Dementia Dimensions

Dementia Resource Center Blog for At Home Caregivers

Jennifer Lesinski

Each November, communities across the country come together for National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month — a time to raise awareness of the disease, recognize the millions of Americans providing care, and reaffirm our commitment to creating dementia-friendly communities.
Caring for a parent or loved one with dementia is tough enough. When you add in multiple adult children (i.e., siblings) who may hold differing opinions about what is “best,” the situation can become emotionally charged or even harmful to the relationships of those involved. Disagreements about decisions, roles, and responsibilities add significantly to overall stress and can erode both relationships and care quality for the person living with dementia.
Active Aging Week celebrates the idea that aging is not defined by limitations, but by possibilities. For individuals living with dementia, this belief is powerful.
Caring for a loved one with dementia is a journey filled with love, responsibility, and for many, exhaustion. Caregivers can find themselves constantly “on call,” with little space for rest.
A diagnosis of dementia changes life in many ways, but it does not erase the possibility of living fully and aging with health, dignity, and purpose.
For many families, pets are more than companions. They are a source of unconditional love, comfort, and joy. When it comes to supporting people living with dementia, the presence of an animal can provide unique benefits that extend beyond companionship.
Certain pain management drugs like Gabapentin have been linked to increased risks of dementia according to new study. Gabapentin, or Neurontin, has been widely prescribed since 1993 for treating epilepsy, nerve pain from shingles, chronic pain, anxiety, and insomnia.
As dementia progresses, one of the more disorienting and sometimes heartbreaking symptoms caregivers face is their loved one’s loss of understanding of time.
Streaming now on PBS or Amazon Prime, the documentary "Aging in America: Survive or Thrive" zeroes in on the challenges—and opportunities—of an aging society.