Love Wins: A Study on Caregiving For a Spouse With Dementia
Guest Author R. Amanda Cooper M.A., Doctoral Candidate, University of Arizona Through my research at the University of Arizona, I have talked to many individuals who are caregivers to a family member who is living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. I find these caregivers inspiring. Despite the incredible challenges that come along […]
Navigating Memory Loss by Dr. Corinne Self
Watch a video of Dr. Corinne Self’s presentation “Navigating Memory Loss” invited as a speaker by the Alzheimer’s Association hosted at the Harmony Hospice Community Center.
Six Strategies To Help Dementia Patients Maintain A Healthy Weight
Weight loss is a common problem among people with neurocognitive disorders like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. In earlier stages, likely causes are reduced appetite and forgetting to cook/eat. Later on, difficulty swallowing and reduced recognition of food can play a role. Weight loss can also be caused by medication side effects. Less commonly, weight loss […]
How to support your elderly parents with cognitive decline that live at home alone
Americans are fiercely independent. Some seniors decide to move into a senior living community, especially after their spouse passes; and many do not. Some live with only a spouse or partner, while others will seek out relatives or companions. In the U.S., 27% of adults over 60 years old live alone. We often get phone calls from […]
The First of Its Kind in Arizona, Dementia Villages Are Coming to Tucson!
Dementia Friendly Tucson is a newly formed nonprofit organization that hopes to create a version of dementia villages available for the growing population of memory care patients, their families, caregivers, and providers. Dementia Friendly Tucson’s founder is Kim Shea, PHD, RN, CHPN who has worked in various roles within the hospice field, eventually opening a […]
Reader Connections: Lessons Learned
Written by David Luery, ElderHealth Member In March 2020, my wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s by a neurology practice here in Tucson. Like most neurology practices, they were not equipped with the support services that can be so helpful for both patients and family caregivers. At the outset of my wife’s disease, she and I […]
Ketamine: Is it a Cure? Behaviors in Dementia
No, unfortunately ketamine is not the cure for behavioral issues in dementia. There is no cure. However, while ketamine is not able to completely eliminate dementia behaviors it doesn’t mean that they can’t be managed with ketamine assisted psychotherapy. As with most things in life, managing behaviors is fluid and you will need a lot […]
Is Medical Cannabis Safe For Dementia Patients?
When we started ElderHealth we knew that one of our most important tenets of care was to meet patients where they were, as well as their goals. We quickly discovered that a lot of our patients were using medical cannabis or were interested in finding out more about it. We hit the books to find […]
When To Start Hospice For A Loved One With Alzheimer’s Disease
As our loved ones with Alzheimer’s Disease progress in their illness, we may ask at what point it would be advisable to enlist the help of hospice. Hospice enrollment provides access to 24/7 care and support via regularly scheduled and as-needed nurse visits in person and by telephone. In Medicare’s own words – A hospice […]
How Sensory-Rich Experiences Can Help Caregivers Communicate Better With Dementia Patients
“Given the significant advancements in the field of neuroscience, it is now widely recognized that the different sensory-rich experiences human beings encounter every day help to ‘nourish’ the nervous system.” AJ Ayres, 2005 As anyone who has ever been around someone with a cognitive impairment can surely attest, communication can be a challenge. Another challenge […]