Today’s post comes from the Alzheimer’s Prevention Registry.
Finding Myself Beyond My Role as Caregiver
Caregiving can bring great rewards, but they come beside profound challenges. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Alzheimer’s Prevention Registry
Free webinar on advanced Alzheimer’s
From the Alzheimer’s Prevention Registry. They are offering a free webinar on advanced Alzheimer’s disease.
We call the final phase of Alzheimer’s the “advanced” stage of the disease. By this point, someone with Alzheimer’s has become completely dependent on others to care for them. This is also the hardest time for many caregivers.
Free Webinar: Advanced Alzheimer’s – Sign up to join the live webinar OR view recording at your convenience!
Join this Dementia Dialogue webinar via computer to learn the nuances of advanced Alzheimer’s and about powerful tools you can use to ensure comfort.
For those who prefer to join by phone, we also offer an audio version of the Dementia Dialogues. Sign up here or email bannerresearch@bannerhealth.com for details.
- Wednesday, October 19, 3-4 PM Eastern (12-1 PM Pacific, 1-2 PM Mountain, 2-3 PM Central)
- Sign up now
In order to receive the link to the recorded webinar, you should follow the registration process in the same way you would as if you were planning to attend the live webinar. Everybody who registers, whether or not they attend, will receive a link to the recorded version after the event on the 19th. Please disregard reminders to join the live webinar if you cannot attend.
Being outdoors and traveling with dementia
This post comes from the Alzheimer’s Prevention Registry. It’s an international collaborative formed to launch a new era of Alzheimer’s prevention research. Go ahead an check out their website when you’re done reading!
As the weather warms up, our thoughts naturally turn to outdoor activities and travel. These activities can be challenging for someone with Alzheimer’s, but they can also provide powerful ways to enrich their lives and brighten their spirits and yours. As an Alzheimer’s caregiver, though, you’ll need to plan carefully for each outing or journey.
Going Out
Getting outside can be a good activity both for someone with Alzheimer’s and for their caregiver. Some activities can be enjoyed close to home, such as taking care of (or just watering) plants in the garden or yard. If you and your person with Alzheimer’s are comfortable with it, you can also plan trips to a botanical garden, museum or art exhibit, or to the pool (at a quiet time) or park. You’ll want to plan outings for the time of day when the person is at his or her best. And, be sure to keep outings from becoming too long, since you’ll want to be careful that the person with Alzheimer’s doesn’t become tired or confused.
Travel
Travel presents special problems for someone with Alzheimer’s because it naturally takes them out of their home routines. To test whether travel is a good idea or not, you might plan a “staycation” first by spending the night at a hotel in your town or city and eating three meals out. If this experience causes the person with Alzheimer’s distress, travel may not be a good idea.
When you do travel, if you can, go with another friend or family member, and be sure to have help at the airport or train station. Bring personal items or keepsakes that you know will comfort the person with Alzheimer’s, and also be sure to have copies of important phone numbers, documents and medical records, just in case. Also, be prepared for your person to wander in the airport or train station if given the opportunity. You may want to dress him or her distinctively and to include an ID bracelet as part of the wardrobe. It’s often helpful meet with a doctor beforehand to discuss medications that may calm someone who becomes distressed.
When you arrive at your destination, try to maintain a routine as close to your home rhythm as possible: schedule meals, sleep and bathroom breaks at the same time as at home, for example. At night, be sure to have a light on in the bathroom and a clear path to get there. Leave plenty of time for rest, and don’t plan too many activities. Finally, be prepared to cut your visit short if the situation turns out to be too much for the person with Alzheimer’s.
Resources:
Banner Alzheimer’s Institute
National Institute on Aging:
Alzheimer’s Association:
Upcoming Webinar:
Dementia Dialogues: Planning Successful Travel
Just in time for summer travel, learn tactics to make your trips as successful as possible.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015 3-4 pm Eastern
Doctor Dementia and the Dementia Adventure 