother loved babies too. During Mom’s younger years she would tell stories of Grandma and her final days with Alzheimer’s.

My grandmother had roamed the halls of a nursing home for two years searching for her lost, newborn baby. Constantly distraught and agitated, Grandma was certain that her baby was in distress and needed her to be nursed back to health.

For several years during the late stages of dementia, my Grandma cried endless tears for a “need” that could have been so easily met.  And I feared the same for my own Mother when her love to be around small children escalated right along with the progression of dementia. Eventually, Mom forgot the stories she had shared with me about Grandma’s depression and desperate search for a newborn baby that was only a vacant memory.

Then, near the end of Mom’s battle with Alzheimer’s and dementia, those sad memories returned and Mom began to pine for her own lost baby that did not exist.

I’d read an article that seemed silly at the time, but decided to try it when nothing else salved Mom’s sadness. I found the perfect, cherub faced, plump little baby doll that smiled broadly from morning to night. Mom carried and loved that baby, proud that her baby had such a sweet disposition. I was relieved as well, and  only wished I could have done the same for my grandmother all those many years ago.

————————————-

The Real “feel like” baby dolls

 Paradise Galleries Lifelike Realistic Weighted Baby Doll, Tall Dreams, 10 Piece Ensemble, 19-inch, Ages 3+Check Price Baby Doll That Looks Real, Baby Layla, 21 inch Flex-Touch Vinyl, with Weighted BodyCheck Price Andrea Arcello Ashley Breathing Lifelike Baby Doll: So Truly Real – 17Check Price

And more life-like Baby Dolls any Mom would love

JC Toys La Baby 11-InchJC Toys La NewbornJC Toys Lots to Cuddle Babies Twins DollsLittle Mommy Bedtime Baby Doll

———————————————————–

Filed Under: Care Tips, Holidays Tagged With: baby doll, Crying, dementia baby doll, late stage, mourn for home

Can those with Alzheimer’s Feel Pain?

02/0912 Comments

Can those with Alzheimer’s feel Pain?

I’m often asked if someone with Alzheimer’s Dementia can feel pain.  In later stages of their disease, they may be very animated and display more than a few odd behaviors, yet they seldom complain about pain. Even some professionals believe it is because they don’t feel pain.

My own mother had arthritis in one knee which stayed swollen to double it’s normal size. Yet, if asked how she was doing–Mom never mentioned that painful knee. My only clue that she was suffering at all  was the grimace on her face, or the way she held and rubbed that knee.

During later stages of Alzheimer’s and Dementia a person loses many of their verbal skills.  They can’t remember the correct word they want to use and by the time they think of the word, they’ve forgotten the pain.  The short term-memory that they do have may last no longer than a few seconds. Sometimes they forget they are in pain before they remember how to craft a sentence to let someone know.

So–just because they don’t tell us they are in pain, doesn’t mean they don’t suffer pain.

To take care of a middle to late stage Alzheimer’s or Dementia sufferer, we need to look for other “non verbal” clues if we think they may be in pain.

  • Is the person limping?

They may have a sprained ankle, injured knee, etc.

  • Do they moan or groan or make other sounds of pain when they eat, or walk, or go to the bathroom?

They may have a bad tooth, ill fitting dentures, constipation or UTI (urinary tract infection) a common and constant illness for the person with dementia.

  • Do they clench their teeth or clamp their jaw at intervals when they move, then suddenly relax when they reach a new position?

That could mean a sharp pain, or pulled muscle that relaxes when they shift their position.

  • And if their behavior is suddenly different– Do they cry a lot, are they agitated and irritable much more than usual?  If so — it’s a clue

If you are a care-giver and your family member or loved one shows any of these signs or symptoms, they may be in pain. Try to investigate further and judge the severity of their symptoms. Often, a family physician will allow a call to his/her office or phone consult with his nurse where you can explain the persons behavior. Meanwhile, keep the patient as comfortable as you can because he/she can certainly feel pain.

They may not be able to tell you where they hurt or describe the symptoms, but they do feel pain and generally their attitude or other behavior is a good sign of how they feel.

If you’ve had experience with pain or other issues –Let us know!

We like hearing other opinions or hints for caring for the person with memory-loss who suffers physical pain as well

——————————————————————————————

——————————————————————–

Filed Under: Care Tips, LATE STAGE, Medical Tagged With: feel pain, late stage

The Nursing Home Requested that I Stay Away from my mother?

08/142 Comments

The nursing home requested that I stay away…

When it happened to me, I took offense. I didn’t tell them I took offense, I smiled and reassured Mom that I’d be back later, knowing full-well that I would not.

I would do as they asked and stay away for a week at least, but I didn’t like it and didn’t think it was a good idea.

I had been my Mom’s full-time caregiver for 2 years after a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, and part-time caregiver for many years when her behavior was only curious and odd. I would still be my mother’s caregiver, now, if not for the violent tendencies that had begun to occur as Mom’s Alzheimer’s progressed.

My Mom entered a “group home” rather than a conventional nursing home because I hadn’t been able to find a regular nursing home that accepted people with Alzheimer’s and still met my criteria for care.

In this “group home” there were 9 other residence, all but one suffering some form of Dementia. I spoke with the owner/manager several times, both on the phone and in person. She was more than helpful while I had issues with Mom, and the Group Home had no room for another patient.

I took tours, met the entire staff and visited with other patients. I became familiar with their schedules and was totally satisfied with this new home before Mom moved in.

But soon enough,  it was “admitting day” and they requested that I stay away for 7 days while Mom adjusted to her new home without me. And the hitch in my throat grew to a boulder.

Mom was trembling. My stomach was roiling. I told her it was only for a few days. I knew it was a lie but Mom never remembered anything. She had no idea this would be her new home permanently. She had no idea I was about to abandon her and not return for a week.

Her eyes were wide, full of fear and turned to tears before I began to walk away. When she reached out for me, I turned and rushed for the door.

I knew if Mom saw me crying, too, she would be horrified. The staff had warned me that this day would be every bit as difficult as leaving your first-born child at pre-school. I was prepared for that. But for them to ask that I stay away for so long had been a surprise that I did not like.

“She needs time to settle-in,” the supervisor/counselor had explained. “It’s easier for the person with Alzheimer’s if they have time to adjust to the staff, and the schedule, and the other folks here without the daily upset of saying “goodbye” to their family.”  She smiled then and added, “I bet you need some rest, yourself.”

I wasn’t surprised by her assessment. I knew I probably looked every  bit as tired as I felt. Mom seldom slept all night anymore and the hours devoted to her daily care had stretched exponentially. I couldn’t remember the last time I had my hair done or had an extended conversation with a friend. I felt suddenly, weary and tired and oh so sad.

The relief I expected to feel as I drove away from the ‘group home’ never materialized. Instead, I felt sorrow and guilt and remorse.

  • I shouldn’t be leaving my mom behind
  • I shouldn’t have agreed to any abstinence from visiting her
  • I should be holding her hand and calming her fears–not running away like a weak child.

So many should’s…..

 On Pluto: Inside MindCheck Price Book of Alzheimer’sCheck Price The ForgettingCheck Price Mother Daughter JourneyCheck Price

Suddenly, I couldn’t wait to get home, climb into a hot bath and sleep afterward until I awoke on my own. A tiny sense of relief pulled at me for only a second before it was dismissed by a jolt of grief. What was I thinking? Tears burned my eyes and I wiped them away. I wasn’t sure what I felt; sad, happy, mad, glad, lonely, guilty. I just wanted to go home.

Over the next few days I wondered if the counselor had been partially correct. Maybe I needed some “settling-in” time, myself. For years,  every hour of my day had circled around Mom.  Now, I was at loose ends trying to find balance in my own home. One moment I was giddy with freedom and plans for the future and the next minute I was grief stricken and crying, wondering how on earth I had allowed Mom to stay anywhere else but with me.

By the end of the week, my nerves settled-down a little as I accepted the reality of our situation. I could no longer care for Mom at home. She had bouts of anger that caused rage and violence that was out of her control, a symptom of disease that she could not help.  As I assessed our situation and accepted Mom’s new symptoms my bouts of tearful remorse began to subside.

As we spoke on the phone every day, I began to hear a change in Mom’s voice as well. Her crying to “come home” in the first few days gave-way to conversations about her new surroundings. They had appointed her as Chief Dietitian, she said, and they asked lots of questions about her lifetime spent in the food industry. I had to smile. Mom couldn’t prepare a meal if she had to, but she accepted this new position at the “group home” as a place of honor.

I was happy to hear Mom’s attention shift to her new home, new surroundings and new people in her life. She found a best friend who’s stage of dementia was similar to her own, and they were forever holding hands and talking.

I was sleeping all night, every night and working around a schedule that best suited me. I felt as though a weight lifted from my shoulders that I hadn’t known was there until it was gone.

When I visited Mom for the first time after our week apart, there was much hugging and kissing and talking and listening. There were no tears and crying, no sobbing and guilt as I’d expected.

Mom had settled in, she had accepted her new home and she could hardly wait to show me her room and all the little things she’d done to make it especially hers; framed photos on the dresser, pretty magazine photos pinned to the wall, a bouquet of flowers picked fresh from their garden.

For the next two years, there were times Mom cried to come home with me, and did visit for many long holiday weekends when the family gathered together. There were times when I felt guilt and remorse that I hadn’t kept her with me longer, but I knew the ‘group home’ was the best place for her at this time in her life when she needed more care than I could give.

They had more resources to handle this stage of her disease, and I was able to be a  better daughter when I felt good about myself, rested and refreshed, and ready for all the good times we were still able to share together.

________________________________________________________

There are many Symptoms and many Questions as you move through the stages of Alzheimer’s with a loved one.  Knowledge helps pave the way to make good decisions about the patient’s care as well as your own reactions and self-care.

___________________________________________________________

 Chicken SoupCheck Price Lemongrass EucalyptusCheck Price Tea Tree Oil Foot SoakCheck Price Waterfall Foot SpaCheck Price Smiley Daisy EssentialCheck Price The RelaxationCheck Price Nature SoundsCheck Price Sound Spa RelaxationCheck Price

————————————————————–

Filed Under: Care Tips, LATE STAGE, Nursing Homes Tagged With: late stage, Nursing Home, nursing home requested I stay away, stop visiting

  • 1
  • 2
  • Next Page »

Categories

Most of Those with Dementia love Music

Email Updates

Most Recent Articles

  • Answering Your Questions
  • Form a Network of Support when dealing with Alzheimer’s
  • Lesser Known Early Signs of Alzheimer’s
  • Healthy diet and exercise equal sound sleep for the aging
  • 8 Things Can Change How You Approach Caregiving
  • 6 Warning Signs in Elderly Should Never be Ignored
  • Thank you to Nancy Madaris!
  • Home Test for Alzheimer’s – Will You Take the Test?

Let Them Listen to a Favorite Book

Most Viewed Articles

Happy Holiday from Alzheimer’s Support 2012

Rick Phelps Documents Early On-set Alzheimer’s with Videos – Page 2

Protecting our Grey matter from Alzheimer’s a fishy proposition?

More Seniors Using Technology Stay Home Longer

Choosing Appropriate, Clean Clothing for the Person with Alzheimer’s or Dementia

Alzheimers Signs Symptoms and Affects

Exercise is Good for You Physically and Emotionally

Doctors DilemmaTo Tell or Not To Tell – is Alzheimers in Your Future

Copyright © 2021 · Lifestyle Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in