If you’re a caregiver for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, it’s important to know that you’re not alone. The daily toll of personally taking care and worrying for your loved one can induce stress, burnouts, and taxing effects on your mental health. To combat these negative feelings, many caregivers find that building […]
WHAT IMPACT DOES NUTRITION HAVE ON THE BRAIN? The food you eat has a direct impact on your brain’s overall health and function. According to the Harvard Medical School, the gastrointestinal tract produces about 95% of the body’s serotonin. In other words, your digestive system literally helps guide your mood and emotional well-being based on the […]
Respite Care: A Much Needed Break All too often, the health and well-being of at-home caregivers is placed in serious jeopardy as a result of the stressful circumstances they face every day. Experts even refer to caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients as the “the second victims.” Respite Care Offers Relief, Renewal, and Healing Caregiving can be […]
Families often ask us about how to better relate to their loved one who has Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, especially with COVID restrictions. With some insight into how your Mom or Dad experiences the world and a few modifications on your part, you can improve your communication and have an easier and more enjoyable time […]
“I want to go home.” Nearly every dementia caregiver has heard this heartbreaking plea from their loved one. They may already be at home or they may be struggling to accept their new surroundings after a move to long-term care, but this simple statement is still jarring. Home means different things for different people, but […]
Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease can be incredibly challenging and requires long-term care. Like with other forms of dementia and chronic memory loss, there may be days that are simply a recurrence of days and weeks before, but as the disease progresses, different issues become apparent and new behavioral patterns may begin to emerge. […]
The Alzheimer’s and dementia care journey Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia can be a long, stressful, and intensely emotional journey. But you’re not alone. In the United States, there are more than 16 million people caring for someone with dementia—and many millions more around the world. As there is currently no cure for […]
From angry outbursts to more physical manifestations of behavior, understanding and dealing with our loved one’s dementia behaviors may be one of the most stressful parts of being a caregiver. Fortunately, these tips listed below can help you get through the moment: When dealing with difficult behaviors from someone with dementia, it’s important to remember […]
Caring for an individual with Alzheimerʼs disease or a related dementia can be challenging and, at times, overwhelming. Frustration is a normal and valid emotional response to many of the difficulties of being a caregiver. While some irritation may be part of everyday life as a caregiver, feeling extreme frustration can have serious consequences for […]
As Alzheimer’s disease (AD) progresses, it destroys memories, causes erratic behavior and robs a person of their personality. As a family caregiver, you may find you are caring for a father who no longer recognizes you, a mother with whom you no longer share any emotional connection, or a previously gentle, loving spouse who is now […]
Covid-19: We Strive to be Prepared As the global outbreak of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) continues to unfold, Kemper House is being responsive to the evolving health situation. Be assured that the health and safety of our residents and team members remain our number one priority. These are unprecedented times, and Kemper House believes it is […]
As you get older and retire, you may not have quite as many opportunities to socialize as you did when you were younger. If you’re not heading to an office or getting out and about each day, you may be missing out on important social interaction that you need to stay sharp, healthy, and maybe […]
Caregiving can be an isolating experience, but you’re not alone in this challenge. There are over 34 million Americans providing unpaid care to an adult age 50 or older. And nearly 16 million are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia. But when you’re overwhelmed and exhausted by caregiving responsibilities, it can feel like you’re the only person dealing with so much. That’s […]
The Importance of Socializing for Older Adults The need for company, love, and support is not something that diminishes as we grow older. In fact, a healthy social life is particularly important for seniors. Read on to learn why, and what to do about it. Why Socializing Matters Healthy relationships are necessary at every age, […]
Eating healthy becomes especially important as you age.That’s because aging is linked to a variety of changes, including nutrient deficiencies, decreased quality of life and poor health outcomes.Luckily, there are things you can do to help prevent deficiencies and other age-related changes. For example, eating nutrient-rich foods and taking the appropriate supplements can help keep […]
The brain controls many aspects of thinking—remembering, planning and organizing, making decisions, and much more. These cognitive abilities affect how well we do everyday tasks and whether we can live independently. Some changes in thinking are common as people get older. For example, older adults may have: Increased difficulty finding words and recalling names […]
Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, is characterized by the accumulation of two types of protein in the brain: tangles (tau) and plaques (amyloid-beta). Eventually, Alzheimer’s kills brain cells and takes people’s lives. Alzheimer’s causes: What causes Alzheimer’s? We still aren’t sure. “For 1% of all cases, there are three genes that determine […]