June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. It is an ideal time to pause and reflect on the millions of Americans who are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease and the individuals who are caring for them. It is also a time for caregivers, friends and families to show their support and get involved in the fight against Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
Why? Because, today, Alzheimer’s affects 47.5 million people worldwide – with 7.7 million new cases diagnosed every year. It is the fifth-leading cause of death for those over 65.
March is National Nutrition Month, and it’s the perfect time for senior adults, and those who love them, to consider the vital importance of nutrition and diet in healthy aging.
While a healthy, nutritious diet is critical to the good health of all age groups, proper nutrition is especially important to the well-being of seniors.
When a loved one is diagnosed with dementia, his or her personal safety becomes a top priority for family members. And according to the Family Caregiver Alliance, “One of the greatest concerns that families and caregivers face is whether or not that person should drive.”
Keeping a loved one with memory loss safe is one of the greatest challenges at-home caregivers face today. Memory loss authorities at the Alzheimer’s Association® advise that wandering and the risks it presents for loved ones getting lost or injured is one of the foremost safety challenges.
Today, caregiver guilt is a common theme for many individuals who devote themselves to caring for a loved one in need. Caregiver guilt can manifest itself in different ways, but typically comes from a common source – the feeling that you are not doing enough to care for your loved one or you are not doing it well enough.
Not surprisingly, adult children with aging parents in memory care frequently have anxiety and questions about visiting their loved ones. Common concerns include: Will mom/dad even know who I am? What should I say? Do my visits have any value? How often should I visit mom/dad in memory care?
Today, respite care offers busy and often overstressed family caregivers the opportunity to relax, decompress and re-energize while their loved ones receive professional care. Respite care also provides an ideal caregiving solution for loved ones when caregivers need to be away for business or vacation.
We’ve always known that a good night’s sleep is good for our physical and emotional health. Getting enough “zzzzz”s makes us feel refreshed, alert and ready for the day.
“Recent research studies also suggest that there is a dangerous downside to not getting sufficient sleep,” says Susan Irrgang, RN, LNHA, Executive Director at Saunders House in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania.
